James River Horse Show Blog

May 10, 2010 (Monday)

I'm at the James River Horse Show setting up.  Rose Mount Farm is as beautiful as always. The Garnett family are wonderful to let us hold our show at their beautiful farm. I love it here. The weather is calling for some rain tomorrow - which is a blessing - and hopefully we will get some of that rain at my barn in Carrollton.  Boy it has been dry these past several weeks.   The show starts on Wednesday - May 12 - so rain tomorrow will make it perfect.

Ray Miller is a wonderful, hard working man, who works full time for Rose Mount Farm.  He also helps me at the Middleburg Classic. Well - his 18 year old daughter, Nicole, has been diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.  They discovered a lump a few weeks ago - actually in April, the first day of the Rose Mount Horse Show.  It was a small lump, but by the time it took for the insurance company to okay everything (which took a few weeks) the lump had grown to the size of a basketball.  That poor child has been through surgery, chemo, in and out of the hospital.  Poor Ray is torn up - and rightfully so.  No one should have to see their child suffer.  I feel soooo sorry for him and his wife, and of course his daughter Nicole.  None of us have answers.  None of us know why things like this have to happen.   All we can do is pray for God to give their family peace, hope and strength to get through this very, very difficult time. 

So please, all of you reading this, whether you know Ray or not, please keep his family in your prayers.  The James River Horse Show is taking donations to try and help with their medical bills. If you are reading this and your heart touches you to help out, please send your checks payable to Ray Miller c/o Rose Mount Farm, Post Office Box 440, Spotsylvania, VA   22553.   Ray has incurred astronomical bills already, and on top of worrying about Nicole he has the added stress of worrying about how he is going to pay for this.  So please, anything you can do to help will be a blessing. 

Well - I'm off to bed.  I've had an amazing day, with everything falling perfectly into place.  I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and so many wonderful people who help me at my horse shows.

Nicole Miller Update: Ray's daughter Nicole took a bad turn during the day.  During her Chemo she passed out.  They had to rush her to the Mary Washington Hospital.  Please keep her in your prayers.

Good night, and God bless.

Nardeen

May 11, 2010 (Tuesday)

Today went so smoothly. It was wonderful seeing all my horsey friends again.  I haven't seen most of them since last year at Middleburg Classic. 

Trainers Dale Crittenberger, Peter Foley, Tommy Serio and Mr. Wheeler are here showing again this year.  Dale, Peter and Mr. Wheeler haven't come for the past few years and Tommy hasn't been to Rose Mount in - get this - fifteen years.   Fifteen years, that's a long time.  So I am really excited they're back.  Mark Ferris and Alan Lohman are coming this year, and I don't think either one has ever shown at James River. Also new with us this year are Terry Holmes, Melynda Legg, Chelsie Liming, Marjorie Yeager and Terri Young. I'm very excited about all the new faces that are coming to James River.  And I'm excited about spending the week with my horsey friends. 

As I said above, we are rallying together this week and doing several fund raisers for Ray Miller and his family.  We are having ticketed warm-ups in both rings with a portion of that money going to them.  We are going to put together a Silent and Live Auction.  If you have ANYTHING that you can donate to the Auction PLEASE contact me at 757-846-8176 or at jamesrivershow@aol.com asap.  Vacations are always a popular item in an auction. Years ago at Middleburg Classic we auctioned off Bob Crandall serving Mimosa's in a TuTu and that brought in BIG BUCKS !  How about dinner at Tony Workman's house.   Tony is a fabulous cook!  I'm going to get to work on this.  Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. If you aren't at James River and you would like to place a bid, just let us know.  The Auction will end Saturday.  I'll post the items here asap.  I'm excited. 

Please help out financially.  Ray is struggling.  Dig deep in your pockets and send a donation to help with their overwhelming medical bills.  ANYTHING you can do will be a help.  PLEASE - SEND SOMETHING.   

Make sure you email me with what you will do, then mail your check to Ray Miller, c/o Rose Mount Farm, Post Office Box 440, Spotsylvania, VA   22553.  If possible - please mail it asap so we can present it to Ray on Sunday during the show.  If you can't get it to us by Sunday that is not a problem - mail it anytime.  Be sure to email me with what you will pledge so we can let him know on Sunday. 

Nicole Miller Update:  Things are looking a little better today.  They were able to stabilize Nicole during the night and they are sending her back home.  She will have chemo now for five days in a row.  Keep those prayers coming.

Thank you for helping, for caring and for praying. God bless you.

Nardeen

May 12, 2010 (Wednesday)

A perfect day for a horse show.  Not too hot, not too cold - a light breeze - and sunny.  It just doesn't get any better.  And we have a nice group of exhibitors .  It's not a big show by any stretch of the imagination, but bigger than last year.  So I'm feeling very blessed. It's actually nice to have a horse show that ends at around 3:30 or 4:00, because the day doesn't get so stressful.  And - I'm getting ready to go out to dinner with our officials - Mindy Minetto, George Wallace, Glenn Moody, Wayne Eubank and Kip Broadfoot.  It is so nice to be able to "socialize" a little.  Sure - I wish we were making more money, but as long as we're not losing and everyone is having a good time - that's the most important thing.

I had such a "God" thing happen today.  Well - I need to back track a little.  I have tried and tried to get a photographer to come to the James River Horse Show with no luck at all. It really made me sad to not have a photographer at James River because we have so many beautiful trophies we like to present and take pictures with the winners.  Anyway - this morning I was walking over to the judges stand and I see this young woman taking pictures - with what looked like a camera similar to my daughter Ryann's professional type camera.  You know the kind - the big lens, etc.  So I walked over to her and asked if she had a horse showing, and she told me no she didn't. She said she was starting a photography business and she was practicing. She asked if I minded  Well - she was my blessing of the day.  I asked her if she would like to become the horse show photographer and she was thrilled to do it.  So here is her info for those of you at the show who would like to see your pictures.  Talk about being at the right place at the right time - and I'm referring to me, not Courtney ! 

Photographer

Courtney Geesling

www.photosbycourtney.net

e-mail - info@photosbycourtney.net

Phone: 540-455-0333

Donations are coming in for Ray.  Our horse community is certainly a very special, caring and generous group of people.  I love you guys.

Right now the Silent Auction has the following items.  It is going to close on Saturday afternoon.  If you have something you can donate to the auction please let me know.  And if you'd like to bid on something let me know that too.

Thank you all for your generosity.  We have to all help each other.  And we who are fortunate enough to be showing horses certainly live good lives.  Please be a blessing to this family who need your help. 

Okay, I'm off to dinner. 

Nicole Miller Update:  Things are going pretty smoothly. Nicole is having her chemo and coming back home each day.

Thank you God for a wonderful day.

Nardeen

May 13, 2010 (Thursday)

The horse community is sooooo wonderful.  Donations for Ray Miller have been coming in from all over the country.  I sent out a mass email two days ago and the response has been overwhelming.  God bless all of you for your love and generosity.  I was talking with Ray today and he told me that he had to have a prescription filled for $5,104.00.  He said he had to use his VISA card !    $5,104.00 - for medication for a few days.  UNBELIEVABLE.  So please - if you haven't already done so - please send a donation to:  Ray Miller, c/o Rose Mount Farm, Post Office Box 440, Spotsylvania, VA   22553.  Nicole has had five days of chemo and now she rests at home until next week, then she has one day of chemo, then the following week goes back to five days.  Ray says she has broken out in a rash all over from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.  They are having to apply Aloe and it is so painful for her.  He says it is breaking his heart.  I can't even begin to imagine their pain.  So in addition to your financial support, please keep them in your prayers.

Also - please keep Charlie Weaver in your prayers.  He is not doing well.  Brian and Jenny have been there with him round the clock for the past 3 months. They are amazing.  Pray for the doctors to have wisdom and for everyone to have peace and strength during this very difficult time.  We Virginians all love Charlie.  He is one of the nicest people I know.

On a much lighter note - we had a GREAT day today at the horse show.  Casallo and Bob Crandall won Grand Champion Hunter !   My favorite horse, winning the Blue Ridge Trophy.  Blue Ridge was my precious little 15.0 1/4" Connemara who was Champion of Virginia in the Small Hunter Division four or five times. And that was back in the days when they jumped 3'6".  He was the cutest horse - white as snow, with the thickest most beautiful tail. No fake tail for him.  And - he jumped the ever lovin' best.  I bought him from Richard Taylor as a Large Pony, but he grew out.  He and Peg Parker (Seals now) became famous together.  He was the best - and as far as he was concerned he was 17 hands.  Everyone loved him.  So I was a happy girl when Casallo won his trophy today. I'm working on owning that horse - well, I guess I should say owning 1/2 of that horse and Bob owning the other half.  I think that would be perfect ! 

You know, as I'm writing this about Blue Ridge I'm thinking about how sometimes when things happen to us in life that seem devastating at the time - that those same things may turn out to be the best things that could ever happen to us.  I'll never forget how sick I felt the day Blue Ridge got protested at a local show.  I was sooooo upset.  But - if he hadn't been measured out of the ponies, he would have never become the Small Hunter Champion of Virginia all those years. 

Well - off to bed.  Looking forward to tomorrow.

God bless,

Nardeen

Nicole Miller Update:  Nicole has broken out in a rash all over and it is quite painful. Prayers, lots of prayers.

MAY 14, 2010 (Friday)

Life doesn't get much better than this.  Spending a week at a beautiful horse show, with wonderful people, and watching horses show.  We live such privileged lives. Thank you Lord for all our blessings.

For the past two days Peter Foley has been telling me that he LOVES the horse show.  He said it is "the best kept secret in Virginia."  That made me so happy. 

Here's a picture of the tack stall with the most ribbons !!!  Pam Herman Farms (Pam Herman and Heather Kimnach) have certainly had a successful show and there are two days left to go !  Congratulations you guys.

By the way, Courtney - our precious photographer, is doing a FABULOUS job.  We are so blessed to have her with us.  Talk about being at the right place at the right time.  God is good.

The complete results for the horse show are at www.horseshowsonline.com. 

The donations are coming in for Ray.  People are writing checks to Ray Miller to help with medical expense.  And hopefully a lot more checks will keep coming in.  The Silent Auction has some really nice things in it too.  I can't decide if I want to close the auction on Saturday or Sunday - but I think I'll go ahead and close it Saturday because everyone will be in a hurry to go home on Sunday.  Plus that will give me time to organize it and close it out without being rushed.  Then on Sunday we can give Ray a nice envelope FULL OF CHECKS.

Thank you everyone for supporting our horse show.  And most of all, thank you all for the wonderful support you are giving to Ray.  Keep his family - especially Nicole, in your prayers.

God bless you,

Nardeen

May 15, 2010 (Saturday)

We are having a HUGE horse show.  It has grown, and grown and grown.  It is the biggest it has been in years.  Thank you Lord for good weather. That always makes people want to show.  Today has been gorgeous and it is so fun to see soooo many people sitting around the rings at this beautiful show grounds watching the show. 

The Silent Auction finished a few minutes ago.  All the proceeds are going to Ray.  Thank you EVERYONE who donated something to the Auction.  And thank you everyone who bid on the items.  I'll get an amount posted here soon of what the Auction brought in.

Happy birthday to Andrea - Mike's wife at Showday Cafe.  We had a "little" birthday party for her.

I am having THE ABSOLUTE best time.  I love this "little" horse show.  Thank you guys.  This is the best the show has done in numbers and financially in "years" - many years.  And when I think that on May 5th I was thinking we may have to cancel because we only had 70 entries.  Isn't that AMAZING. Going from almost canceling to the biggest it's been in years.  God is sooooooo good.

I closed out the Silent Auction and it brought in $5,365.00 for Ray !   Isn't that wonderful.  Thank you all so much, and God bless all of you who supported it.  Now tomorrow we will add up all the donations that are coming in.  I can't wait to see how that does.  Our horse community is a wonderful, generous, special group of people.  Thank you all for supporting this family who most of you don't even know.  AMAZING !!!

God bless,

Nardeen

May 16, 2010 (Sunday)

Thank you EVERYONE who helped make this year's James River Horse Show our BEST SHOW EVER !!!    The entire week was wonderful.  Everyone had a good time and the weather was amazing.  Our staff is the best.  Everyone working
"together" to put on a nice horse show.  The week has been so peaceful and pleasant. 

We certainly were blessed with our photographer, Courtney.  She has done a fabulous job.   And let me tell you, it is not an easy job at all.  Standing up all day, holding that heavy camera and making sure you're at the right place at the right time.  She was amazing.  She never missed a shot for the trophy awards - which can sometimes be tricky.  We LOVE Courtney.

The show kept growing in numbers everyday.  We ended up totally sold out in stalls - and that was even with double renting.  We couldn't take one more stall entry.  And Friday, Saturday and Sunday tripled in size from what we had in entries on Monday before the show. 

The caring and compassion from the horse show community for Ray Miller and his family has been wonderful.  We horse show exhibitors certainly live privileged lives.  I think we all recognize that and try to help others.  Caring and helping others is also a privilege - and it actually does more for the giver than the receiver.

The following are the items we ended up with in the Silent Auction.  All the proceeds go to Ray.  The auction brought in $5,365.00.  Thank you ALL so much.

1. Paris - an apartment for a week right in the heart of Paris - Lisa Rossi

2. Hilton Head - a 3 Bedroom condo for a week in beautiful Hilton Head - The Garnett Family

3. A Painting of "YOUR" horses head - Lori's Horse Portraits

4. A Bridle - Champion Saddlery

5. Coupons for 20 bags of Southern States Feed - Alan & Jessie Lohman

6. A Silk Designer Pillow - Horse Country Saddlery

7. A Monogrammed Belt - HR Embroidery

8. A Pearl Necklace - B.J.'s Hunt Room

9. 2 Framed Hunt Prints - Natalia Bledsoe

10. Mane & Tail Braiding at Deep Run Horse Show - Peggy Holt

11. A Wool Dress Sheet - Monogrammed - The Cloths Horse

12. A Grandstand Box OR a 3' Division at the Warrenton Horse Show - Warrenton Horse Show

13. An Alpaca Sweater & Scarf - Whitestone Farm

14. Custom Made Jewelry designed and crafted by 10 year old Elizabeth Mueller - Whitestone Farm

15. 2 Bar Stools - hand painted with fox masks - Edee McGregor

16. Set of 3 Guest Towels - Horse Country Saddlery

17. 2 "lightly used" Martingales - Michaela Wittan

The following people have made donations and they are continuing to come in.  Some people left the show grounds and have called to say they are mailing something in. Thank you Lord for touching so many hearts.

I have not had a chance to really go over this list to make sure I didn't leave anyone off, so please, if you donated something and your name isn't here please forgive me and let me know.  Also - anyone who donated in the show office on their show bill has not been included in this list.  As soon as Debbie gets me that information I'll add those names in.  Thank you all again so much and God bless you.

Donations are still being accepted so it's not too late for you to contribute.  E-mail me at jamesrivershow@aol.com and I'll post it here.  Your checks can be made payable to Ray Miller and mailed to Ray Miller, c/o Rose Mount Farm, Post Office Box 440, Spotsylvania, VA   22553. 

Nicole Miller Update:  Unfortunately, Nicole took a turn for the worst this morning.  At 2 a.m. she was bleeding from her nose.  They couldn't get it stopped.  So they have taken her to Richmond to the Massey Cancer Center.   Lots of prayers are needed.

God bless you for your generosity and caring.

Nardeen

Alan & Jessie Lohman

Betsy Fauntleroy

Bill & Kathy Rittenhouse

Bob Crandall & REC Farm

Caroline Moran

Carrie Kline

CeCe Williamson

Christina Bowen

Claiborne Bishop & The Barracks

Dana Bonnell

Danny Robertshaw & Ron Danta

Debbie Bowden

Denise & Glenn Snyder

Diane Wade

Don Stewart

Elizabeth Keating

Gail Jeffries

Garnett Family & Rose Mount Farm

Gene Paxton

Gottwald Family

Hilary Gerhardt

J.P. Bordeleau

Jackie Lee & Showplace Farm

James River Hunt

Jan Simpson & Eric Dirks - Hampden Row

Janyce & John McLin

Judy & Joe Old

Julie Karpan - Brandywine Tent Rental

Katherine Beale

Kendall Parks

Kenneth Wheeler

Kim Gottwald

Kym Smith

Lauren Peterson Fellows

Lee & Scott Nunnally - Virginia Tent Rental

Linda Foster

Lucy Trieshmann & Sarah O'Dorsio

Lynn Ellen Rice

Mary Lou Yates

Michael & Andrea  De Signore - Showday Cafe

Monica Patton

Nardeen Henderson & Amazing Grace Stable

Neysa Bryant

Norton Family

Pam Hayden

Peg Seals & Freedom Farm

REC Farm

Robert Crandall

Ruth Douglas

Sandy Ferrell

Sandra Kroop

Sarah O'Dorsio & Lucy Trieshmann

Scott Williamson

Sherri Crawford

Steve and Sally McVeigh

Suki Ritter

Susanna Rowe

Terri Wheeler

Tom Brennan

Tommy Lee & Diane Jones

Tommy Serio

Wayne Eubank

Whitestone Farm

Donations to date (including the Silent Auction) is well over $20,000.00.

Thank you all so much.  Ray is overwhelmed by the caring and compassion.

God bless you all.

Donations are still being accepted and the list will be updated as the donations come in.  Thank you.

Ray Miller

c/o Rose Mount Farm

Post Office Box 440

Spotsylvania, VA   22553

More than anything - please keep Nicole and the Miller Family in your prayers.

May 17, 2010 (Monday)

I haven't heard a thing from Ray or Lish.  I'm worried. 

May 18, 2010 (Tuesday)

Nicole Miller Update:  This is from Lish on my Facebook page:

Thank you Lish for the update.  Please keep us informed so I can post it here.  And thank you Lish for a wonderful week at your beautiful farm.  You are one of the nicest people I know.  We are blessed to have the James River and Rose Mount Farm. Thank you for everything !

God bless,

Nardeen

May 19, 2010 (Wednesday)

I talked to Ray this afternoon and he said the doctors have stopped the chemo for now.  They are going to start it back up soon but slow down the amounts.  They think they may be giving her too much, too often.  They also said a lot of what is going on with her is "normal."   All I know is, I don't care if it's normal or not, I feel so bad for Ray and his wife to have to watch their child suffering like she is.  Lots of prayers please.  Today when I got to Keswick, people started coming up to me handing me donations for Ray. The word had gotten out to this group of people and they wanted to help too.  Our horse community is amazing.  Sandy Gerald, Mary Anne Kean, Pam Baker, Betty Oare, Larry Glefke, Susie Olfson, all either gave me a donation or pledged a donation.  Isn't that wonderful!  Lish called and said several donations that had been pledged came in the mail today so I will and get those names posted tomorrow.  Thank you all and God bless you.

More donations (given or pledged today at Keswick)

Betty Oare

Larry Glefke & Kelly Farmer

Mary Anne Kean

Pam Baker

Sandy Gerald

Sarah O'Dorsio

Susie Olfson

Lucy Trieshmann

Ray wanted me to tell everyone that he and his wife are grateful and overwhelmed with the outpouring from our "community."   God bless you all.

June 2, 2010

DONORS TO THE RAY MILLER FUND  - AS OF WEDNESDAY - JUNE 2, 2010 - ($23,253.00)

  If you pledged but haven't sent your check in yet please send it asap.  Thank you and God bless you all for your donations.

June 6, 2010

Nicole Miller Update

Nicole is doing better. She went to a show at Rose Mount last weekend, AND she was able to go to her high school graduation.  Praise God !  Her diploma was given first so she could leave if she needed to.  I haven't heard yet if she was able to stay the whole time or not. Hopefully so.  They have changed the Chemo schedule so it is not so hard on her.  She has three sessions next week.  She has a blockage in her intestines but the doctors think they can clear that up with medication.  After next week's round of Chemo they are going to re-evaluate.

Keep those prayers coming.  Let the doctors see a miracle !!!