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Horsing around helps charities

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BY YVETTE C. HAMMETT

yhammett@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

DOVER - It doesn't have the fast pace of a NASCAR race or the drama of a marathon.

But who needs all that when you've got a horse?

Local equestrians have found a way to balance fun and fundraising in their own competitive way.

Some 38 teams paid $70 apiece to compete in the Florida Cowboy V Extreme Team Challenge, an obstacle course set up in an arena at Hillsborough County Fairgrounds Oct. 24.

Wrangler wasn't keen on standing next to his partner while his rider reached for a dipper of water, then dripped it across his mane to fill a canteen. But, he endured.

The horse and his rider, Marcy Green, then made it over a rickety bridge with coaxing, worked with their partners to haul a log through the dirt arena and trotted to the finish.

"We practice all this with them ahead of time, but what they'll do at home isn't always what they'll do here," said Green, of Wesley Chapel. "But, it's all about teamwork."

Green teamed up with Laura VanHoose of Dade City and her horse, Cruiser, to run the obstacle course.

Proceeds from the event benefit Special Olympics, a farm program at Palm River Elementary and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches.

"It's one of the most satisfying ways to have fun," said Calvin Young, a member of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Mounted Posse for about 25 years. "We can't go out and solicit money in uniform, so we have to be creative."

"Some people are just nuts about competing," said organizer Karl Boger. Many return to the event time and again. "I think the attraction to this is that you don't need an expensive, fancy horse, and you don't have to wear fancy clothes."

For Star Diaz of Plant City, this year was a first for competition.

This year teams were the twist. Previous challenges were for individual riders.

"It's just a blast," said Diaz. She and her horse, Dude, partnered with Vickie Oliva of Antioch and her horse, Champ.

"The partnership is a whole new game for us," Oliva said. "The idea of getting an 1,100-pound animal to do what you want, when you want, is definitely a challenge."

So is funding the small farm at Palm River Elementary, Boger said. It is funded by just a couple of teachers and some school fundraisers.

The farm has goats, ponies, calves, ducks and a good-sized garden. "Most of these kids would never get to even see one of these animals, let alone touch and work with one," Boger said.

"The kids love it and work harder in school to be able to participate in the farm work."

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 627-4763.

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