I have to preface this entry with the perspective that I am so grateful for the opportunities presented and manifested in 2023. I tried to engage in everything possible. Admittedly, I had to recharge my battery for a full-throttle month!
Starting off the month of October, I had the opportunity to see Henry Rollin’s spoken word tour at The Kate in Old Saybrook with my great friend and relative, Marilyn Malcarne. His books were instrumental in my life 20 years ago during a very dark time in my life, and I’m so privileged to have had the opportunity to be part of a meet and greet at the show for the first time.
I also had the opportunity to promote CDHR’s Oktoberfest at WFSB and WTNH:
The WFSB interview in studio: https://www.wfsb.com/video/2023/10/03/ct-draft-horse-rescue-oktoberfest-108/?fbclid=IwAR1E_vUxZEWQV5X48ifzNYn7To-XlphqqUABKjByHFIzg1aZs5Avvv6h1v4
The WTNH interview at CDHR’s Autumn Ridge farm: https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/middlesex/horse-rescue-farm-to-hold-oktoberfest-in-east-hampton/?fbclid=IwAR1bbceE8efqIIBVhMfg5tJd0THr5ZRf0uxq0sYfoEmohXjG7bNhgTQN9-E
I am absolutely delighted to share that my painting “Be a Rainbow in Someone’s Cloud” won first place in Gallery 53’s 99th Annual Fall Show, an award in honor of Eunice Goodyear. This was inspired my Maya Angelou’s profound words.
I was accepted as a member of the Connecticut Women Artists and participated in the membership meeting in Seymour, CT with my friend and fellow artist, Lisa Helene. This was my first time enjoying an afternoon tea!
I also did another LMMM Gala photoshoot! Always amazing with Charles Hill and Melissa Feliciano. Here are just a few of the photos from the evening:
The day after the LMMM gala, I had the privilege to photograph a bunch of mini sessions at Danielle’s barn, Twin Brook Stables. I have loved photographing her, her horses, and her clients for many years and I’m just so grateful.
The following week included the “Save a Horse, Buy Art!” juried art show and sale to benefit the Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue. It was a wonderful success featuring 14 award-winning artists and 7 of the 52 pieces sold in just two days. My photo “Fiona and the Stormy Skies” and my watercolor “Belgian Brunch” both sold at CDHR’s juried show and sale. Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue Inc. (CDHR) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of draft horses that were bound for slaughter, victims of starvation, neglect, or abuse, or whose owners are unable to provide for their needs. In addition to our work with the horses, we also educate people about the proper care, training, and responsible ownership of horses. We organize gelding clinics to address the problem of unwanted horses, and we promote and support equine efforts and animal rescue in times of natural disaster.
Draft horses are large working horses such as Clydesdales, Shires, Belgians, Percherons, Haflingers, and Suffolks. Measured in hands (4 inches), drafts can range from 16 to 19 hh and are often known as gentle giants - extremely powerful, muscular, and tall yet sweet in nature with patience. They are versatile in their talents including farming, riding, and driving. Some drafts eat as much as a bale of hay a day, and CDHR spends approximately $30,000 on hay alone to feed our rescue horses, never mind hay, grain, medical care, property expenses, and more.
CDHR was established in 2011 by our Founder and Executive Director, Stacey Golub, DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), and since that time we have rescued 139 horses. This year we have rescued 12 horses and 11 horses were adopted. We moved to our farm in East Hampton in 2017 we named "Autumn Ridge" after Autumn the Clydesdale. We have almost 100 volunteers. Our visiting hours are 10 am to noon on Saturdays and Sundays. We have run a number of very successful capital campaigns that have helped us purchase the property, build the farm literally from the ground up, build paddocks, purchase a hay storage building, and most recently build our new barn.
Our website is ctdraftrescue.org, our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/ctdraftrescue, and we are ctdraftrescue on Instagram.
Since we are an all-volunteer rescue, all of the money goes directly to the horses! We do all of our fundraising ourselves, including this art show to benefit the horses. I have been with CDHR since 2014 and love to share my experiences with the organization - rescue is a rollercoaster ride with dramatic highs and lows, and although it isn't easy, it is always worth it. CDHR has been a major catalyst in my creative journey since 2014 and I always love it when the art world and the horse world connect.
Finally, I’m delighted to share that “Fiona & the Stormy Skies” was accepted into Hygienic’s “f-Stops Here” juried art show and won a third-place award! Special thanks to juror Rick Welsh for selecting my photo as one of the 62 pieces in this wonderful show. Fiona is a 21-year-old Percheron mare rescued by @ctdraftrescue earlier this year. I always love it when the rescue horses of CDHR are featured in galleries!
I look forward to sharing my November with you soon!