My Aiken Breakin’ HeART… of the Horse Festival

What do you call an Amish guy with his hand in a horse’s mouth? A mechanic.

I grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — Amish Country. As a kid, that joke was hilarious. Horses where just those animals that pulled the buggies that made traffic slow to a crawl. Their metal shoes would destroy the roads. And then there were the road apples. There’s nothing like a fresh pile of horse droppings when you round the corner on your bike a little too fast, so you just pinch your eyes and hold your breath and pedal through.

Then we moved to Texas. We had a small farm and cattle ranch. So there was no time for horses. After high school I moved to San Antonio, so the only time I’d see horses is when cops were on crowd control.

After Texas I moved to Maine. Off the coast of Portland, there’s a small forest in the middle of the water called Walker Island. I was hiking one day, when, in the center of the island, I stumbled upon a cemetery. A pet cemetery. Granite headstones. An iron fence. I was overcome with a sense of calm as soon as I found it. Four of the graves were for hound dogs. Two were for horses. They were buried in the 1870s.

It was one of those moments when something I had only imagined in black and white suddenly had color. The past I knew — grainy photos of still faced humans, never smiling, never emitting emotion —was replaced with the realization that there was a man who loved his horses so much that he had them buried on Walker Island. An entire cemetery was built as a testament of his love for his dogs and his horses. I still get a little sentimental when I think about how much he must have missed them to give them such a beautiful resting place. And I agree with Herman Melville’s assessment that “No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.”

I’ve never been a horse person. I’m a dog person. But I get it. When I was a kid, forced to watch westerns with the old man, I’d never flinch if a cowboy was gunned down. But if they even hinted at hurting a horse, I would be in tears.

But that is the extent of the history I have with horses.

So why am I going to the HeArt of the Horse Film Festival?

I’ll give you 5 good reasons.

#1 Sydney Collier will be there. A rider and horse lover since she was 7, Collier suffered a massive stroke in 2009 following a risky brain surgery. One year later, she attended the World Equestrian Games as a spectator. After meeting Jonathan Metz, a para-equestrian, the two became friends, and Metz became her mentor. In 2012, Collier left her home in Ann Arbor to train with Wes Dunham in Millbrook, New York. Two years later, she earned a spot on the United States Para Dressage Team, becoming the youngest competitor at the WEG in France. She was 16. Collier went on to win the 2016 United States Para Dressage Championships, and she represented team USA at the Paralympics in Rio. She continues her training as she looks forward to the 2020 Paralympics Games in Tokyo.

#2 ‘A Horse, A Convict, A Chance for Change,’ a film that follows mustang trainer Joe Misner, creator of a California based program that pairs prison inmates with wild mustangs. The story depicts his successful strategies, unlikely friendships, and life changing second chances. Misner will be at the festival to share stories and reveal his next project, in Montana.

#3 Cobra. 125 bucks, that was the price Marsha Hartford-Sapp paid for Cobra, a ‘three strikes’ mustang. ‘Cobra — Wild to World Champion,’ a video that won top awards at the Equus International Film Festival 2019, is accompanied by original music by Peter Prince. Ashley Mancuso of Ash Equine Productions, the video’s producer will be on hand to discuss the short film. In addition to her film credentials, Mancuso is an expert in yoga on horseback. You read that right, and it’s exactly what you’re thinking. Ashley will give a presentation, and if you sign up early, you may get the chance to try it for yourself.

#4 Work in progress: ‘A Cowboy in China,’ presented by Lex Hames, a cowboy filmmaker. ‘A Cowboy in China’ is an epic romance based on the real life adventures of Hames’ father. Herding 1000 pack mules across the Himalayas during WWII, bandit armies, shoot outs on the Gobi, a mysterious love interest, surviving the Japanese bombardment of Chengdu — this film has it all.

#5 ‘Riding with thisAbilities,’ a film by Matthew Handal that chronicles ten years of a therapeutic riding program in New York City. Handal introduces us to the young riders who are learning to overcome their physical restraints through their relationships with horses. Alicia Kershaw, a co-founder of GALLOP NYC, will be a guest speaker. Audience members will also hear from Eva Finnan, Great Oak and PATH international region 3 Instructor of the Year, as well as Sydney Collier, reason #1.

Ok, I’ll give you 5 more reasons, real quick:

#6 ‘A Cavallo del tempo (Riding through Time),’ the art of horse riding from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. A unique and “multivision program” directed by Italian filmmaker Gianmarco D’Agostino.

#7 ‘Rainslide,’ an experimental short film by French painter and film director Ariel Noel.

#8 ‘Silent Witness,’ a photography presentation by Aiken native Shelly Marshall Schmidt that documents the relationships between horses and veterans who have been impacted by war.

#9 Kate Tweedy, celebrating the 50th birthday of her family’s racehorse Secretariat. Yes, that Secretariat.

#10 ‘Wild — Goliath and Red Lady,’ a love story (of sorts) about two horses who are reunited after being captured in the wild.

The HeArt of the Horse Festival: A Conference Celebrating the Art of Community and the Equine Spirit takes place April 23 – 26. For tickets and details on events, times, and locations, visit AikenCenterForTheArts.org or EquusInternational.org.

Picture of Matthew Wynn

Matthew Wynn

Matthew Wynn was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in Texas and attended college in Maine and Oregon. He has been an after-school director, a baker, a cook, and a tour-manager for his best friend’s punk rock band. The son of Alan Maclay (a proprietor of Cold Creek Nursery) and Phyllis Maclay (a noted Bella author), he is the oldest and most charming of his five siblings. Matthew is an awesome husband and is super modest. He enjoys the ironic, most things sarcastic, and at times, the sardonic. He is also a dog-person.
Picture of Matthew Wynn

Matthew Wynn

Matthew Wynn was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in Texas and attended college in Maine and Oregon. He has been an after-school director, a baker, a cook, and a tour-manager for his best friend’s punk rock band. The son of Alan Maclay (a proprietor of Cold Creek Nursery) and Phyllis Maclay (a noted Bella author), he is the oldest and most charming of his five siblings. Matthew is an awesome husband and is super modest. He enjoys the ironic, most things sarcastic, and at times, the sardonic. He is also a dog-person.

In the know

Related Stories

Photo Of The Month | RJ Bednez | Palmetto Bella

Photo Of The Month | RJ Bednez

This tree has survived three major hurricanes and it continues to stand tall and strong on Jekyll Island in Georgia. This image was taken right after Hurricane Matthew just as high tide was coming in. As I was sitting there looking at its reflection in the water, I couldn’t help but think of a poem called “The Tree.” Look at you standing tall and strong like a god or goddess of the clouds. Can you speak? Maybe the message you carry is of nothing to speak about. You have seen it all; your age can only mean your wisdom is immense. Won’t you tell us of what you have seen,

Read More »
“Going ... Going ... Gone” | Animal Preservation Through Fine Art | Palmetto Bella

“Going … Going … Gone” | Animal Preservation Through Fine Art

Robert Campbell, Whitney Kurlan, and Camryn Finnan are the featured artists at the upcoming exhibit at the Aiken Center for the Arts.  Each artist is well known for wildlife conservation efforts. These artists depict animals as they are rarely seen — in their natural African habitats. “Going … Going … Gone” is the title of the show as well as a not so subtle reminder that many animals are in danger of extinction. This exhibit is intended to bring awareness to the public and to support the efforts of wildlife conservation organizations. It opens February 4 and extends through March 19, 2021. Artist Robert Campbell has created work for the

Read More »
The Science of Bubbles | Palmetto Bella

The Science of Bubbles

Did you know there is a whole science devoted to bubbles? Bubbles, one of the first toys of childhood, are amazing spheres of color, reflection, elasticity, chemistry, light, and geometry. And yet, most of us know them only as fragile, colorful objects that soar into the sky for our amusement. What actually makes a bubble? Very simply, bubbles are gas wrapped in liquid soap. The liquid molecules sandwich the gas between them in tiny compartments. Bubbles have many more uses than you may think. If you’ve ever had a fizzy drink, you know that bubbles can throw tiny particles (aerosol droplets) into the air. Scientists also know that the bursting

Read More »
Destiny Woodard | Photo of the Month | Palmetto Bella

Destiny Woodard | Photo of the Month

I think “The Strength is in Her Crown” is my best image. Most of my collaborative work focuses on the inner beauty of women, and this image is an interpretation of inner beauty. The image took on a character of embracing God’s authority in women’s lives and finding their strength in His identity. By taking away the distraction of color, turning it into black and white, I am able to focus on the meaning behind the overall image, where her strength lies. When we were taking this image, it happened in the most random spot of a house, but that one spot brought magic. This will be one of my

Read More »