Canadian Cowgirls Visit PEI
Angelia MacKay

The positive energy that surrounds these ladies is rare, they are the most positive, down to earth hard working ladies I have ever met. The whole group has a pecking order if you will, they all have a role and no it well. It would be rare to see anyone standing around until all the work has been done, so true when said "many hands make light work."

I met them up at Kimball's shortly after they arrived here on Monday got them settled in and gathered them up for the lobster fishing.

The girls were absolutely amazed at the lobster fishing trip, the water was a little rough and I had inquired to see if they were sure that they wanted to go out that day that perhaps another day might be more suiting. They were so gracious for the opportunity alone that they didn't want to risk another day and having worse weather and missing this once in a lifetime opportunity. It was during this boat trip that the bonding began.

We then came back here were we had a small gathering with the ladies and some of the people that helped make this all possible. We barbequed, ate lobster, gave lessons in opening lobster, talked, laughed, cried and bonded some more.

The next day was our first trail ride at Brookvale where we had 24 riders in attendance and it took us about 4 hours and it was a great ride.

On that Wednesday we started our ride at Yankee Hill Beach, where we had more tears the ladies were overwhelmed by being able to ride on the beach, stating that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their horses in the ocean. We were also fortunate in the fact that Shane Bernard had sailed the Pure Mussel fishing boat over to the beach we were riding to, so not only did the ladies get to ride in the ocean but they got their pictures taken in the ocean in front of a fishing boat. We then preceeded up the Cape to the Cape Tryon lighthouse and then down around the Lake of Shinning Waters to the shoreline and then back. Upon arriving back to the starting point the ladies wanted to take another trek up the beach so we went back to the beach for about another 1/2 hour 45 minutes, where we were also greated by the County Line Courier and he took some fabulous photos of the ladies.

In our down time we ate, had a bonfire, laughed, cried some more as I said this was a true bonding experience. Never have I been in with 13 ladies especailly where there wasn't one spoke that threw the whole wheel out of balance and in this instance that was not the case as I said there was a pecking order that was never questioned and each and everyone respected the next.

My payback not that I expected anything much less to the magnitude that it was paid back. First off on the last night here for the Canadian Cowgirls they presented me with a check for $500.00 for the T.R.O.T. for Wishes event in the fall. Secondly they invited me to go along with them to Windsor, NS show, I was elated for sure, I thought talk about your once in a lifetime experiences! So I arrive in Windsor on Thursday evening got all settled in and at Friday's show was told to get in there and watch as that was the drill that I would be doing in Sat. and Sunday's show!! Now that was truely a once in a lifetime experience. Not only did I show but they dressed me up as a real Cowgirl and for the whole time I was in Windsor, NS I was a Canadian Cowgirl. 

I will also have to mention a few of the names that I got up close and personal with Ron Waples I would have to admitt in a short period of time he was one of my favorites, Paul Maguire, Matt McLaughlin, Tracey Porter, Terry Myers and the list goes on, I even acquired more sponsors for the T.R.O.T. for Wishes Event. What a fabulous networking opportunity.

I once again am going to refer back to the bonding that occurred between myself and them and it's tough to explain unless you experience it but I coined a phrase that I feel is quite suiting to the whole situation as it applies to myself and the ladies right from the start here in PEI, "We must have belonged to the same herd in a different life!" We just had a special fit that is beyond words, and I made some fabulous friends for life!!

Again I would have to thank all of you that helped make this happen for it could not have happened with out all of you!!

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