40TH ANNIVERSARY – LIS HARTEL NEEDS YOUR HELP

Our 35th Anniversary in 2005 was the first one the current governing board with many new members could remember, however we are very pleased to inform you, that we are in full swing planning the celebration for the upcoming 40th Anniversary of the Lis Hartel Foundation.
The provisional dates have been fixed to Friday 11th & Saturday 12th of June 2010, respectively, and quite a few committees are already fully at work organizing this very important event. The details have still not been finalized, but we certainly will be putting our loyal sponsors and volunteers in the spotlight as without their true dedication to our cause, there would be no Lis Hartel Foundation.

At the same time we also want to focus and organize some exciting events for all our riders and students so we – together - can show the public what we are achieving on a daily basis and remind them how important it is to continue this work in the future. This will also enable us to keep alive the wonderful spirit and legacy of Lis Hartel, who sadly passed away early last year, so our riding school can pass forward the work started by her to many future generations. In this respect we would like to mention that the severe worldwide economic recession is also having a negative effect on our financial situation even though we are exercising the utmost care and tight budget control.

As a direct consequence of this recession we are urgently appealing to the many friends of the Lis Hartel riding school for extra financial contributions in order to best possible cover the additional costs of staging our upcoming 40th anniversary and to ensure it will be a memorable one, too. Any voluntary contributions can be submitted to our bank Account Number: 3021 59 118 with RABO BANK stipulating LUSTRUM 2010.

We are very grateful and highly appreciate your continued support. The governing board is looking forward to celebrate a successful Anniversary, Lis Hartel’s legacy and life together with all of you and shall without failure keep you informed and updated about the progress being made on a regularly basis.

Alex Smit
President

Friday, 11th of June.

With the help and assistance from a lot of volunteers our riding school had been transformed into a large Country & Western arena displaying all kind of appropriate and suitable cowboy and Indian decorations.

Saturday, 12th of June.
Around nine o’clock in the morning all the horses had eaten, the stable had been cleaned out, too with the volunteers starting to arrive in good spirit and all eager to make this day a special one to remember. One hour later all the riders had dressed up either like a cowboy or an Indian, respectively whilst their parents, relatives and friends were all ready to get the 40th Anniversary celebration under way.
At 10:30am, the Mayor of Doorn, Mr. F. Naafs, had arrived and the official opening of the event could start with Mary-Anne and Daniëlle riding on Daniël and Larosca entering the indoor riding hall with one of them holding a big number card showing the figure “4” and the other one the “0” in their hands but linked together with a ribbon, which the Mayor then cut. The celebration had started.
There were many games on horseback in the inside venue, old Dutch games took place on the outside riding ring and in addition to those there were several wagons in which you could take a ride through the surrounding forest and even our blacksmith, Joop Wijnen conducted a demonstration throughout the whole day showing what you could make up and do with the old and worn out horseshoes. Dirk & Nikki Jacob were there with their owls and there was even the possibility of asking them questions about these birds and during one of the intermissions they gave a demonstration and explained about all the various types of owls.  A fantastic experience. Furthermore, there was a group of line-dancers, who performed and at the end of their show they invited everyone, who was interested to come and join them. In between all these events there was of course the possibility of relaxing and taking a break by getting something to drink and eat as well.
At the end of the day when our volunteer riders were heading home they each received the special Lis Hartel anniversary cap and a beautiful drawing of their favorite pony.
At 16:30pm and after a few parting words from Hans Wiegmann and Alex Smit, President of our governing board, the end had come to a fantastic and memorable anniversary day. Tired, but satisfied, all riders and guests headed back home although many of them stayed behind to dismantle the various decorations used throughout the day enabling the riding school to revert to its normal and usual condition and appearance.
At 17:30pm we all sat down with the volunteers and enjoyed a well deserved rest with some refreshments served while looking back to a truly wonderful and memorable day while thinking and paying our deepest respect to the one shining rider we honoured today – namely Lis Hartel. Without her, the many volunteers and sponsors who throughout the past years have donated their valuable time, experience and funds to our riding school, this anniversary would not have been possible. Thank you so much for your contribution and let’s keep the same spirit and commitment up in the future so Lis Hartel Riding School can continue carrying on the work for many more years to come. ( photo's are on the site )

On February 12, 2009, 2-time Olympic silver medalist and World Champion gold medalist, Lis Hartel, died at the age of 87.  Her story is remarkable and goes beyond the usual training and hard work that are part of the making of winners. In 1943, she contracted polio and was left with paralyzed lower legs, left side and hands. Her doctors warned that she should never attempt to ride again, but over a period of 2 and a half years, thinking positively at all times, she worked tirelessly to regain her strength, eventually getting back some movement. Despite the fact that she needed help to mount and dismount her horse, she went on to ride dressage in the 1952 Olympics, the first woman and civilian ever to do so. On her horse, Jubilee, she won the silver medal and repeated that win in the 1956 Olympics. She also won the gold medal in the 1954 World Championships and was the Danish National Dressage Champion 7 times. She was inducted into the Scandinavian Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Women’s Sports Hall of  Fame in New York in 1994.

These accomplishments are not her main legacy, however. She is given credit world-wide for being the driving force for establishing and popularizing therapeutic riding for disabled people. She believed in the power of connection between horses and riders and traveled the world, giving demonstrations, lessons and exhibitions. All the money collected was donated to each country’s polio association. Holland is just one of the countries that named a polio center and riding school after her.

She continued to be active throughout her life and after her career ended, she coached and trained students at her farm and some of them became European Champions and even competed for her native country as late as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 1970 the “Riding for the Disabled Association – Lis Hartel” was established and the foundation provides riding lessons to mentally and physically challenged individuals. The website, www.lishartel.nl, provides photos and other information on the wonderful work being done there. 

Lis Hartel was a native of Denmark and was born on March 14, 1921.

If you would like to give some money to the foundation Lis Hartel, a periodic donation is the best manner. It offers certainty to Lis Hartel and you can present such a donation each year as a deduction on your tax return.

What is the advantage of a periodic donation?

If you think this is interesting for you to support Lis Hartel this way, then contact our committee at bestuur@lishartel.nl.