NCDCTA March 2010

Amy Bresky: Volunteering is Second Nature

“Make a living by what you get. Make a life by what you give.” Winston Churchill

Just mention the word “volunteer” and one face, one name, comes to mind: Amy Bresky. One will never catch this diminutive red-haired powerhouse idle, even at shows where she is competing one of her two successful FEI dressage horses. If she has an hour to spare, she is at the show office looking for a job to do.

It all started over 30 years ago in her home state of Massachusetts. Her sister’s boyfriend recruited her help to run a bike ride as a cancer fundraiser. Fast forward to present day: The Pan Mass Challenge is the largest sporting fundraiser in the world, consistently raising over $30 million per year for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (www.PMC.org )

What started as a handful of cyclists and Amy driving a pickup truck is now over 5,000 cyclists, 4,000 volunteers, and five paid staff. As Director of Operations, Amy tackled the logistics of housing the riders and staff for the two day 192 mile ride by commandeering the Massachusetts Maritime Community, using the military naval base school and the docked ships as a giant bunkhouse.

“It’s been a unique experience,” Bresky said. “The sense of camaraderie is overwhelming, everyone has a story to tell.”

Luckily for us, Amy’s own story is that she visited and fell in love with Southern Pines in 2002. She bought a farm, and each year arrives earlier in the fall and leaves later in the spring. After serving for years on the board of the New England Dressage Association, the country’s second largest GMO, she relinquished her position as year-end awards chair because she was back in NC at the time of the banquet. But she still runs two or three horse trials every summer on 213 acres of public land which, true to form, she helped put into conservation restrictions.

Amy’s list of missions and projects would fill a book. She served as president or vice president of the West Newbury Riding and Driving Club for 16 years. She was on the board of the North Shore Hunter-Jumper Association and chaperoned kids to the National Horse Show for seven years. She is the dressage chairman for The Fork CCI*** every April. The list is endless…

“I like working with different disciplines,” Bresky said. “And it’s really just fun being a volunteer instead of always being the manager!”

Amy has run a construction company, owned a stained glass studio, and is a talented amateur dressage rider. She trains with Verne Batchelder, clinics with Jim Koford, and earned the 2009 NCDCTA HOY Intermediare 1 reserve championship despite leaving town right after the Pinehurst show in May. She is divorced (still friends), no kids (but a gazillion horses, dogs, and cats), and co-owns her properties with friends. “As a single person, it works well for me. If something happens to me - it’s theirs. And the reason why it works is that I would put my horses in (the co-owners’) possession and walk away. It’s a relationship built on complete trust and respect.”

Walk into the immaculate barn at Friendship Farm and the first thing one notices is labels, everywhere. “I think (making signage for the bike ride) has turned me into a compulsive human being,” Bresky mused. “Details count. I think in another life, I would be a systems analyst. I like to discover how to make things run smoothly”.

So is it nature or nurture? Are volunteers and philanthropists made or born? Ask Amy about what motivates her, and she just blushes, “I’m so lucky that I don’t have to have a 9-5 job, it’s my job to give back.”

Editor’s note: Amy Bresky’s website is www.FriendshipFarmSP.com

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Q: A friend recently dislodged a stick from her horse’s throat to prevent him from choking. She apparently saved the horse. But in the process, her fingertip was crushed beyond repair. For those of us who would like to keep all ten fingers, can you provide some sort of guidelines in case we run into a similar problem with choking? Sincerely, Guitar-Picker in Asheville

A: Dear Guitar-Picker,
Most of us would consider your friend very brave. I doubt that you will see most veterinarians putting their hands deep into a horse’s mouth without some means of keeping the mouth open, such as an oral speculum. It would probably have been more prudent to have called a veterinarian to have the stick removed. In an emergency, it is possible to put your hand into a horse’s mouth if you use the back of your hand to push the tongue between the upper and lower arcades, or pulling the tongue far to the side, (hopefully/optimistically) preventing closure of the teeth.

I think we have two different scenarios to discuss here. The first is the problem with a stick caught in the back of the throat. This could cause serious problems if the pharynx, esophagus or trachea is lacerated or punctured resulting in infection and marked swelling resulting in difficulty swallowing or, less commonly, breathing. These problems would take a few days to develop giving the horse owner time to have a veterinarian out to remove the stick and start the horse on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications.

The second scenario is choke. Choke in the horse is secondary to obstruction of the esophagus, not the trachea as seen in humans. Therefore, horses with choke do not have trouble breathing. Signs of choke include watery saliva, with or without feed material, coming out of both nostrils. The horse may stand with its head and neck extended and may look distressed. We usually see choke soon after a horse is fed its grain or pellets. Horses may bolt their feed if they are very hungry or feel the need to eat too quickly because of competition (real or perceived) from other horses.

Treatment of choke is fairly straightforward. In many cases, taking away feed and water for 1-2 hours will sometimes allow for relaxation of the muscles of the esophagus allowing for spontaneous resolution of the obstruction. Tranquilizers such as acepromazine and xylazine can promote muscle relaxation. In all cases, you should call your veterinarian to get advice about the treatment of your particular horse. If the choke does not resolve spontaneously, a veterinarian should examine the horse. We use a nasogastric tube to try to relieve the obstruction using pressure from the tube and pulses of water. The BIG RISK of choke is aspiration of saliva causing pneumonia. Risk of aspiration pneumonia is a reason horse owners should not use a water-hose to dislodge a choke themselves. Horses that have had choke are usually treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. They should be closely monitored for development of pneumonia, including taking the temperature twice daily, monitoring for nasal discharge, cough and loss of appetite. A second risk of choke is necrosis of the esophagus from prolonged pressure of the obstruction. Therefore, horses with choke lasting longer than 24 hours are often referred to a medical or surgical hospital where general anesthesia and possibly surgery are used to relieve the obstruction.

Prevention of choke centers on keeping horses from bolting their feed. Feeding hay first to take the edge off of hunger, placing bricks or stones in the feed pan, and feeding anxious horses separately are a few management tools that can be used. In rare cases, esophageal stricture or thoracic mass/neoplasia may cause choke.

Sally Vivrette (DVM, PhD) is the owner of Triangle Equine Mobile Veterinary Services in Cary, NC. She started her practice in 2001 after serving on the faculty at NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine where she was head of the Equine Ambulatory Medicine service. She is Board Certified in large animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and specializes in performance horses and preventive care. She competes in dressage with her 10-year old Hanoverian gelding, “Flash” and in low-level eventing with Susie Wiedman’s Swedish warmblood mare, “Mikhaila”. For more information, call (919) 460-6300 or go to www.triangleequine.com.

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I wanted to say thank you for the beautiful engraved crystal vase that I received at the gala. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of the friends I have made and the things I learned while serving as president. It was a wonderful experience and I so appreciate the gift. Good luck to the new board and I look forward to seeing everyone in this new year.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Mitchell

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PRESIDENT: SUZANNE MULLEN lives in Fayetteville with her husband and two children on their Flintwood Farm. She brings a broad and diverse perspective to her role as NCDCTA president. Although born in N.C., Suzanne grew up in Africa, and climbed Mt. Kilamanjaro in the winter of 1976! Her husband is a surgeon for the Veteran’s Administration, and oldest son is studying aerospace at Auburn University.

Suzanne enjoyed competing hunters and jumpers until the late ‘90’s, and is now supportive of her daughter Erin’s young rider dressage goals. She works full time as communications director for TigerSwan, a global services company offering everything from tactical training for the military to corporate risk management, linguistics, and translation services for the Middle East. Suzanne is especially interested in youth programs, and her main goal is “To somehow fill the giant shoes left for me by (former president) Jennifer Mitchell this year”.

VICE PRESIDENT: ROBYN HAHN lives in Holly springs with her husband and 3-year old daughter. As a graduate of NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, she practiced ambulatory equine medicine in Virginia before returning to N.C. in 2005 to focus on small animal medicine. She also serves as an editor of a healthcare periodical DearThyroid.org. As an active amateur dressage rider and USDF bronze medalist, Robyn boards and trains her young Warmblood gelding Bravo with Becky Blikslager at Windcroft Farm in Apex. As vice president, Robyn is tasked with organizing the annual Gala and awards banquet, and is also interested in volunteer revitalization. She chaired the scholarship committee in 2009 which revamped the entire program.

TREASURER: DAVE STUCKEY is also known as “Mr. Bailey Cook”. He and his wife, prominent dressage trainer Bailey Cook, live in Carrboro. Dave has been our “money guy” for 10 years now, helping to bring solvency and stability to the club’s finances. He spends a tremendous amount of his time as a volunteer, not just for NCDCTA but many other civic groups as well, but his “real job” is as a registered investment advisor, insurance agent, and employee benefits consultant.

RECORDING SECRETARY: BARBARA GIBSON lives in Southern Pines with her husband and daughter. The Gibsons own and operate a busy and popular restaurant, the Lob Steer Inn, on U.S. 1. She is an active lower level eventer with her horse Hawkeye, and just purchased a pony for her daughter Campbell, 8. If Barbie isn’t riding, you can always find her volunteering in a myriad of ways, especially out at the Carolina Horse Park.

DRESSAGE EDUCATION CHAIRMAN: LYNN LEATH lives outside Chapel Hill with her husband Cliff at their North Star Training Center. As a USDF gold medalist, professional dressage trainer and prominent competitor, Lynn is a familiar sight at the shows with her successful FEI horse D‘Artagnan. She spends the winter training in Florida with Kathy Morelli, and hosts regular clinics at NSTC with Morelli and Jessica Ransehausen. Lynn is passionate about dressage education, and welcomes members to join her committee.

EVENTING EDUCATION CHAIRMAN: ANITA QUINN lives in Fuquay Varina and is the mother of two sons; a 20-year old at NCSU and an 8-year old at home. Anita recently gave up her molecular microbiologist job at the Research Triangle and decided to do horses fulltime. As an active competitor, Anita has enjoyed success re-training off the track Thoroughbreds and taking them up the eventing ranks. For the past few years, Anita has shouldered the eventing chairmanship solo, organizing clinics and helping promote the annual NCDCTA Eventing Championships. She is glad to have two more eventers on the board now, Barbie Gibson and Rebecca Mikell. Membership among the eventing ranks is finally starting to rise, thanks to Anita’s leadership and enthusiasm.

COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN: SUE SMITHSON and her husband live in Southern Pines as “empty nesters” (two grown children and two grandchildren). Sue is a retired journalist, active dressage and eventing judge, and horse show manager. As an amateur dressage rider and former eventer, she enjoys a light competition schedule and a lot of trail riding. As a founding member of NCDCTA, Sue brings a historical perspective to her second stint on the board as communications chair, publishing the monthly Newsletter and overseeing the website. She also serves on the competition and HOY committees.

COMPETITION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: DIANE LEFEVRE owns and operates Windstille Farm in Oak Ridge; home to four horses, three cats, and a Corgi. As a Hanoverian breeder, Diane believes in quality mares, and hers have achieved national rankings in the show ring. She and her late husband Steve moved to the Triad from coastal South Carolina in 1998 for better grass and access to vets and farriers. Her “real” job is global project manager for IBM Software Group, and varying time zones allow her flexibility to work from home on a creative schedule, perfect for horses! Diane’s business background blends well with her role as competition chairman, overseeing the NCDCTA-licensed dressage shows which produce funding for educational activities.

MEMBER AT LARGE: REBECCA MIKELL lives in Cary with her husband and two children; one son and one daughter. She enjoys dressage and eventing, and is active in her daughter’s 4-H group Jammin’ Hooves. To help support her horse habit, she is a National Accounting Manager with Liberty Mutual, covering a territory that includes Florida and Texas. Some of her local accounts include the City of Durham and the N.C. State Alumni Association.

MEMBER AT LARGE: CAROL KELLY lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, after having raised two children who in turn produced three grandchildren. She is an equine sports massage therapist, holds a PhD, and has taught applied statistics and conducted medical research. Carol is an amateur dressage rider, moving up the levels with her mare Brocken, and a dog agility / obedience enthusiast. She is also a distance runner, having run many distance races and several marathons, including the Boston. She is currently the chair of two NCDCTA committees: scholarship and volunteer revitalization, and is our “go to” person on constitutional matters.

MEMBER AT LARGE: KRIS DANIEL lives in Louisburg with her husband and two sons, ages 8 and 9. She was a middle school math and science teacher until 2000, when she took the plunge and decided to teach, ride, and train full time at the family’s Briar Creek Stables. As an active competitor on her Friesians, Kris brings the same enthusiasm to her new role as NCDCTA board member. Producing these profiles was her idea, saying “Coming onto the board I quickly realized to my embarrassment I had no idea who half the board members were and would not even be able to recognize them at a show… the next time you are out and about at an NCDCTA event please take time to get to know our board members.”

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February 2, 2010 NCDCTA Board Meeting Minutes

The 02/02/10 NCDCTA Board meeting was held in Pittsboro, NC and called to order at 6:39 pm for the first time by new President Suzanne Mullen. Additional Board members present: Robyn Hahn, Carol Kelly, Dave Stuckey, Rebecca Mikells, Sue Smithson, Barbara Gibson, Kris Daniel Excused Lynn Leath, Anita Quinn and Diane Lefevre

SUZANNE MULLEN/PRESIDENT
Suzanne welcomed old and new board members and introductions were made starting with Robyn Hahn as new vice president, Carol Kelly as chair of the scholarship and the volunteer revitalization committees. Sue Smithson as communication chairperson, Barbara Gibson as recording secretary and Dave Stuckey in his 10th year as treasurer. Members at large present; Kris Daniel and Rebecca Mikells. The suspension of the 2010 CDI was discussed, as well as hopes to run the 2011 edition with new management and significant venue upgrades at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh.

DAVE STUCKEY/TREASURER
Reviewed 2009 budget vs. expenses and 2009 HOY Awards Banquet expenses. Using the 2009 budget as a model, the 2010 budget will remain flexible for the time being. A motion was put forth by Robyn Hahn and second by Kris Daniel that all monies brought in from HOY horse registrations be earmarked for the awards program/ banquet. Vote passed unanimously. All 1099’s for show officials and prize money recipients have been sent out and tax returns sent for preparation.

ROBYN HAHN/VICE PRESIDENT
Robyn is no longer chairing the scholarship committee; she has passed that torch to Carol Kelly. She and Carol are also moving forward with a Volunteer Revitalization Campaign. A survey is planned to collect feedback from the membership regarding volunteer incentives. Membership numbers are encouraging: to date we have 508 paid members, 262 registered horses (156 paid $50 fee, 106 volunteer cards), with 66 new members so far in 2010.

SUZANNE MULLEN & SUE SMITHSON/COMPETITONS
A motion was set forth by Suzanne to sell the NCDCTA Cargo Trailer, second by Dave Stuckey and the vote was unanimous to sell the dual axle 20 ft. 2005 Pace trailer. If anyone is interested in purchasing please contact Barbara Gibson at bgibson17@nc.rr.com. A motion was presented by Suzanne and second by Dave to co-sponsor the Saturday night competitor’s party at the Harvest Moon / GAIGs and this passed unanimously as well. Also submitted was a motion by Suzanne and second by Robyn to submit a bid on the 2011 Regional Championships. Vote passed unanimously.

LYNN LEATH/DRESSAGE (In absentia)
Reported that she is working diligently to set up a symposium to run during the Capital Dressage Classic hopefully beginning mid afternoon and continue into the evening. Two clinicians, one for FEI Levels and one for National Levels, running concurrently. Auditors would have the option of “floating” between them. Details will follow as they become available.

NEW BUSINESS
Discussion regarding the Pro-Am Challenge; a chairman is needed to liaison with NCDCTA Show managers and budget / order prizes. A volunteer is needed to chair this project.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:22pm. The next meeting is a teleconference set for March 2.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Barbara Gibson, recording secretary.

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“Mullen’s Musings”

“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors”—African proverb

And so begins my voyage as your new NCDCTA president: a tremulous step into the cold dark waters, a deep breath to gather my strength as I push this borrowed craft away from the safety of the shore and into the swiftly moving waters. My first instinct is to wait until the sea calms; put off the hard row for another day, avoid the uncertainty of the shifting winds and the fear of smashing to bits against the rocks.

But on the distant horizon, often hidden by the swirling mist, I know there stands a lighthouse. And despite the wind, the waves, the rocky shoal and most dangerous of all, the inexperience of the helmsman, this ship I’ve inherited is weathered and strong. It was hewn from the strongest timber by master craftsmen and experienced sailors who knew the storms that lay ahead and built it to withstand them all. Some of those original craftsmen have remained to protect and guide their creation through the years, ensuring her survival in all kinds of weather; always ready to patch the hull and mend the sails to keep her afloat and on course. Without them, this ship would surely be lost.

Taking over the helm of this treasured craft from a seasoned pro is a daunting challenge for me. Jennifer left NCDCTA with a personal reputation on the regional and national level for passionate, wise and competent leadership. Her tireless efforts, along with those who have served on the Board all these years, have put NC on the map as one of the top tier GMOs in the country, and led to our status as the host of the USDF GAIG Regional Championships in 2010, and with any luck, the BLMs in 2011.

And now I, as your new President along with the rest of the 2010 NCDCTA Board, want you to know we are ready to set sail for that distant shore—that lighthouse that beckons us all to try a little harder every day to be better riders, trainers, owners and enthusiastic supporters of dressage and eventing. We don’t know what treacherous waters lie ahead, but we are a determined bunch and committed to the principles that will see us through and serve us well as board members, equine partners and in life: honesty, compassion, courage, humility, and a healthy dose of good humor.

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TIPS FOR VOLUNTEER ANNOUNCERS
By Sue Smithson

What is it about a microphone that is so scary? Trying to find a fill-in horse show announcer is like asking someone to dance naked in Times Square.

I was working at a large horse trials recently, and we were short one announcer. My husband was assigned the job, but talking is not his strong suit. It’s a guy thing, I guess. His phone conversations are over in 10 seconds flat. (What do you call a guy who is intelligent, good looking, and a great conversationalist? …a rumor!)

Anyway, he handled the microphone like it was a rabid rattlesnake and got an instant attack of the mutes, so I ended up announcing while he marked the control sheet on cross country. I learned some tips to share with willing suckers… er, aspiring announcers.

The first problem is tracking the horses. It’s the “Who’s on First?” scenario. And because there were upwards of 400 horses at this event, the program had many pages. And because of issues beyond my control, the horses went out of order. So with three horses on course at any given time, paper shuffling was all that was heard over the PA until I got a system down.

The trick here is to acquire more programs, and tape each page to the table. To acquire more programs, you may have to mug Aunt Ruth on her way to the water jump, or offer to hold someone’s belongings while they use the portajon, and make off with the goods. Whatever works.

It’s also important to learn the ON and OFF switch on the microphone. Use the ON switch when you bring it up to your mouth. Use the OFF switch when you move it away from your mouth. This is important, particularly when you are about to say something that you don’t want the general public to hear. “Did you see that kid with the orange tack, pink saddle pad, and green glitter in the mane and tail? Looks like the aliens have landed,” are those kinds of comments.

If people want to stand beside you and chat while you are announcing, just hold the microphone up to their mouth. Nothing shuts them up faster.

Another thing to keep in mind is don’t attempt to sound like an announcer. Just speak slowly in your own natural voice. If you try to sound like Carl Castle, you will sound like an idiot.

When you see a name that looks tricky, radio down to the start box or in-gate person and have them ask the rider how to pronounce it. Sometimes names don’t look tricky, and they are. Like when the huffy owner marches over and says he’s surprised that you didn’t know that Weasel is a French word, and pronounced “vee-SALE”.

And one more tip: At a show with 400 horses, you will either have to limit your liquid intake or use a portajon as a sound booth. Breathe, speak slowly, don’t fall asleep, or if you do, try not to snore with the mike on. And remember, it’s just a horse show. Three billion people in China couldn’t care less if you mispronounce Alcibiades.

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It Pays to Volunteer
By Liz Bromberg

Two thickly-stuffed envelopes arrived in the mail recently. No, they weren’t college acceptances or court summonses. I recognized the return address immediately: the NCDCTA’s own Steve Nelles. The envelopes contained volunteer cards.

I counted out a dozen cards to add to my current stash. I had already used one to renew my horse’s NCDCTA HOY eligibility for 2010. I had submitted two for the WEG raffle. For Christmas, I gave one (a $50 value!) to a friend. So what to do with another dozen volunteer cards? Put them on eBay?

I will probably file them away as reminders – not of what I have done for the NCDCTA, but of all that the NCDCTA has done for ME. Believe me, it hasn’t been an even trade. It PAYS to volunteer. Yes, I have written pages and pages of show and clinic reports, and edited a monthly feature. But I have gained so much more than I have given…

• I have met scores of NCDCTA members (virtually and in real time) across the Carolinas and Virginia, who have cheerfully consented to interviews. Amateurs, professionals, juniors, young riders, show managers, volunteers and clinicians have shared their insights and experiences with charm, humor and grace. And, what’s more, THEY have invariably thanked ME for the opportunity to tell their stories!

• I have learned a tremendous amount about riding, training and showing from the Who’s Who of Experts within our very own membership. These accomplished individuals generously volunteer to write answers to our questions, and when I ask for clarification on some small point (which a more educated equestrian might understand on her own), our Experts patiently explain (without making me feel stupid for asking). And then… THEY thank ME. Imagine!

• I have gained great respect for all the people who ride! When I report on shows and clinics, I see how hard everyone works – and works and works and works. This has given me the faith and courage to persevere; I know that I am not alone – it’s not easy for anyone!

• I have gained many wonderful friends – a supportive community of horse-lovers who are happy to share advice, equipment, chocolate and wine. These same individuals are often holding a clipboard at A, or sitting at C – and it can be very comforting to recognize a friendly face or two before you “Enter at A,” because no matter how the ride goes, they will be sure to smile and offer a kind word.

• As an added bonus, I have learned about the art of journalism from the crack staff of the NCDCTA News – and then THEY thank ME! (Crazy, huh?!) Moreover, with their help and encouragement, I have developed an insidious new habit (as if horses aren’t enough) – I can’t stop writing. I am addicted: both to the keyboard and to all that unearned gratitude. So I expect I’ll keep accumulating those volunteer cards… Thanks, Steve!

Editor’s note: For more information about volunteering for upcoming NCDCTA events, contact Carol Kelly at carol_kelly@bellsouth.net or log on to the www.NCDCTA.org website and contact the individual show manager of an upcoming event in your area.

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We'd love your thoughts on the current volunteer system. What makes your volunteer efforts worthwhile to you--recognition, a show T-shirt, a volunteer card? Are you looking for alternate ways to help the NCDCTA because your schedule makes volunteering at shows difficult? The NCDCTA has a big year ahead, with more volunteers needed than ever, and want to make that effort rewarding for all of us. We sent out a survey to get input on what changes would make volunteering more rewarding for you. Knowing that our membership's time is more precious than ever, please consider taking a moment to send in the survey if you haven't already to let us know how, when, and why you volunteer so that we can devise a new volunteer recognition/rewards program. If you missed the survey, feel free to email Robyn Hahn (robynhahn(at)bellsouth.net) or Carol Kelly (Carol_Kelly(at)bellsouth.net) and give us your opinion! Thanks so much!