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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Expressions of New Hope – Callie 

By Dan Roark

I take a lot of pictures trying to get some good ones for the New Hope blog, Facebook, and the website. Some pictures I take for personal reasons to see if I can get a particular shot I see in my head.

But the pictures that I will post in this feature of the blog are ones I’ve been taking all along. Pictures of the expressions on  the faces of volunteers, staff, riders, and horses. Which explains the title of the feature.

Expressions of New Hope – as I say – is something I’ve been wanting to do since I starting writing the blog posts. To see the expressions of struggle as they try to perform a particular task, as well as expressions of confusion and so forth, and then see the expressions with the smiles of success are more than heartwarming.

Callie is one of the more expressive riders in this little universe we call New Hope. Choosing the pictures to post was difficult, for the most part. In the first picture she shows confusion as she contemplates what the other riders on the sensory trail are doing. The second picture illustrates Callie’s acceptance of what was happening on the horse. The third picture is her posing for me, showing awareness and confidence. That’s what New Hope is all about!

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Expressions of New Hope – Callie first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Paddock Footing: Donations Needed 

By Dan Roark

 

 

The relentless rain of the last couple of months made one thing drastically clear – new paddock footing is a definite necessity.

 

 

 

 

Paddock Drainage Project

 

 

The muddy paddocks need a drainage system to keep the horses out of the mud. Lighthoof will provide drainage while the gravel will keep the horses’ hoofs dry.

But it will take at least $70,000 for all the paddocks.

 

 

Which means we need your help. Any donation helps. There is a variety of ways to donate to New Hope and you can find them here.

New Hope would like to thank you for considering New Hope for donation! We could not exist without supporters.

 

Ride on and ride for hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Paddock Footing: Donations Needed first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Horse Highlight: Cy (Cyclops) 

Claire on Cy at DRC Playday

By Dan Roark

Cyclops is a quarter horse, vintage 2005, who joined New Hope in 2019 when his owner could not take him to college. Before becoming a therapy horse Cy was a barrel racing school horse, and before that he was a jumper. Back when Cy was a jumper he lost his eye to an infection, but it has never slowed him down. He adapted to his new normal, continued jumping, became a barrel racing instructor, and now is a careful therapy horse!

Cy, doing what he knows and loves

Cy is slow and steady when ridden by a less experienced rider. He is easily ridden or led. His steady gait gives the rider confidence they may not have when they are away from New Hope.

At the same time, as you can see, he still loves “airing it out” with barrels and poles. In the pictures, Claire is riding Cy at the Denton Roundup Club Playday. He was having as much fun competing again as Claire was having riding him.

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Horse Highlight: Cy (Cyclops) first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Clay Shoot Raffle Reminder 

Raffle TicketBy 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 to the Clay Shoot page of the website.

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.

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

2nd Prize – Beretta APX A1 9MM Subcompact Pistol

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

 

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope

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

9th Annual 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 9th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot Reminder first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Equine Therapy is Therapy for Volunteers, Too 

by Dan Roark

In the volunteer highlight yesterday, Jessica brought up a point about volunteer therapy I’ve been thinking about myself.  The picture is of me side walking with Clayton on Rain. I don’t get many pictures of me – I’m usually taking the pictures.

So I’ll use myself as an example. One Sunday night, I had a series of strange dreams and woke up Monday in a mental fog I couldn’t shake. My head hurt so I took something for it, and that only succeeding in thickening the fog. I had no energy and I had a hard time focusing. I really didn’t feel like volunteering at New Hope like I usually do on Monday.

But I got ready and headed to New Hope anyway. Even when I parked up by the house I was hoping there would be extra volunteers. Walking down towards the barn, as I passed the goat’s pen they were up on their tires looking at me expectantly. Further toward the barn, Duke was looking at me over the fence, letting me know he knew I had treats – even though he knows I won’t give him any until after the lesson. Then the fog lifted.  I wasn’t tense any more, I was calm. Which the horses and riders picked up on and were calm. Not realizing my calm actually came from them in the first place. That’s how it works.

It may not be magical, but something happens when one enters the little universe we call New Hope. Bad moods are left in the parking lot. Or rather, they drip off into the sand and dirt the closer you come to the horses – riders, volunteers, and visitors included. And the horses reciprocate, most of the time.

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

The post Equine Therapy is Therapy for Volunteers, Too first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Volunteer Highlight – Jessica Hamilton 

Jessica in action

By Dan Roark

When we decided to highlight volunteers on the blog, it was just before the winter break preceding Chisholm Challenge. Following Chisholm Challenge, the wet weather was relentless, causing lesson cancellations. Now that Spring lessons are in full force with only the odd cancellation – and I have enough responses – it’s time to start the volunteer highlights.

I put forms in a folder on the table in the barn for each volunteer to fill out or take and fill out and return it to the folder or me. I asked them five questions. In certain circumstances I may paraphrase what a volunteer says, but for now I’ll let them speak for themselves. The first volunteer I would like to highlight is Jessica Hamilton.

What brought you to New Hope to volunteer and how long have you been volunteering?

I’m a former Special Ed teacher. When my health took a turn, I was looking for a place to give back. My background in rodeo club led me here. I’ve been on and off since 2019, but I really locked in in 2021.

Tell a little bit about yourself.

I am in my 30’s, with two kiddos. We are all neuro-spicy in my house! I am an avid podcast listener and ADHD – hacks enthusiast. I also sing constantly and used to direct a choir.

Who is/are your favorite horse(s) and why?

Ha! It depends on the day. Tommy and Olivia are often at the top of my list. Daisy Mae is super fun to work with. Gabby makes me laugh and Beau is my daughter’s favorite.

What is/are your favorite part(s) of volunteering?

I LOVE horse care and spent a year in Kim’s back pocket. There’s a lot of medical stuff involved. It is so great to see the horses feeling good.

The kids who “get it” after weeks of trying is 1000% worth every lesson.

How has volunteering affected you?

I have a deeper appreciation for the whole New Hope team. It takes a village! It has been my own therapy as I transitioned from teacher to disabled person. I also get to see my own child thrive through the preteen hormones and her own diagnoses, which just hit this year.

_____________________________

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

The post Volunteer Highlight – Jessica Hamilton first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

Horse Highlights – Relationships 

By Dan Roark

With just a few horses left to highlight, I thought I would focus on relationships among the herd. This is Missy and Sierra with Gabby behind Sierra. The pictures were taken after the horses that participated in Chisholm Challenge returned home and all of the horses were turned out of their paddocks.

While most of the horses get along generally, the special relationships change with the weather. And when some of them have been in Fort Worth for close the three days, relationships are renewed and new ones fostered, like you see with Sierra and Missy.

Each time one of us goes to New Hope some relationships have changed. Yet some remain. Like Gabby and Sierra, who share a paddock. Outside the paddock, Gabby is once again a mother figure to Sierra. But back in the paddock, they each go to their own particular spot. Their relationship, however, remains steadfast.

Ride on and ride for hope.

Donate to New Hope.

The post Horse Highlights – Relationships first appeared on New Hope Therapeutic Riding.

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.