The American Quarter Horse Journal, August 1;, 2009 – Holly Spagnola doesn’t just make spurs; she makes works of art. A set of her spurs featuring the sculpted top line of a pleasure horse with the saddle engraved, stones on the conchos and colored enamel and patterning on the saddle blanket, will be auctioned off August 15 at the Reichert Celebration. The auction, which is part of an annual western pleasure and hunter under saddle horse show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, founded by the Ron Reichert family, will benefit the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund and the National Snaffle Bit Association Trainers Crisis Fund.
In 2007, a pair of Holly’s custom-made spurs sold for $105,000, according to Ruth Ellen, chairwoman of the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund. The funds were divided between AQHA and NSBA to help professional trainers who experience demonstrable hardship and have evidence of financial need. This is a major benevolent act of horsemen helping horsemen. NSBA established its crisis fund in 2002 and Steve Heckaman, chairman of the fund since its inception, has been the driving force behind the effort.
The American Quarter Horse Association of Professional Horsemen established its fund in 2007, with Ellen at the helm as chair. Throughout the year, both groups conduct fund-raising efforts to keep the funds growing and provide a variety of support for trainers and their families.
Those in need can request assistance with monetary support, financial counseling, personal support, clothing, equipment and household supplies. For more information on eligibility and to see a photo of the spurs, go to www.nsba.com and click on Trainers Crisis Fund, or call (806) 376-5181 for the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund.
