How To Outrun a Horse...

A while ago, I received an email with the tag line, How To Outrun a Horse. It turns out that there was no real point to the tag line, it was just an intriguing statement that was used to "make you look." And it worked, because I did look (and, presumably, now you're looking).

But then a really weird thing happened. We live on 20 acres directly fronting State Road 64 out here in Bradenton, FL. State Road 64 is a two-lane highway. Trucks and cars routinely travel at speeds in excess of 70 mph. It's a dangerous road. In fact, two young people were killed about a mile away on Christmas Eve in a car accident. Every day I pass that cross and shrine that young people have created to honor their friends, and I get a lump in my throat.

One day, I was sitting outside with two of our big dogs (a German Shepherd and a Doberman) watching them play the kind of big-dog games that should not be played in the house. I heard a strange noise coming from down the road. It sounded like a speeding car with a flat tire.

The two dogs and I stopped and walked over to the fence to see what was happening. A woman driving about 80 mph swerved to a quick stop right in front of our house, using her car to block both lanes of the state road. How dangerous was that! Well, it got worse ...

The woman jumped out of her car. The weird oncoming noise got closer, and I watched in horror as a large horse, dragging a lead rope galloped straight towards her at full speed. That was the strange sound we had heard. The woman was trying to outrun her runaway horse.

As the horse galloped past, the woman lunged for the lead rope. Fortunately, she didn't succeed in catching it. Had she managed to grab the lead, she would probably have died in the process.

The bottom line is that one human being, no matter how well intentioned or desperate, cannot outrun a horse.

So, what happened?

The horse ran into our driveway, which we happen to share with a commercial nursery. The horse was diverted by our farm gate. He turned and galloped through the nursery's parking lot and was blocked in by another driver who had positioned his car at the other entrance to the nursery. Seeing his exit blocked, the horse turned and raced up the hill towards the nursery owner's house. Somebody had the presence of mind to shut the gates to the nursery, and eventually the horse had nowhere left to run ... so he stopped. His feet were bruised and his hooves were shattered from the impact of the pavement, because, here in Florida, most horses don't wear shoes due to the sandy nature of our soil.

By now many people were involved in saving this horse, and the owner got back in her car, raced home, and came back with a horse trailer. After two hours of coaxing, the horse's adrenaline surge was over, but he was paralyzed with pain, fear, and confusion. His legs had locked up and nothing was working to get him into the trailer. This is exactly the type of scenario that causes horses to founder and die. It was very serious and critically important that the horse be returned to his stable to receive medical treatment. But he wouldn't budge. Many helpless Good Samaritans stood by as this stalemate played out for more than two hours.

Now, whether you believe in this sort of thing or not, here's what happened.

The owner called somebody who was reputed to be a "horse whisperer." This person was available to receive the call and got in her car and came right over. After two hours of unsuccessful efforts, this woman had the horse in the trailer within five minutes of her arrival. Maybe she had special abilities. Maybe the horse was just ready to get in the trailer. Who knows? I just know that it took a lot of people, most of them strangers to each other, to work together to accomplish this difficult task.

I absolutely know that every one of those people who helped went home feeling good about being part of a successful outcome that could have gone tragically wrong. They didn't wake up that morning thinking that they'd be trying to save the life of a horse. They just took action when the situation presented itself, because they cared about the life of somebody else's horse and wanted to help the horse's owner, who was clearly doing everything she could do (including putting her own life at risk) to save the life of a creature she loved.

I guess that the writer in me thinks somewhat metaphorically at times, and this true story reminded me of NewGate.

Last year's turmoil reminded me of the runaway horse. It was kind of a miracle that the horse and the school didn't die in the process. Some people were not interested in helping and drifted away, but others of you remained, dug in your heels, and did what needed to be done. I hope that those of you who recognize yourself in this group of angel helpers know what this meant to all of us at both the School and at The Montessori Foundation.

As the Foundation's Executive Director, I must tell you that, in all honesty, we encountered a level of financial desperation at NewGate that took us by surprise, as well. Really and truly, we should have walked away. But we dug in our heels, too. It is not an exaggeration to say that The Montessori Foundation has given virtually every human and financial resource to ensure the School's future and fulfill its long-term vision.   

The good news is that, again using the metaphor, the horse/school is under control and is in a safe place, but the work is not done; not by a long shot! We've got to get the "horse" in the trailer and allow it to heal. The best Montessori "whisperers" that I know are Tim Seldin and Lorna McGrath, our Board of Trustees, and the rest of us at The Montessori Foundation, who stand behind them and support their efforts.

But we can't do this alone. We've made so much progress this year, but we are still paying off debts that the School incurred in the past.  

We're no longer living in any fear of closing. To the contrary; each month we make a move in the positive direction of rebalancing the scales, but with your help we could do so much more.

Instead of constantly looking in the rear-view mirror, your donation to the Annual Campaign helps us focus on the here and now and the future. This year the goal of our Annual Campaign is to raise $100,000.  

Please be a member of the group of people who comes forward because you are moved to act. Sometimes you just have to do something ... just because. In this case it matters to everyone who has worked so hard to get NewGate to the point where we can see the future and know that we can accomplish what ... just one year ago ... we seemed impossible.

Nobody can do this alone. Everyone makes a difference, and you never know who it is that will be that one person who tips the scales in the right direction and becomes the catalyst to inspire others. As far as I'm concerned, each one of you is THAT person.

Please help. It's easy to donate online by clicking the button below, or please send or bring in your contribution to the office. NewGate is, of course, a 501-c-3 nonprofit tax-exempt charitable organization.   

If you have already given to this year's Annual Campaign, thank you for your kindness and support.  Each gift is important.  

Sincerely,

Joyce St. Giermaine, JD 

Executive Director

The Montessori Foundation