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 The
Northwest Assistance Ministries serving north and northwest
Harris County in Houston, Texas, announced in May that
their newest fund raising project would be "Saddle
Up for NAM." The project includes a number of life-sized,
painted fiberglass horses with various designs and themes
that are available now for sponsorship and will then
be auctioned off during the Jeans and Jewels Gala on
Oct. 16.
Artist and barrel racer Katherine
Abbott first heard of the project from a friend at the
Da Vinci Gallery in Tomball, Texas, which has displayed
her artwork. The project was a perfect fit for Abbott
who has been involved in the horse industry since she
was little. Over the last 10 years she has been training
and running barrel horses at larger jackpots and opens.
Her goal is to get her WPRA permit next year and fill
it so that she can move into the higher ranks of the
barrel racing world. Until then she will continue her
work as an artist.
 Abbott
was one of the many selected artists for this project
and she has painted her horse, "The Pro's"
with the help of six very generous WPRA barrel racers,
who agreed to donate an image of themselves competing
for this project. The individuals include Sharon Camarillo,
Sherry Cervi, Lindsay Sears, Tana Poppino, Kay Blandford
and Marlene McRae. Abbott first contacted Camarillo
about the project through a friend and was thrilled
to be part of such a unique project.
Each individual sent Abbott photos
of themselves, which were then reproduced on the sides
of the horse - three on each side. She plans to also
reproduce their signatures by each likeness and include
each competitor's personal brands on the horse along
with the WPRA logo.
"I am absolutely thrilled to
be part of this project," says Abbott. "NAM
is something Houston needs, and it is a big part of
the city."
 Once
the horses are completed they are then put on display
in Vintage Park in Houston or if they have been sponsored
by an individual or business, then they may display
that specific painted horse on their property (in the
Houston area) for several weeks leading up to NAM's
Jeans & Jewels Gala on October 16. For horses that
have been sponsored for a price of $10,000 or more,
that horse will not be available for auction but all
others will be auctioned off at the Gala, raising funds
for NAM. "The Pro's" horse with the WPRA members
on it is still available for sponsorship and if a sponsor
is not found prior to the Gala, then it will be available
for auction.
For more information on the project
visit www.namonline.org.
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