Hello Everyone,
13 Hands recently had its First Annual Music Festival Benefit, and it was so very special.
Those of you who attended, thank you for bringing such a positive vibe. You came to support the horses, and you brought your smiles and your eagerness to sing along and dance.
Some of you wandered the property and gave extra attention to the rescues. Some of you shopped under the swag tent. (Dreaming of cooler weather, I bought a fleecy 13 Hands sweatshirt which I cannot wait to wear.) Some of you bought pottery (generously donated by Railyard Arts in Croton Falls) and jewelry (intricate pieces from Handmade by Barbara). Some of you took down the information in order to purchase 13 Hands logo jewelry (beautiful renderings from Lionheart Jewelry). Some of you sampled the tastiest tacos (provided by Las Tres Americas food truck) or drank cool, refreshing sangria (served by Top Shelf Tipsy Trailer bar truck). And some of you contributed pocket cash to the raffle or to the doughnut jar. (Doughnuts, by the way, came from Salinger’s Orchard and were donated by long-time volunteer Lisa Cohen.)
And all of you, in one way or another, soaked up the music that filled the sky over the farm.
The musicians who performed were outstanding and reminded all of us what it means to donate time and talent. They agreed to travel to Clinton Corners and play for us–for zero pay. Enormous thanks to Brad Cole, Christine Chanel, The Downside Up, and the Dan Zlotnick Band. And as if that wasn’t enough, they made it a point to thank 13 Hands for including them in this event.
Keeping the positive vibes going, I’d like to share some comments I heard throughout the benefit. They truly capture the spirit of the day:
The bands are so good.
What a beautiful event.
Amazing cause.
I’m so happy I came.
The doughnuts are delicious!
There’s so much good stuff to buy.
The bands are great.
The horses are in such good shape.
The animals are just incredible.
This is so much fun!
The pottery is beautiful. I can’t believe it was all donated.
The music is unbelievable.
Great vibe!
The food is really, really good.
I love the jewelry.
The property is so well-maintained. I’m so impressed.
Amazing day!
All of the bands were so good.
Zebras!
We had a great time!
The music was fantastic.
Please do this again.
We cannot wait for next year.
I’ll end this recap with two powerful moments–moments which, if we let them, can anchor us, help us answer the question about why taking care of horses is crucial to us as humans.
First, when our littlest guy, mini-horse Eclipse and his mom Cee Cee, came out of their stall for their evening turnout, Eclipse had a good case of the zoomies. Running around his pen like a little fireball, he inspired a swell of laughter and curiosity among all of us. “Look at him go!” Eclipse’s energy and joy were palpable, his tiny hoofbeats heightening our experience. What a gift to witness him in a moment of play, a luxury he would never have without 13 Hands.
And last, at one point when the music was coaxing us to sway and dance, I glanced over at Murdock, the buckskin gelding whose sore leg is currently keeping him from being in the field with his buddies. He had already gotten so much love and attention from our visitors, and in this moment, he was by himself, standing still in his paddock, maybe fifty feet from where the band was playing. He’d finished his hay, and was basking in the setting sun. Often, a horse will sleep after eating, but Murdock was fully awake, ears forward, eyes bright, his full attention on the music. I can’t quite find the words to express what I saw in him right then, but it felt mystical.
Maybe it was the connection he felt to all the people who stroked his neck and ran their fingers through his mane throughout the day. Maybe it was Marylou playing the tambourine and singing with the bands in the jam finale. Or maybe it was just another moment in the life of a 13 Hands rescue, replete with certainty that he is safe from harm and that joy is no longer impossible.
Please join us next year. You won’t want to miss it.
With love and gratitude,
Karen
