Michael Vermaas Benefit Horse Show
July 13-19, 2015
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Equine
Photographer Genie Images San Antonio
I
have been working for the Horse Gazette
magazine since the beginning of the year
and loving it. When my editor, Marilyn
Hazen, called needing some images of a benefit horse show at Retama
Equestrian Center for Michael Vermaas, I said yes in a New
York minute.
I met Michael earlier in the year
when he asked me to shoot his schooling show for the Working
Equitation Texas club. He was
a vibrant man that was enthusiastic about his horses and teaching others about
horsemanship. Shortly after our meeting,
Michael had an unusual accident. As he
explains it, "I was just riding a rambunctious horse and then felt a
pop". He had not fallen off nor had
he collided into anything . . . just a "pop". He got off his horse and things did not feel
quite right. He went home and started to
feel worse and then decided to see a doctor.
It turns out he had fractured his pelvis (and open book fracture). If that was not enough, he had significant
internal bleeding and was put in ICU. He
was hospitalized for a lengthy period to surgically repair the bleeding, the
break, and then rehab. As a horse
trainer, this is devastating. Not only would he not be able to work the
horses in the barn, but self employment usually does not have very good insurance. The medical bills were mounting and the
income was dwindling; not a good time in his life.
Michael never gave up nor lost
hope. He stayed focused on healing and
his community rallied around him to give him a leg up. This benefit show was only one of the many
ideas generated to create some income for Michael. The show was a success and they also held an
silent auction to make the numbers even better.
Michael continues to heal and we hope that this show can at lease ease
some of his financial pain.
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Jeanne Harford
San Antonio Photographer
San Antonio Equine Photographer
San Antonio Event Photographer
Texas Horse Show Photographer
Texas Event Photographer
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