A POST TO FARRAH'S FANS
Initially I admit I had reservations about establishing
a gofundme site for Farrah and Sinead’s 2015 Campaign. It doesn’t seem like asking people for money
to help Farrah get to shows and compete in them is worthy of a gofundme
campaign. There are so many other causes that are clearly of great
importance: people’s health and
necessities should absolutely come first.
However, in speaking with a friend, she mentioned that other athletes,
and specifically eventers, also had the same reservations. A few went forward and set up gofundme sites
for their needs: one to get his
horses across the US to compete at Fair Hill in 2014, another to ship an aged
mount they had lost track of back home for retirement. Each of these endeavors was successful and I
think the equestrian community, and specifically eventers, are quite supportive
and close knit.
Sinead and I tossed some ideas around and have since
launched Farrah’s Campaign, you can find it on www.gofundme.com/helpfundfarrah. Instead of simply asking for help with no
return, I started canvasing my friends and fellow equestrians for donations of
auction items. At least if you
receive something in return for your generosity, I will feel less like I am begging for handouts! I know it is a
privilege to own a pony that competes at the upper levels, and it is
unfortunate that I don’t have the financial means to get her to Advanced on my
own. I am so incredibly grateful for the
support from Farrah’s Fans (Facebook and in the flesh) and the generosity of
other professionals within the eventing and pony communities.
So far, we have had three pony stallion owners offer to
donate breedings to their pony stallions for auction, of which one stallion
owner offered five!! This stallion, the
New Forest Pony Stallion, Carlo, is Farrah’s grandsire and stands in The
Netherlands. He is only available to
European breeders and fans, but their generosity is incredible. Carlo stands at Hengstenhouderij
Reilink. Winners of the auction can breed their own
little Farrah’s! My good friends at Elderglen Farm offered their
Connemara Stallion, WH Topgun, because they thought maybe my Connemara friends
would want to help and they are correct!
Topgun’s breeding has already been claimed. We still have two North American breedings to
auction, to the incredible Trevelyan Farm New Forest Pony Stallion, Wickedcourt
Jester. Trevelyan Farm bred Farrah and are so excited to see her at this level of competition. It amazes me that these breeders
will stand behind my pony, OUR pony, Farrah, to keep her competing with the
incredibly talented Sinead Halpin.
Other professionals have jumped onboard: Sinead’s husband Tik Maynard donated a lesson
to auction, my own trainer Ashley Leith offered up two lessons to auction and
Hilda Donahue offered to teach a clinic at my farm in March with half the
proceeds going to Farrah’s campaign! We
have been offered art to auction, jewelry and necessities like Point Two
replacement canisters! Awesome
photographer Valerie Durbon sent us pictures worthy of signatures and framing,
and Sinead is offering a cross country course walk. I am offering free schooling show vouchers
for local fans, and more offers are coming in. I have to update almost daily from the new offerings. To follow the Facebook auctions, please visit Farrah's Facebook Page: Forrest Nymph.
I am so proud to belong to the eventing community and Sinead and Farrah
and I thank you so much for your continued support as they work
this spring to solidify their partnership and take on Eventing at the Advanced
Level.
Humbly yours,
Beth Davidson
