Congratulations To Everyone Who Entered EHC's Creativity Contest!

Everyone who participated worked very hard, and we are very proud of all of our talented young artists and writers. We hope to make this an annual event!

Drawings
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1st Place: Brittany McGuire Judge's Comments: Great composition, from the position and confirmation of the horse, to shading and coloring... very well done... exhibits strong talent.

2nd Place: Amanda Mazzola Judge's Comments: This drawing was the first to catch my attention, due to the parts of the drawing that have been erased. I could see by these erased lines, that the artist used "perspective" as a technique in drawing the horse proportionately. Awesome detail shown in the jumps. Great job!	3rd Place: Carrisa Lipton Judge's Comments: This grabbed my attention immediately. I love the coloring in this horse, and her thick mane and tail. What I enjoyed thoroughly is that this horse was given the name "Dolly". I appreciate that. And how resourceful was the artist, in adding an additional piece of paper to this drawing, so that Dolly could have a tail? Keep up the good work!	Honorable Mention: Jennifer Nowicki Judge's Comments: I couldn't help but award an honorable mention. Great detail was obviously put into this drawing. The snake in the bush added a great touch. Very Nice!
Amanda Mazzola	Amanda Mazzola	Emily Yaremchuk

Poems
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1st Place: "Riding Bold and Exact" by Scarlett Schiller Judge's Comments: This poem instantly caught my attention. The mood of this poem takes the reader to a serious but positive place. I envisioned the unity between human and horse. Excellent grammar usage, bold yet subtle composition... flowing structure. Incredible!

2nd Place: "What My Trainer Means To Me" by Heather Appelbaum Judge's Comments: The poem brought a warm smile to my face. I read each story and poem several times, but this I read more so. There is nothing in the world like an eager, willing student, and the appreciation they have for the instructors. Kudos to Heather and Terry!!!

3rd Place: "In Loving Memory of Seeker" by Ariel Berry Judge's Comments: I appreciate someone that appreciates the small things in a life. Clearly, the author of this poem doesn't miss much, from a nicker, to a coat shimmering in the sun. I was sad to see the subject of this poem pass on, but was immediately uplifted to envision him running in the fields of heaven in bliss. This poem left a hoof print in my heart! Excellent work!

"Hard Times" by Jennifer Nowicki

One day, long ago, there was a big deserted field. It was deep inside a forest. Nobody could figure out why the field was fenced in. But one day a young girl went for a walk in those woods. She was new in the area and didn't know much about it. Her name was Gwen. She was walking and found the field. She was puzzled at its purpose of being there. The field was so big Gwen decided to walk its perimeter. As Gwen was walking she heard footsteps. They didn't sound like human footsteps. They sounded like...horse footsteps? Now, Gwen was really confused. She saw a beautiful paint come over the hill. He was a gorgeous buckskin stallion. He had only a few spots, but that was enough to be able to tell he's a paint. The horse came galloping up to her. He came up to her face and did a sliding stop. He was absolutely beautiful! Gwen could tell right away that someone had to be taking care of him because he wasn't emaciated or overweight. The two walked up and over the hill to find the end of the field. To Gwen's surprise there was no gate to get in or out. All there was, was a never-ending fence. The fence made a big octagon shape. In the middle of the field was a large run-in shed. The shed looked like it didn't get much use. There was a small brush in the shed so Gwen started to brush the horse. He loved it. She decided to call him Nova. She repeated the name to herself over and over again. Then once out loud. Nova seemed to perk up at the name. After Gwen and Nova got comfortable with each other, Gwen decided to pick Nova's hooves. To her amazement Nova stood perfectly still and picked up each of his legs for her. After an hour had passed Gwen decided to draw a picture of him. He stood in the same pose for ten minutes while Gwen drew him. She just loved the way he stared at the butterfly.

The next week passed by fast. Gwen would always get up at 5 am to go give Nova a carrot or apple, then she would go to school. After school she would go home and get her homework done and do her chores. Then she would go back out to see Nova and spend the rest of the day with him. She would groom and pick his hooves. After a month had passed she got Nova a yellow halter and lead. Nova would prance around with it on. Gwen trusted Nova with her whole heart and Nova trusted Gwen with his. Gwen would take him on long walks in the forest. He loved to splash in the stream and get all wet.

All during the fall Gwen begged her parents to get her own horse a new blanket. But the blanket would be for Nova. Now that Nova trusted Gwen he let her put the blanket on him. He would now be warm during the winter.

When spring came, Gwen thought it was time to get Nova used to a saddle. Gwen had taken Nova in as her own. Nova would let Gwen do anything to him. He took to the saddle and girth in a snap. The next task was the bridle, which shouldn't be too hard for Gwen always rode in a bitless bridle. Nova took to that pretty well, too. Then came the riding. Gwen felt confident that Nova would do well with having somebody on his back. So during Gwen's spring break she would go and work on trying to mount Nova. She started out by putting just her foot in the stirrup. Then she would just pull herself up, not getting on though. The last two days of her break she had gotten on Nova. She wouldn't have him move just stand there. After he got used to standing it was time to go back to school.

During Gwen's school days she would just brush Nova and tack up. Just so that he would get used to being around her. By the time school was almost over Nova wouldn't even flinch at the saddle or bridle. Gwen decided to move Nova to a bridle with a bit. He still didn't care. By now it was summer. During the nine-week vacation Gwen planned out how she would train Nova. She put it up on a white board inside Nova's run-in shed. The schedule worked perfectly. It gave Gwen enough time to pay attention to Nova and her own horse at the same time. Nova was doing very well. He would just stand there for the mounting. He was doing great at a walk. He had an easy-going gait. His trot was perfect. He could make it as slow as a walk and only step about an inch each step or he could make it as fast as a canter and cover three or four feet at a time. And his canter was a dream. He would just rock back and forth and back and forth. Sometimes he would get quick but only going down steep hills. He loved going on trail rides and going over poles. At the end of summer Gwen had him jumping three feet. Her goal was to get him to jump three feet nine inches in two years not nine weeks! Nova was moving along in his training faster than Gwen thought. Now the trick was getting her parents to get Nova for her. Gwen was determined.

She had asked the barn manager of the stable where she had boards if she could keep Nova there, if she mucked stalls and put in work every day after school. All the barn had to do was to get Gwen's parents to pay vet bills and shoeing. The barn agreed. Nova was about to receive his first shot when the vet found his microchip in his back telling the vet who owned him. The only problem was that Nova's old owners had passed away long ago and he was homeless. So Gwen's parents decided to pay Nova's board and everything. The family gave Gwen's other horse to a little girl for her birthday. So the little girl and Gwen were happy. Nova now belongs to a loving home at Equilibrium Horse Center. As a matter of fact he belongs to a girl named Gwen.

Laura Englehart is an energetic "wild child" who is now twelve years old. I met Laura at Equilibrium Horse Center after I started hanging out there in the summers. She told me a story of her very close friend there, Amy, who she lost one rainy summer day last year. Amy was a gray Welsh mare that Laura had been leasing, and there had even been hushed talk about maybe buying the pony, but that never happened. On August 17, 2002, Amy was turned out in the pasture with all the other ponies, as usual, when, without any warning, another pony kicked out at her and shattered her cannon bone. She died by injection two hours later. Laura wasn't there when this took place. The barn owner contacted her that day and told her not to bother coming to ride Amy because the indoor arena was too crowded because of the rain. That night she went to Damon's for dinner when her mom told her what had happened and Laura couldn't stop crying for days after. She swore that she would never return to that barn, but eventually did so. Laura today is happy and rambunctious, and only on rare occasions does she speak of Amy, and she even rode the pony that killed her horse. Laura seems to have gotten closure and is riding a wonderful yet slightly psychotic Tennessee walker that adores her.