Perfecting the Pink Ride for Life Celebrates 10 Years
by Carly Weilminster
T e color pink has traditionally represented femininity and gentleness, but now there is a deeper meaning beyond its girlish stereotype. Pink has come to represent nationwide eff orts to support educa- tion and research that will provide hope and strength for thousands of men and women diagnosed with breast cancer each year. In 2013 alone, more than 232,000 new cases of breast cancer were detected, forever alter- ing lives and dreams. Potomac Valley Dressage Association’s Ride for Life, which was held on June 22-23 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, is an annual event that invokes the color pink to raise funds for the cancer-fi ghting eff ort, as well as to celebrate the survivors. Many members of PVDA and the Ride for Life committee are survivors, as are a number of the competitors and volunteers who work tirelessly to ride cancer-free. Pat Artimovich, a longtime PVDA member and breast cancer survivor,
refl ected on her experience and
described her appreciation so eloquently: “T ere is gratitude through the treatment they’ve been through and they want to help others going through the same thing. It makes you feel like you’ve had an impact in the most beautiful way. It has become a touchstone, a sense that there is a community out there, a sisterhood, and the experience culminates in an attitude that wants to beat this dreaded disease and to also become stronger people while doing it.” Cancer disregards level or experience, but
forces individuals to focus on something terri- fying and life-altering. Yet riding seems to ease that burden. “Horses, because they’re animals, only live in the moment, and they don’t look far ahead, they aren’t fearful of impending mortality, they do things in the moment, they live in and for that moment and it is pure joy. When people ride, especially those touched by cancer, the horse provides an unconditional sense of acceptance and aff ection, a shoulder to cry on, and something to center yourself on. T ey give you a positive focus. It’s a mental exercise and a spiritual one, too. You live in the moment and you make whatever you’re doing perfect and
26 | THE EQUIERY | SEPTEMBER 2013 that is what it’s about,” said Pat. Ride for Life founder Pat Artimovich
Paying It Forward Pat founded the two-day event in 2003. Af- ter her diagnosis and long-fought battle, she became adamant about fi nding a way to pair both her love of horses and dressage with a way to help fi ght, support and fi nd a cure for the disease that drastically impacted her life and the lives of so many others. “I often de- scribe this as my personal Field of Dreams. I really wanted something to give back to the community and to Johns Hopkins. T ey’ve
See more photos from the 10th Annual Ride for Life in this issue!
done so much to ensure my survival and al- lowed me continue my riding, giving me the ability to continue pursuing my dreams. It’s a heartfelt thank-you and a way to pay it for- ward,” she said. T e Ride for Life’s Dancing Horse Challenge and U.S. Dressage Federation-recognized com- petition has sparked interest and awareness in the equestrian community concerning breast cancer and the countless ways that individuals can contribute. “We want people to see the value in this and we hope that answer is in the affi rmative. We hope that the charitable value will help con- tinue to bring awareness and attention to this event. T at is the face of eques- trianism in this area and this is what dressage is about,” said Pat. Funds raised throughout the show are do- nated to Johns Hopkins Avon Foun- dation for Breast Cancer. Generally, all riders and numerous volunteers, whether competing in the Dancing Horse Challenge or the recognized event, are encouraged to raise money. Mary Sue McCarthy, who serves as the chairman of volunteers for the performance show, told us that the event creates a unique opportunity. “It gives everyone a chance to do their part, whether it’s riding in the event or manag- ing or supporting the event,
there’s a wide range of ways participants can support breast cancer research, which is what makes our event so special,” added Mary Sue.
Volumes of Volunteers Planning the event, which needs hundreds
of volunteers and takes thousands of hours, be-
gins almost a year prior to the event, normally resuming after a short refl ection period, giving dedicated workers and volunteers a well-de- served rest. Vendors, merchandise, sponsorship, and entries are all pieces of the gigantic Ride for Life puzzle as Pat described it. When com- pleted, they form this incredible event, but if one is missing, the puzzle is unfi nished and the competition could not be as successful. Many of the hardworking and dedicated individuals have full-time jobs and their own personal obligations to tend to. T e willingness of volunteers to contribute their time is obvious in the overall success of the show. “T ere is a huge requirement for volunteers, but most volunteers are happy to help. Finding the quantity of volunteers we need is usually challenging, but we’re very lucky and have a special cadre of volunteers who believe in the cause,” said Mary Sue.
National Attention
Ride for Life perfor- mance show volunteer coordinator Mary Sue McCarthy
Each year, when the committee comes to- gether to try to improve the event from the previous year, they work towards bringing more mainstream and national attention to their cause, including bringing nonequestrian view- ers to the event. Over the past three years, many major media outlets have become involved, from ra- dio coverage to live stream- ing via television. “Another focus we have, that we share with the USDF, is to inter- est members of the general public to become enthusi- astic about the sport. We want kids to say, ‘I want to take up riding.’ Many times, people return to this sport later in life, like myself, and this is a chance to reach out to them as well. We want to inspire people so they hope-
fully have a better understanding of dressage,” Pat said.
Dancing for Dollars
As for the competition itself, the Dancing Horse Challenge always attracts a bevy of rid- ers, sponsors, and spectators who want to catch a glimpse of many elite horse and rider partner- ships in the equine community. Jeff Dwyer, a Maryland native from Gambrills, won the Peo- ple’s Choice Award the night of the Dancing Horse Challenge aboard the chestnut Morgan
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Tracy McKenna
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