Mission Hill Stables Hosts Blessing of Animals and 4-H Fundraiser
By Sean Ely

The Reverend Vincent Carroll of Little Stone Church blesses Copper at Mission Hill Stables Saturday, June 16, being riden by Seven Oaks Riders member Kathy Briggeman.

At Mission Hill Stables, an abundance of animals, mainly horses, is the norm. On Saturday, June 16, however, the location looked like a reenactment of the gathering from Noah's Ark, with Little Stone Church Pastor Vincent Carroll playing the part of Noah.

Dozens of horses, ponies, and dogs gathered around Rev. Carroll as he gave an overall blessing to animals all across the world, saying that they are sacred beings and they should be treated with kindness and love.

"People have depended on animals, not only for life work, but as companions," Dr. Carroll said. "Certainly, horses are used for transportation, but they become parts of families and extended families. They are sources to the community, and they bring both enjoyment and pleasure. The dogs are truly man's best friend, and it seems that everyone has a dog now, with them being an extension of families. This ceremony is a way that we can show our appreciation and the animals' overall inclusion in the family of man."

Jacob Pappas presents his yellow English Labrador named Bob to Reverend Vincent Carroll of Little Stone Church Saturday, June 16, at Mission Hill Stables.

Before the blessing took place, stable manager Brandon Grumm gave tours of the property, introducing visitors to the horses and the different types of saddles kept at the barn. Mr. Grumm, a business administration senior at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, has had a love for animals since he was a child.

"I grew up around them, and I love how powerful they are, but how gentle they can be at the exact same time," Mr. Grumm said. "No matter how powerful they are, they are always smart animals. They are just cool animals to be able to work with. I enjoy what I'm doing."

His deep passion for horses gives him the drive to keep them in safe hands.

"It's very important to me that I give the horses a good and safe environment," he said. "I work at keeping them healthy, as well as keeping the riders safe when they are working with them. It's about doing the right thing, like keeping everyone out of harm's way as much as I can."

A 4-H fundraiser took place at Mission Hill Stable before the blessing. The 4-H horse program features events like horse-riding lessons and other educational activities with the stable's horses. Morgan Brodeur Bunker and Katy Penney, assistants at the barn, collected donations and sold lemonade, T-shirts, posters, pins, and other horse-related items.

The seven horses that stay at the stables are used by the 40 children who comprise the Island's 4-H program.

"This event gives the kids the chance to show off their horses in the barn and the work that they do," said Leanne Brodeur, 4-H leader and director of the Mackinac Island Horsemen's Association. "The 4-H program is very hands-on. The kids help clean the barn, the horses, the stables, and it gives them the chance to show the public what happens on the Island, since we use the horses on an everyday basis, like someone does with a car on the mainland. In this case, it has to do with the preservation of the horse culture.".

"It's an awesome program," agreed Mr. Grumm. "It's a blast being able to help out so many people in the summer months. Being able to let people see and interact with the horses is incredible. Just getting to be around the horses is great; it's just a solid and really cool program."

"The visitors who come find the entire ceremony very intriguing," Ms. Brodeur said. "They seem to love the blessing. We count on our horses, and sometimes we forget to appreciate them, with all the work that they do every single day. They are very important to us. We have to remember they are not just pets in the backyard, they are part of everyday life."

Added Mr. Grumm: "When you think of blessings in general, you mainly think of people, and not animals," he said. "The animals need to be protected just as much as anybody. It's just very cool that the reverend comes and does this event. The turnout was great and people seemed very impressed with it."

Kathy Briggeman, Mary Pino, and Annie Brock, all members of the Seven Oaks Riders team, said Mackinac Island is a great place to ride. They were excited about riding in the parade the next day.

"We absolutely love this island, and we can't get enough of it.," said Ms. Pino. "The people are the absolute best during the parade. They clap, cheer, yell, and scream. They do it all. We enjoy coming here, especially to ride on Tranquil Bluff Trail. You're on the edge of a cliff and it's so scary."

Resident Trish Martin and cottager Maryanke Alexander brought their horses, Island Grey Skye and Navajo, to the ceremony, where they allowed visitors to pet them and even sit on their backs.

"We just love coming to Mackinac Island because it is so laid back and family oriented," said Tim French, a visitor from Belfast, Maine, who watched his daughter, Paulie, sit on Navajo. "Everyone is just so friendly, and events like this one are worth coming here for."

The Pappas family from Brighton came up to Mackinac Island for the nostalgia. Jerry Pappas has come to the Island for more than 40 years, ever since he was a child. He doesn't plan on stopping that tradition with his wife, two children, and yellow English Labrador Bob, who Mr. Pappas says goes everywhere with them.

"He's part of the family," he said of Bob. "I can't imagine not bringing him up here with us. He's just always been there with the family. It's great that we could bring him to an event like this."

Ms. Martin told the crowd before the blessing that everyone who brought an animal or came to the event knows exactly what it's like to "need an animal." She made references to old poems, songs, and stories, with horses that everyone could relate to, such as Alexander the Great's Bucephalas, Paul Revere's Brown Beauty, and the well-known Seabiscuit.

"It's appropriate to celebrate the horses, because they have shaped our way of life," she said. "The horse is king on this Island, and it is a special place for them."