Filed under: StarDust Blog
Most of my family, my riding club, and my good friends are in the Union Parish C.E.R.T. team. When a call goes out that someone is missing or someone has wandered off, they mount up on horseback and go where no cop car or four wheeler can go. They brave thickets, thorns, and trees to save whoever needs help. And sometimes, it’s not even people. Sometime last year, the team mounted horseback to help the Union Parish Sherriff’s Department search for stolen merchandise that someone had tucked away in the nearby woods.
This particular drill helped the team to better themselves. The scenario was that an elderly diabetic man had wandered off and it was up to the C.E.R.T. team to find him. And indeed, they found the stuffed dummy within 27 minutes, which is astounding in its own right.
But what these men and women do goes above and beyond the call of duty. I’ve never seen such courage and such bravery. And physical stamina! Whether it’s raining, sleeting, or snowing…these brave souls find it in their hearts to tough it out.
Here are just a few photos that I took. I hope you enjoy.
Whoever said horses don’t have attitiudes…lied! Because this one’s a waynch! (Haha..and my oldest brother Rollin got the great pleasure of riding her!..)
C.E.R.T. Director, Rita Massey, gives the group their mission and a short pep talk.
Filed under: StarDust Blog
In the horse world that I live in, there are these events called “playdays”. Each year, our riding club has a series of them and children young and old ride and compete to win either tack or a buckle. The events range from barrel racing to pole bending. (Horsey terms, no doubt. If you don’t ride, you probably have no idea what those events are.)
Nonetheless, my little niece and myself are riding in the playday series this year. My niece has actually recently graduated from her first horse Puddin’ to her second horse Thunderbolt. It sure was quite refreshing to watch her as she follows in her mother’s, uncle’s, Grammie’s, and Big Daddy’s footsteps…riding horses. I love her with all that I am.
Anyways, here are a few shots from the playday last weekend. I’ll post more when the next playday rolls around at the first of April.
Please forgive the grainy-ness of the photos. I’m at the dorms and I miss my photo shop! 
