HEARTS & HOOVES

Hoedown hails horsey set, adds lots of oats to budget

When the dust settled on the arena floor of the Hearts & Hooves therapeutic riding center Nov. 7, the nonprofit had raised about $100,000 to help enrich the lives of the disabled through partnerships with horses.

About 600 supporters attended the 15th annual Hearts & Hooves Hoedown, which included a hearty dinner buffet, an award presentation, the largest-ever silent auction, a live auction and dancing to music by Canvas. A special auction of artwork by the budding equestrians featured paintings that went for between $175 and $500 each.

And new this year: line dance lessons.

KTHV-TV anchor Craig O'Neill served as master of ceremonies and also was honored with the 2015 Heart of Hearts & Hooves award.

Hay bales, pit fires and rustic decor set the tone for the party, which was attended by several Hearts & Hooves riders and their families. Trela Cook and her daughter, Laura, were among some of the more familiar faces. Laura was one of the first riders served by the center and one of the reasons Hearts & Hooves was started, said energetic executive director Liz Marg.

"She no longer rides, but [Hearts & Hooves] has meant a lot to us and to her family for a very long time," Marg said.

Live auction items included a steak dinner for eight hosted by former Sen. Mark Pryor and his wife, Joi, and catered by Dallas Cowboys grill master Randy Lann. The dinner sold for well above its $1,500 value.

However, the blockbuster buy of the night was a day at Oaklawn with O'Neill, which included a race named in honor of the top bidder, a tour of the stables, box seats and lunch in the Post Parade restaurant with handicapper Ben Gibson. The package, valued at $1,500, sold for $5,000.

Event chairman Daphne Ruck and her squad of besties served as spotters throughout the live auction.

High Profile on 11/15/2015

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