PVDA Ride for Life

For once in my life I hit the jackpot. I replied to Mike B’s post on an event thread that he created on Unilocal.It was a raffle for 2 tickets to see some horses dance. I had no idea what that meant or what the event was about. And to be frank, I really did not care. I was entirely focused on the prize: two tickets to a black tie gala at a banging $ 100 a piece, open bar all night, and unlimited food… and I won. Little did I know what the event was for and that unlike any Unilocal event I attended in the past, I would experience a mixed bag of emotional moments throughout the night.
The event that I attended is an annual weekend family event held at the Prince Georges Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro MD to raise funds for breast cancer research and to improve the lives of those affected and their loved ones. Since its inception in 2004, the event has raised over $ 500,000 for the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center.
The event that I attended, the Saturday evening Dancing Horse Challenge, is a lyrical blend of dance, music, and equestrian prowess woven into a touching and theatrical performance. The equestrians who performed at the event were world class riders, some of whom were Olympians. Contrary to the description, the horses do not «dance». It’s a bit hard to describe the movement of the horses but I’ll try. The basic «dance-​step» involves the horse moving its leg up as it goes forward, pausing for different intervals in the air, dropping its leg, and then moving forward. Although it is minor, the length of time the horse keeps its foot in the air somewhat matches (let’s be realistic it’s a horse) the beat of the music in the background. If I were to describe an action that is similar, the whole sequence reminds me of a person tip-​toeing around the house at night to be quiet. It was quite amusing to watch the horses «dance» in this manner.
The dramatic effects of the «dance» were enhanced through the body languages and facial expressions of some of the horses. In one sequence when Western movie music was playing in the background, a horse was slowly dragging itself forward as if it were retreating in defeat after a battle. It had a sad facial expression and it shook its head slightly while wagging its tail. Once the music changed to something exciting, the horse would jump around happily and side-​step. I had my fair share of chuckles and laughs watching the horses blend in and match the music sequence and I must say that their acting was better than what I have seen from some actors in recent Hollywood films.
While I enjoyed the show, the event had its mix of sad, funny, and happy moments. It was sad in hearing and seeing the emotional turmoil that breast cancer patients were experiencing through the conversations I had with attendees, the stories I heard, and the videos that were shown at the event. Sure we all know about breast cancer and I have been fortunate that no one in my immediate family or friends had experienced or have undergone the painful experience. As much as this was a time when I enjoyed the show, it was also a time of reflection on my part and to be thankful for being in good health to go out, explore and eat at new places, and live a healthy life. I’m thankful to Unilocal and to PVDA Ride for Life for a very fulfilling night and I wish the organization continued success in its efforts to fight breast cancer.