
08/03/2017
The day has come to say goodbye to our friends from Kakamigahara. I will miss them very much and will miss watching their lessons and the excitement of driving a team of horses or checking pulses or longlining or any of the many activities they participated in. There are not words big enough to express the gratitude I have for all of the support I received during the planning stages and for the duration of the 6 days the Katos were here.
To mention them one by one:
Peter Gustafson, my husband who believed in me
Dustin Gustafson, son, Japanese liaison and translator
John Gustafson and Tyler Hurwitz, son and our friend respectively, who helped ready our house for the cook out and other important times,
Amy McCullagh, caterer, deliverer and chief foodie keeping us all from starving,
Mary Flood, owner of Wildfire Farm who said yes to hosting the program, accommodating our horses and being an inspiring coach.
Pat Brescia, photographer, videographer and who posted the images daily for us to review.
Judy Brescia, lent her pony Conor Larkin and helped everyday to hold, tack and any thing else that needed doing.
Ted and Gina, owners of Idyll Time Farm B&B for their beautiful log cabin home for the Katos
Paula Horne, lent her big boy Tux
Andres, stable assistant who helped look after the horses.
Nicole Caruso, accupuncture and Chiropractic demonstration
John Moore, for harnessing the team and for taking us for an awesome hayride.
Christine Vitkus, owner of Red Gate Farm for the lesson for Taka and Chika Kato
Dr. Erskine, Equine Medical Center for the behind the scenes tour
Stephanie Kenyon, facilitating a private tour of the Winmill Carriage Collection
Peter Hart, for putting me onto Leesburg Toyota to provide a Sienna van for transport during Equeshare
There are others I fear I may have left off but know that all are appreciated.
Finally, I want to thank the Kato family for coming to Virginia from so far away. I was honored to have you join you us. My heart was warmed by your presence. Please come and visit us again!