MyChelle Dermaceuticals and Medicine Horse Ranch Co-Host Fundraiser Fashion Show Models and Horses take to the runway for a good cause
June 8, 2010 – Louisville, Colo.
MyChelle Dermaceuticals, a leading pioneer in effective, natural skin care and longtime sponsor of the HopeFoal ProjectTM at the Medicine Horse Ranch, co-presents Beauty and the Beast, a fashion show fundraiser designed to raise awareness and funds for Medicine Horse Ranch programs.
The presentation promises to be a fun and worthy event featuring women of all ages walking the "runway" with their horses, bringing some style and flair to traditional riding clothes. There will also be giveaways, raffles, a luncheon and refreshments, all to benefit the horses and the young adults who participate in the therapeutic programs available at the ranch. The event takes place on Saturday, June 11, 2010, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Medicine Horse Ranch in Boulder, Colo.
The HopeFoal Project is especially unique because it not only supports high-risk youth, but it also rescues foals that are otherwise destined for slaughter. The Medicine Horse Program’s HopeFoal Project and MyChelle rescue abused foals from the Premarin© hormone-production drug industry and raises these babies as therapy animals for troubled, at-risk girls. With the help of skilled therapists and counselors, the program has touched many lives by helping program participants overcome issues from emotional and physical abuse.
“I have a special place in my heart for Horses, and animals in general,” said Myra Michelle Eby, founder of MyChelle Dermaceuticals. “When I heard of the terrible acts against horses as a result of the Premarin industry, I was devastated and wanted to find a way to help. My passion led us to our current partnership with the Medicine Horse Ranch, where we can help make a difference by providing assistance for their incredible HopeFoal Project, which also helps to support our community’s youth. Through our partnership, we also hope to help to bring attention to the appalling practices that take place in the Premarin drug industry.”
So far in 2010, with MyChelle Dermaceuticals support, the program has rescued three more foals, and this rescue also included two mares. While mares are rarely included in these foal rescue efforts, this was an exceptional situation, as one of the mares is the mother to one of the rescued foals. All parties involved in this rescue are extremely happy to welcome the new horses.
“MyChelle Dermaceuticals has helped make a difference for hundreds of young women and 24 foals, including these new foals that just arrived,” explains Kathy Johnson, executive director of Medicine Horse. “This type of support allows us to continue to offer incredibly powerful programs and save innocent horses from dreadfully awful fates.”
In 2008, Medicine Horse Program served 300 at-risk youth and emotionally troubled youth. MyChelle and Medicine Horse are happy to announce that for 2009 they were able to help more than 400 children and teenagers and approximately 600 adults through Medicine Horse programs in Boulder.
You may view wonderfully inspiring videos about these efforts through MyChelle’s YouTube channel at http://tinyurl.com/yffasjg, and on the Medicine Horse website at www.medicinehorse.org.
To make a donation to the program, or if you are local to the Denver and Boulder, Colo. area and would like to volunteer or attend the fundraiser, please contact the Medicine Horse Ranch at info@medicinehorse.org.
Fashion Show Fundraiser Event Details: Date – June 12, 2010 Time – 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Location – 8778 Arapahoe Road, Boulder, Colo.
MyChelle Dermaceuticals and Medicine Horse Ranch would like to thank Robb’s Boulder Music, Whole Foods, Olade, Organic Food Brokers, Boulder Horse & Rider, Foxcreek Mobile Equine Outfitters and the Tack Collection for helping provide items for the event, including equipment and clothes.
About Medicine Horse Program
Medicine Horse Program enhances the mental health and life skills of youth, adults, families, and groups through therapeutic interaction with horses. Medicine Horse Program fulfills our values and beliefs through five core youth programs:
HopeFoal ProjectTM: This award-winning class partners rescued Premarin foals with depressed and anxious teens. The teens work with trained therapists and horse handlers to help gentle the foals. In the process, both foal and teen are healed. Healing With HorsesTM: In collaboration with Hospice of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, this 2006 NOVA Health and Human Services award-winning class helps children deal with issues of grief associated with the loss of a loved one.
Just Say WhoaTM: This class, in partnership with Boulder BEST program and others, is designed for truant teens and repeat juvenile offenders. Through interaction with horses and therapists, the class helps teens confront their complex lives. Equus Integration ProjectTM: This growth and learning class breals down barriers among diverse populations, building the communication and leadership skills of non-English-speaking teens. EquineAbilityTM: Through horse activities, creative expression and body movement, this EAP program addresses the psychological, emotional and social aspects of individuals with developmental disabilities.
MyChelle Makes a Difference
Estrogen Exposed
Several years ago we began funding the HopeFoal ProjectTM at Medicine Horse. HopeFoal is especially unique because it not only helps high-risk youth it also rescues foals that are destined for slaughter.
Premarin is a multi-billion dollar hormone replacement drug made from the urine of pregnant horses. Even though research clearly demonstrates that Premarin can increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer, it remains the fourth most frequently prescribed drug in the World. Estrogen in the form of Premarin or estrogen mimickers can accumulate in the bloodstream and contribute to hormonal imbalance, as well as illnesses like cancer. We have been on a mission to publicize the clear dangers of drugs like Premarin and estrogen mimickers.
While tens of thousands of pregnant mares endure abusive conditions on Premarin farms, the destiny of the newborn foals can be even more horrific. The Premarin drug industry treats the foals as insignificant byproducts. According to HorseAid, 9 out of 10 female foals born to Premarin mares are sent off to slaughter. We are happy to report that because of our aggressive HopeFoal ProjectTM advertising campaign and the publicity associated with the Women’s Health Initiative that confirmed the harmful effects of Premarin, there are fewer Premarin farms and fewer horses enduring abuse.
Hope For Troubled Teens
“Thanks to the generosity of MyChelle Dermaceuticals, we are able to rescue several foals each year,” explains Kathy Johnson, Executive Director of Medicine Horse. “We then gentle the foals and match them with high- risk teens. The teens learn about self-esteem, healthy boundaries, and kindness, while the foals flourish from their newfound trust in humans.”
Along with trained therapists and experienced horse handlers, the foals help the teens realize that life is worth fighting for. It is truly one of the most unique teen healing programs we have ever witnessed. In fact, HopeFoal ProjectTM was featured on ABC World News. Erin Hayes of ABC interviewed a few of the girls that had participated in the HopeFoal Project,TM sponsored by MyChelle. One of the girls explained, “it’s easier to open up to the foals and they don’t judge you.” Another one of the girls said the HopeFoal Project “definitely changed my life.” Many of the teens participating in HopeFoal have suffered abuse and struggle with issues of trust and abandonment. The teens can quickly and easily relate to the trauma that the foals have experienced. Together they heal each other. We have seen, first-hand, the healing power of the horse. Through non-verbal, authentic communication, horses can help get to the root of the problem. “It may take months, even years to get a teen to open up about traumatic issues using conventional therapy techniques,” explains Medicine Horse Clinical Director Joan rieger, MA, lPC. “Having horses as co-facilitators speeds up that process so the healing can begin.”
This year’s Foals
After the foals are in the program for one year, they graduate and are placed in happy homes. We’re happy to report that last year’s foals all have great new homes. The foals come to Medicine Horse frightened and often sick. This latest batch was no different. “All of the foals were malnourished and infested with worms,” explained Kathy. “Thanks to MyChelle, the foals can immediately receive proper veterinary care.” Although the foals are traumatized when they come to Medicine Horse, they quickly become comfortable and feel safe. Getting them ready to interact with the teens, however, can be an arduous task. “Because of the patient efforts of staff and volunteers, these foals will be ready to safely interact with the kids during the first HopeFoal class,” reported Kathy. The story of the foals is quickly understood by the teens. Many of the participants have
also endured a rough start in their lives. These four new MyChelle foals will soon be ready to help the teens heal.
Expanded Giving
In addition to the HopeFoal Project,TM Medicine Horse has a herd of adult horses that help other individuals. Medicine Horse helped more than 350 clients for a total of over 1,250 therapy hours. “Because MyChelle has expanded their giving to Medicine Horse,” explains Kathy, “we will be able to serve new populations.” This year Medicine Horse will offer new classes for teens struggling with addiction and they will also start a special equine-assisted healing program for veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The next time you buy a MyChelle product, remember you are contributing to the bigger picture by giving back to both people and horses in need. For more information about Medicine Horse Program, visit medicinehorse.org.
