Horse Haven Montana, with Aiken Center for the Arts, EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival and Horse, Human and nature-William Kriegel Foundation announce a unique collaboration of horse and horse-human organizations, bringing the first HeART of the Horse Conference to Aiken, South Carolina this April 23-26.
The Conference will also feature the first “Heart of the Horse” Awards for individuals who are “change-makers.” Janet Rose, founder of Horse Haven Montana, an equine adoption and education organization and EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival says the award will honor three individuals whose life’s work has changed the future. One award will be given to a change-maker in equine arts, one to an individual whose work has focused on human change through horses and the third to an individual who has been a change-maker for horses.
Aiken Center for the Arts is collaborating with Horse Haven Montana, a Montana-based nonprofit which launched EQUUS INTERNATIONAL nearly a decade ago, and Horse, Human and nature-William Kriegel Foundation whose mission is to advance equine and human well-being. They will bring together organizations, films, keynotes and special presentations that focus on the unique and life-changing relationship between horse and human. Caroline Gwinn, director of Aiken Center for the Arts, says this first-ever conference is aimed at celebrating and promoting awareness of the impact of the horse on our lives through media, dialogue and hands-on experiences.
Within a backdrop of award-winning equine art, photography, yoga ballet, music, and award-winning equine films, HeART of the Horse will feature keynotes, roundtable and panel discussions, special presentations, workshops and field trips that shine a bright light on the powerful and life-changing impact of the horse.
HeART of the Horse will open the Conference Thursday, April 23, with a special presentation and cocktail reception honoring Kate Tweedy, whose family owned the greatest racehorse of all time, Secretariat. Kate will share her personal story of growing up with “Penny and Red,” title of the documentary produced by brother John Tweedy and screening that evening at Aiken Center for the Arts. Among other special guest speakers, presenters and keynotes – 22-year old Sydney Collier, Paralympian, preparing for the Tokyo Games who, despite living with a life-threatening disease from a very young age, has taken wing through the horse. With her service dog Logan by her side, Sydney will share a personal journey that will inspire the heart of anyone who has ever known the power and freedom of the horse.
The Conference will focus on the power and impact of the horse on those with physical challenges through therapeutic riding, featuring Alicia Kershaw, co-founder of Gallop NYC and a field tour of Great Oak Therapeutic Riding Center. Founders of diverse and life-changing programs for veterans and horses, will also present. On the arts side, photographer Shelly Marshall Schmidt will present a moving exhibition, “Silent Witness,” that will touch viewers’ hearts with her visual portrayal of veterans and horses. Michael’s Foundation, Saratoga Warhorse Project, Wild2Ride and others will provide a deeper understanding of the role of the horse in helping our military veterans as they come back from war and work to rebuild their lives.
America’s mustangs, sometimes called icons of the American west inspire awe as well as controversy. But these national symbols are impacting the human landscape in powerful ways. Adopted mustangs are taking center stage across the U.S., from working with veterans to prison inmates to national dressage competitions, it’s the mustang, most of them from the wild, that are helping to teach us about “second chances.” One of the presenters will be Joe Misner, founder of Wild2Ride who developed an innovative program in California pairing prison inmates with wild mustangs with resounding success. Joe is also featured in the film, “A Horse, A Convict, A Change for Change,” an award winner from EQUUS INTERNATIONAL and it will be screened during the conference.
Clare Staples, who left a life in Hollywood to save America’s wild horses and founded Skydog Sanctuary for wild horses in Oregon and California, will present her stories of rescue, rehabilitation and reuniting many of the horses who were once part of wild herds, separated by roundup and brought back together by the work of Skydog. A photography presentation of the wild horses across the western landscape will also be featured with international photographer Antonia Wolf. Wolf, who often spends days alone in remote areas of the west with the wild mustangs, has come to know them individually – their lives, their loves and their personalities. She will share some of her breathtaking images and stories as well.
Yoga on Horseback, which many call a form of ballet between horse and rider will also be a featured presentation and workshop/experience for attendees. Ashley Mancuso, filmmaker, FEI Rider through the Grand Prix, horse trainer, and yoga professional, will lead this special presentation. She will also share her award-winning film “Cobra – Wild to World Champion,” about a three strikes mustang who becomes a dressage champion under the guidance and leadership of trainer Marsha Hartford-Sapp
Giving attendees an early preview of the 2020 EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival, that will be held in Dillon, Montana this September, HeART of the Horse will feature one of this year’s exceptional entries: “Desert Flight.” This beautiful film will have a special Aiken premier at HeART of the Horse. Directed by John Azoni, and starring riders Ashlee Bond, Rich Fellers, and Mandy Porter, this film is a real-life look at the bond between horses and humans from all walks of life, and why they dedicate so much of their lives to the equestrian lifestyle. Desert Flight is an Official Selection of the 2020 EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival, Dillon, Montana September 10-12 as part of a national conference – Of Horse, Human and Nature. (www.desertflightmovie.com) or (www.montanacenterforhorsemanship/conference.org)
For more information about registration and sponsorship, please contact Janet Rose at [email protected] or 406.925.3270 or visit www.aikencenterforthearts.org
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