RCF wins 2012 parade prize

What can I say about the Christmas Parade that hasn't already been said?  What pictures can I post that haven't been posted?  We know we were awesome.  We know we pulled together and accomplished much in a short period of time. We know we were awarded "The Most Popular" by the judges (see where the Summerville Journal Scene announced the award in their recent article).  Much has been said.  Much has been done.

Personally, I was amazed at the hard work so many people did to make the parade work. In particular, Faith, who organized and painted so well; Mary, who planned, and arranged, and even made a color-coded map of what trailers carried which horses; Rob, who cut and shaped and built - and rebuilt - the float and the poop wagon; Roger and James and Steve who carried and assisted and built. Steve and Sherry, who provided the flatbed truck and drove it, with style;  Tisha and James who provided the golf cart, complete with DVD player; Debbie, who brought boxes for gift wrapping; Madi and Emily who painted and assisted and decorated; Brianna, who painted horses' hooves shiny green.  Sarah, Abby, and Rachel who helped riders get decorated and tacked up, and then walked along with the horses; Sue and Jeremy who scooped; Annette and Christina who towed and tacked and handed out candy, and made sure Luke had fun; Bethany and her family, Laura and her family, Tisha and her family, Tammy and her family who manned the float, handed out candy, and tried to keep balance as the horses ate the hay out from under them; John who towed and supported his two riding girls; Katie who persevered through the bird dog/road kill incident and carried a lead rope, just in case of a runaway horse; Brooke, Becca, Mandy, Jenna, Mary, Luke, Faith, and Rob who rode their horses, waved at the same time, and made it look easy.  And so many more people and activities than I can list here. 

I guess, to me, the most important lesson that comes out of the parade experience is trust.  Trusting others to do their jobs.  Trusting horses to stay focused.  Trusting the process itself.  And I see the parade as a microcosm of the farm itself. 

We are part of a larger community, our barn community, and each day we participate in a cooperative act.  We choose to be here. We could go buy our own land and care for our horses.  We could take our horses to other barns.  We could stop riding altogether.  However, we make a choice, each day, to be a part of Rose Court Farms.  In making that choice, we give up a little autonomy.  We give up a little independence.  We give up a little privacy.  And we don't always get our way.  But that is the price we pay to be in any community -- and what we give up is nothing compared to what we gain. 

We gain a beautiful place to ride.  We gain fine care for our horses.  We gain a safe place where our children (linked by blood and/or love) can be children and play.  We gain entrance into a society of horse-loving people who set models for our children in their strength of character and commitment to community.  To get all this, we just have to trust, like in the parade. Trust others to do their jobs. Trust horses to stay focused. Trust the process itself.

So, when I look at the parade pictures, I see not only horses and floats and wagons, I see community.  Hard work.  Fun.  And trust.  We are lucky, here at Rose Court Farms, and the parade is just one way we get to show it.  Bravo, everyone.  Congratulations on a job well done.