{"id":63,"date":"2017-03-15T21:32:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T21:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cubashorses.org\/?page_id=63"},"modified":"2017-09-05T16:22:08","modified_gmt":"2017-09-05T16:22:08","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cubashorses.org\/index.php\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

In 2011, I traveled to Cuba for the first time with my sister. As a horse trainer, and my sister a horse owner, we took a special interest in the horses that we saw with their carriages. It was hard not to notice that many of these horses were not in prime condition. Quite a few of them were underweight and had sores where their harnesses had rubbed.<\/p>\n

After speaking to many of the cocheros about their horses it was easy to understand that they wanted the best for their animals but simply had limited resources. They expressed that they have extremely limited access to quality feed, proper equipment, and medicines. Their horses lacking was only due to unavailability and not lack of desire to do what was best for their animals. They desired to take excellent care of their equines, but with the difficulty of obtaining supplies, (especially with the US embargo), they needed assistance.<\/p>\n

Over the years I have returned to Cuba many times. \u00a0Those early conversations which have instilled in me a desire to want to help the horses. I have always brought whatever supplies I could to help the Cuban people with their animals, but it was only a drop in the bucket. Their needs are much greater than one person can manage. As a result, I started a non-government organization (NGO) in the United States.<\/p>\n

After receiving our non-profit status 501 (3)(c) in August of 2016, we began to work in a slightly new direction. \u00a0 We wanted to work directly with the cooperatives, (organizations that the individual coach drivers belong to) and provide not only necessary equipment but also education to horse owners as well as farriers and veterinarians. \u00a0Of course, this requires much paperwork with the Cuban government and the government of the United States. \u00a0 In January of this year, we received a Convenio de Collaboracion, (an agreement to work in partnership) with ANIPLANT, the official animal protection NGO in Cuba.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

 <\/p>\n<\/div><\/span>

Betsy, Kelcie, Rusco, Jose and Rambo<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>

A Rainy Day in Centro Havana<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n

The Board<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>
<\/div>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

President: Betsy Gosling:<\/strong> \u00a0 Betsy Gosling has trained horses for almost 50 years. \u00a0She is a licensed dressage judge of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and formerly a licensed judge of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Equestre Internationale (FEI). She has competed through Grand Prix in dressage, preliminary in eventing and shown in the hunters and in the jumpers. \u00a0She managed dressage shows for 20 years. \u00a0During times of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the BP Oil Spill and the Louisiana floods of August of 2016, she has volunteered by doing animal rescue work. \u00a0She has also worked at a veterinarian clinic. \u00a0\u00a0 She started Cuba’s Horses in November of 2014 by bringing items with her for the care of the horses on one of her trips to Cuba and in August of 2016 applied and received 501 (3)(c) non-profit status for the IRS. \u00a0She has traveled to Cuba more times than she can count.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Secretary: \u00a0Lydia Gray, DVM, MA:<\/strong> \u00a0Dr. Lydia Gray is the staff veterinarian\/medical director for SmartPak. She also serves on the board of the Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners. was president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, and has served on many committees, task forces, and councils for the American Association of Equine Practitioners\u00a0(AAEP) and \u00a0American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Dr. Gray is an active competitor in dressage and combined driving; a member of the United States Dressage Federation, US Equestrian Federation, American Driving Society (ADS), and American Trakehner Association; and president of The HUB Club driving organization in Illinois and Wisconsin. The former Executive Director of the Hooved Animal Humane Society, she brings animal welfare, fundraising, and legislative talents to Cuba\u2019s Horses.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Treasurer:\u00a0\u00a0Laura Steffee: \u00a0<\/strong>For over 40 years horses have provided Laura Steffee and hundreds of her employees with a livelihood.\u00a0\u00a0She fully understands the difficulties Cuban owners face trying to balance humane treatment for their horse with the need to put food on the table. \u00a0Upon obtaining a\u00a0degree in Equestrian studies, she began teaching and training both riding and carriage horses in 1975.\u00a0 After creating and operating an Equestrian Program at Bowling Green University she and her partner moved to Chicago where they started what became the largest carriage company in the U.S. \u00a0For 15 years Laura supervised the training, care and scheduling of 70+ carriage and riding horses and 40+ employees in addition to teaching lessons and managing the finances. She has international experience in the horse business having worked and taught in Ireland and France. Upon returning to the US,\u00a0she trained\u00a0 \u201ctrick\u201d horses and performers for an equine theater and for 14 years operated one of the largest equestrian facilities in Wellington Florida. \u00a0Currently, she lives in Louisiana where she teaches lessons and runs a layup service for race horses. Her husband, Jed, has a lifetime of experience training race horses, shipping, and shoeing horses.<\/div>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

At Large: John Freiburger:<\/strong> \u00a0John Freiburger was born into a family with a long equine background.\u00a0 His grandfather and great uncle were breeders of Percherons on his mother\u2019s side and his father\u2019s family built carriages, wagon, farm, and lumbering equipment into the 1920s.\u00a0 His mother drove and his father restored carriages and was a skilled carriage upholsterer. He and his wife Betsy compete with singles and pairs in pleasure and Combined Driving Events (CDE) competitions.\u00a0 They have been involved in the ADS for more than two decades, John serving as President, regional director and until the end of 2016, as Chair of the Development Committee.\u00a0 He has also served on the USEF Board, the International Disciplines Committee, the Tech Committee, and the Pleasure Driving Committee.\u00a0 He is on the Board of US Driving for the Disabled and the Hickory Knoll Fund. \u00a0Betsy and John helped organize the 2012 ADS Annual Meeting and hosted it at their home, Hickory Knoll Farm, where they also host an annual CDE, many clinics, and dressage shows. \u00a0He has been an ADS judge since 2001 and also officiates at State fairs with light horse, breed and draft classes. John and Betsy have also traveled to Cuba as part of the Minneapolis-Cuba artist exchange.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

At Large: \u00a0Robert\u00a0Hewlett, DVM:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Bobby grew up in Louisiana and attended veterinary school at Texas A & M. \u00a0 He had the desire to specialize in horses from the beginning and has over 35 years working as an equine veterinarian specialized in sport horse medicine as well as breeding. \u00a0In addition, he owns a small animal practice with three other veterinarians. \u00a0 He has been the team veterinarian for the Area V Young Rider Championship teams for several years. \u00a0He has worked with rodeo stock and race horses as well as some exotic species. \u00a0Bobby along with his wife Tracy own Holly Hill Farm in Benton, Louisiana and together they organize and manage horse trials. \u00a0Formerly, \u00a0he competed at the preliminary level in eventing but now prefers trail riding. \u00a0In his spare time, he has volunteered in Panama building orphanages.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

 <\/p>\n<\/div>