Updates on the happenings at Dawn of Promise

Here's a note I sent in for the Region 5 report at the Annual Meeting of the American Connemara Society. I thought perhaps those of you who subscribe to the blog might also find this of interest.


Dawn of Promise Farm - Updates on activities of 2008


At Dawn of Promise Farm in Battle Ground, Indiana, Vickie Maris is working with Serendipity's Savannah in preparation for the testing to obtain registration through the Delta Society as a pet-partner team. Savannah was featured in a recent edition of the American Connemara magazine after she and Vickie visited the nursing home where Vickie's late father was residing. Savannah quietly walked the hallways of the facility greeting residents and even walking willingly through narrow hallways into the residents' rooms to make visits with people who were bedridden but still wanted to meet a pony visitor!


(Photo is of Vickie and Savannah greeting neighbors, Travis and Jennifer along with Col. Sparks)

Once the pair is registered as a pet-partner team with Delta Society, Savannah and Vickie would receive identification badges, would be covered by Delta Society insurance during their visits and would be on a list of teams available for making hospital, nursing home, therapy center, and school visits. Vickie sees potential in a couple of her other ponies for this role and plans to work with one of her new llamas as a teammate as well. For others interested in animal assisted therapy with dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets, llamas, or ponies, the Delta Society website provides details on the training and application process.


(Photo - Vickie meeting Velvet.)











Lougin's Aragorn "Conor," a 5-year-old gelding at Dawn of Promise Farm bred by Loughin Farm, is being ridden at Dawn of Promise by event rider Becca Perry. Becca found Dawn of Promise in a web search and was excited to find she only lived 1 mile away! She is getting her master's degree at Purdue University while her husband is assistant manager of Prophetstown State Park in Battle Ground. Becca and Vickie are preparing Conor for a couple combined tests or events next season. Conor, with his humor, wonderful talent, and constant desire to please, has very quickly recruited another Connemara enthusiast into the fold!

(Photo - Becca and Conor during their first ride.)