Welcome to the World and Music of Dan Roark

Welcome to the world and music of Dan Roark. I have lived here for a while now and it's not a bad place to live, really. Although on some level, it's probably just as well you're only visiting. But hang around as long as you like.

Here you can listen to my songs - and buy them if you wish - read my thoughts in posts on my blog, see my pictures, and find out when and where I am playing. 

You can also hear live versions of my songs on Reverbnation, as well as see videos of live performances. You can also see my videos on, and subscribe to, my YouTube channel

 

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Three New Hope Riders Participate in DRC Monthly Playday 

Rain, Chito, and Cy

By Dan Roark

On Sunday, February 25th, Claire, Ava, and Juliana participated as juniors in spur, poles, and barrels in the Denton Roundup Club (DRC) – now monthly – Playday at the DRC arena on Ryan Rd. in Denton. The girls rode Cy (Cyclops), Rain, and Chito, respectively.

Members of the DRC compete to get points at Playdays for end of the year awards. The girls from New Hope were letting the horses get used to the arena and gaining valuable competition experience. And they did really well! They handled all unforeseen situations with calmness and maturity.

Claire on Cy
Ava on Rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denton Roundup Club Playdays are relaxed affairs that are run like a club meeting. If anyone does not want to compete in the events (or patterns), they can ride an exhibition round for $5. They are very much an inclusive club. It is not known if New Hope riders will continue to participate in Playdays, but it is definitely a possibility. Everyone involved enjoyed the afternoon. It was a long day for the horses though. The girls tacked and untacked the horses and took care of them the entire time. Kudos to the girls for their work and participation. Claire, Ava, and Juliana – ya’ll did a great job!!!

Juliana on Chito

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

Funds are needed for paddock footing for the horses. Watch for upcoming post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Three New Hope Riders Participate in DRC Monthly Playday first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Horse Highlight – Flash 

By Dan Roark

The picture is of me washing Flash, a gray 2004 model grade quarter horse gelding who came to New Hope in 2020, during the heat wave last summer.  He was given to New Hope by his owner who could no longer ride. Flash was nervous when he arrived until Missy took him under her wing. But he is a confident herd member now.

Flash is a joy to ride. Quite frankly though, all the horses – and Daisy Mae – are a joy to ride in their own way. Which is what makes the herd perfect for equine therapy. There’s pretty much a horse for every situation, being that each horse (or mule) has attributes that accommodate different riders’ needs.

Flash will stand perfectly still when a rider is mounting or

Cyndy riding Flash.

dismounting. He will also stand perfectly still if he gets mixed signals from riders, leaders, or side walkers. Once it’s clear what the message is, he’ll start again. Flash has his limit though, when it comes to mixed signals. When that limit is reached, he’ll head to where he was tacked up and stand still. The rider can stay on if he or she chooses. But Flash isn’t going anywhere.

Flash’s gait gives the rider different stimulation within the walk. His trot requires riders to constantly adjust their balance while staying centered on his back. Not much is known about Flash before he came to the little universe we call New Hope. Which is unfortunate because we don’t know what his issues are that exist because of that life. It is suspected that he was a working ranch horse. Because…well…he acts like it.

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

 

The post Horse Highlight – Flash first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Sporting Clay Shoot Firearms Raffle Reminder 

By Dan Roark

First, a reminder that registration is open for the 9th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot benefiting New Hope Equine Therapy Center. For more information on the Clay Shoot see the former post on the blog or go the Clay Shoot page of the website.

2nd Prize – Beretta APX A1 9MM Subcompact Pistol

This is a reminder about the firearms raffle to raise additional funds for New Hope.

Raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50.

Drawing to be held April 13th, 2023.  Do not have to be present to win.

Note – Winner must be US resident able to legally own a firearm.

3rd Prize – Heritage Rough Rider .22/.22 WMR Pistol with 2 cylinders

 

 

 

 

 

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

The post Sporting Clay Shoot Firearms Raffle Reminder first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Monday Sporting Clay Shoot Reminder 

By Dan Roark

There are still spots open for the Annual Sporting Clay Shoot benefitting New Hope to be held at Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds in Decatur on Saturday, April 13.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. anticipated start time. Awards, Auction, and Lunch provided by 407BBQ will start at Noon. Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds are located 7282 N. FM 51 Decatur, Texas 76234. Awards will include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Belt Buckles and 1st Place High Individual Trophy. Awards at select stations for high scorers!

Entry is $6oo per 4 person team and $150 per individual (assigned to a team at registration). $75 Team

Discount if you bring your own cart or UTV! Station Sponsorships are available at $350.

100 Target shoot and lunch provided in registration fee. Shooters supply their own guns, ammo, hearing and eye protection.

To sign up, click here. Or contact Dave Kershen at 214-417-9645 or dkershen@newhopeequine.com.

All attendees will abide by range safety rules and regulations and sign a waiver at registration.

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

The post Monday Sporting Clay Shoot Reminder first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Annual Sporting Clay Shoot Benefitting New Hope Reminder 

By Dan Roark

There are still spots open for the Annual Sporting Clay Shoot benefitting New Hope held at Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds in Decatur on Saturday, April 13.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. anticipated start time. Awards, Auction, and Lunch provided by 407BBQ will start at Noon. The clay shoot will be held at Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds at 7282 N. FM 51 Decatur, Texas 76234. Awards will include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Belt Buckles and 1st Place High Individual Trophy. Awards at select stations for high scorers!

Entry is $6oo per 4 person team and $150 per individual (assigned to a team at registration). $75 Team

Discount if you bring your own cart or UTV! Station Sponsorships are available at $350.

100 Target shoot and lunch provided in registration fee. Shooters supply their own guns, ammo, hearing and eye protection.

To sign up, click here. Or contact Dave Kershen at 214-417-9645 or dkershen@newhopeequine.com.

All attendees will abide by range safety rules and regulations and sign a waiver at registration.

Ride on and ride for hope.

The post Annual Sporting Clay Shoot Benefitting New Hope Reminder first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Horse Highlight – Missy 

By Dan Roark

I picked Missy for the horse highlight today, not because she’s known as Grandma, although that’s certainly part of it. And not because being near an elementary school helped to calm her anxiety stemming from her encounters with children on North Texas trails prior to Missy’s joining the herd when her owner began riding at New Hope, although that’s part of it as well. And not because the roughly 1998 gray Arabian is a kind, patient teacher and leader for both horses and humans, although, once again, that’s another part of it.

One reason I actually picked Missy originally is because she is the only horse in the herd at the present time that is closest to her natural color, despite the lousy winter weather and torrential rains of the past few weeks. She was the only horse – other than Gabby – that would not come to her paddock gate to get a treat from me or pose for a close-up. Missy was standing under the tarp over her paddock in one of the only dry spots left in the paddock, surrounded by mud.  She looked at the mud, then looked at me, as if to say, “you certainly don’t expect me to walk across that mess just for a treat, do you?” While the other horses delight in rolling on the ground, Missy prefers to stay as clean as possible.

The other reason I picked Missy for this week stems from the picture that I took with her and Tucker when I was taking pictures for the post, A Rainy Day at New Hope. It struck me that Missy looks like the ghost horse that you see in movies and tv shows. There, but not there. And Missy is not one to bust out of the paddock at a trot when it’s time to turn the horses out. She is the one the horses who do bust out in a trot, then canter, gravitate to when the nervous energy dissipates. There, but not there.

Ride on and ride for hope.

 

 

The post Horse Highlight – Missy first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Reminder: Clay Shoot Coming April 13 

By Dan Roark

For those who may not have heard, and for those who have heard, but let it slip their mind, the 9th Annual New Hope Sporting Clay Shoot – benefitting New Hope – will be held on Saturday, April 13th.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. anticipated start time. Awards, Auction, and Lunch provided by 407BBQ will start at Noon. The clay shoot will be held at Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds at 7282 N. FM 51 Decatur, Texas 76234. Awards will include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Belt Buckles and 1st Place High Individual Trophy. Awards at select stations for high scorers!

Entry is $6oo per 4 person team and $150 per individual (assigned to a team at registration). $75 Team

Some of last year’s winners!

Discount if you bring your own cart or UTV! Station Sponsorships are available at $350.

100 Target shoot and lunch provided in registration fee. Shooters supply their own guns, ammo, hearing and eye protection.

To sign up, click here. Or contact Dave Kershen at 214-417-9645 or dkershen@newhopeequine.com.

All attendees will abide by range safety rules and regulations and sign a waiver at registration.

Ride on and ride for hope.

The post Reminder: Clay Shoot Coming April 13 first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Three join New Hope Board of Directors 

By Kathleen Beisly, Marketing Communications Chair

We are so pleased to announce the addition of three new board members for 2024:

Chistine Cioffe

 

Christine Cioffe advises and consults for a variety of companies about sustainability, specialty industrials, agriculture and bio pharmaceuticals. She has led R&D organizations at PepsiCo and Merck & Co, focusing on innovation, productivity, disruptive technologies and execution of enterprise-wide business processes and governance. She serves as a board member for several privately held companies as well as several non-profits.

 

 

Jason Hodson

 

Jason Hodson is a digital marketing and E-commerce consultant who has worked with global brands in the corporate sector and has advised more than 20 non-profits about marketing, fundraising and event best practices. His true passion is delivering impactful fundraising events and campaigns and discovering creative ways to help local businesses and nonprofits to elevate and succeed.

 

 

 

Jennifer Kiedrowski

 

Jennifer Kiedrowski owned a transportation company for more than 13 years and has a background of operations excellence of 25 years. She holds a degree in business accounting and has spent her time volunteering in various capacities for WBENC and WBCSouthwest as a committee member and mentor to women starting and growing their own businesses. Her passions include animal rescue and volunteering as a foster family to dogs waiting to be adopted.

 

 

 

 

The post Three join New Hope Board of Directors first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Clay Shoot Firearms Raffle for New Hope 

1st Prize – JTS AR 12gauge Semi-Auto Shotgun

By Dan Roark

First, a reminder that registration is open for the 9th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot benefiting New Hope Equine Therapy Center. For more information on the Clay Shoot see the former post on the blog or go the Clay Shoot page of the website.

2nd Prize – Beretta APX A1 9MM Subcompact Pistol

This week’s post is about the firearms raffle to raise additional funds for New Hope.

Raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50.

Drawing to be held April 13th, 2023.  Do not have to be present to win.

Note – Winner must be US resident able to legally own a firearm.

3rd Prize – Heritage Rough Rider .22/.22 WMR Pistol with 2 cylinders

 

 

 

 

 

Ride on and ride for hope.

The post Clay Shoot Firearms Raffle for New Hope first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Expressions of Chisholm Challenge – Trail 

By Dan Roark

Expressions of Chisholm Challenge, which will morph into Expressions of New Hope, will be an irregular regular feature on the blog to take advantage of pictures I’ve taken that aren’t used elsewhere. The riders’ expressions tell a lot about where they are on their inner journey and their relationship with the horse. And we will see them evolve through expressions as we go along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride on and ride for hope.

The post Expressions of Chisholm Challenge – Trail first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.