JJ Update

Dear Friends,

This is where we will send our wonderful therapy horse JJ once we get his room & board covered. This is the Equistar Farm in Sebastopol.

It is lush and green and just perfect for him. He will be looked after and given his supplements by the owner.

We still need $2,400!! We have raised almost $500!! Every dollar helps get JJ to his beautiful new home.

Thank you to all who have donated.

If you have not yet sent in a contribution, we still are seeking support from the community and would be very grateful for any amount !

With love,

Robin & JJ

Equistar Farm
View of barn and pastures from house

Starr and Emie (mare and her filly) at Equistar Farm
Cinderella and friends at Equistar with barn in background and "pamper pasture" area to left

First Week of Camp

The first week of camp was amazing! Here is a pic of the El Dustberry Summer Ranch campers for Week 1!

Our Beloved JJ Goes Into Retirement

Dear Friends,

Our beloved horse, JJ , is somewhere around 33 years old. He has been a wonderful and reliable therapy horse for 6 years. He always seems to know when someone is in need of gentle connection and affection- he always was calm and patient with anyone who rode him, whether an adult or child with cancer or a fragile child…or someone just learning how to ride or relate to horses.

JJ has had a few big jobs in his life- he was a stud horse for a while, and then a western pleasure champion. He was donated to us after his show career and came with very sore feet, hips and back. After a period of time, his feet became stronger and then he really carried a great deal of our program, literally and figuratively on his strong back for years.

Now, JJ is ready to retire – he is arthritic and in need of spending his remaining days in peace and quiet, as a horse not being asked to do anything else but be a horse, in a green pasture.

We are reaching out to you, our community, to please help us with the “JJ Retirement Fund”. We need $2,500 in order to bring JJ to a pasture where he will be taken care of and given the retirement he deserves.

Any donations are greatly appreciated.

You can mail a check to : El Dustberry/ JJ Retirement Fund

4644 Longridge Ave

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Or you can pay online: Go to www.eldustberry.org and click on “Support El Dustberry." Just type in “JJ” in the comment section. We will email you confirmation of your donation.

Thank you for your support.

With love,

Robin and the Staff of El Dustberry, and of course, JJ.

Broadway Gymnastic School Gift Certificate

In order to raise funds for our horses, we will be auctioning off this gift certificate for the Broadway Gymnastic School in Playa Vista, CA. Go to broadwaygym.com for more info. If you are interested in making a bid please email Robin at Robin@Eldustberry.com or call (818) 995-0277. El Dustberry will graciously consider any offer. Thank you!

Erika's Letter

Dear Robin,

Please feel free to share that El Dustberry has really been a source a comfort and support throughout my cancer journey. The ability to be myself without expectations has been a gift that your ranch has given me. All of your wonderful staff, the horses and you have been not only a constant source of comfort and support but also a nurturing force that has sustain me and continues to sustain me during my journey through cancer. The diagnosis of Breast Cancer in early January of this year has had a devastating and huge impact in my life. Many times I have felt alone, discouraged and ready to give up. I am so greatful that I was able to connect with Wespark and then with your program. My experience at the ranch has been a nurturing one that continues to nurture my soul.

Saying thank you is not enough. Words are not enough.

Erika Pappas

October 8, 2008

Sherri's Post

Anyone encountering crisis and/or serious illness such as cancer, knows that it strips you to the core; leaving one lost, scared and in search of wholeness and whole self again.

Through their non verbal communication and unique personalities, the horses challenge you repeatedly to forego self – denial in favor of self – honesty. They demand that you step into the present to face the truths that reflect back to you. In turn they become that “safe place to fall and build trust”.

With them I have laughed deeply again, cried, danced, rolled in the dirt, faced some fears, opened my heart up more, breathed deeper, and come alive through my re – awakened senses. In doing so, I’ve been filling in my blanks with powerful intention to keep alive and living fully too.

Sherri