There were only a couple of grey clouds in the sky along with the sweltering, 90-degree heat late on Saturday afternoon, June 3. But when a gust of wind tore suddenly through Equest’s Al Hill Jr. Arena, surprising everyone by knocking over signs and silent-auction displays for the non-profit’s annual Blue Ribbon Ball at Texas Horse Park, one guy didn’t hesitate before leaping into action. Soon enough Clint Bruce was picking up some of the items off the arena floor and taping others down for good measure.

What else would you expect, though, from a former Navy SEAL, NFL player, and crisis-response entrepreneur? Clint also had just joined the advisory board of Equest, which offers healing through equine-assisted activities, and — oh yeah — he was scheduled to be the Ball’s keynote speaker a little later, explaining the bond between warriors and horses.
“To be part of something like Equest is really pretty magical,” Clint reflected, pausing between his emergency clean-up chores at the Ball’s VIP cocktail party.
All around him, many of the event’s 550 guests had begun trickling into the arena, some making for the tequila bar featuring (presenting sponsor) Pendery’s specialty cocktail made with Mejinta Tequila and Pendery’s spices. At the venue’s east-side entrance, Equest’s mini-horse ambassadors, Dare and Ranger, were experiencing their very first photo booth.
The little equines seemed right at home having their photos taken, but the two-legged types posing with them required more than a few tries before mastering the technology. Just a few feet away the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Concert Truck was parked, with pianists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang entertaining attendees as they checked out the silent auction items — anyone for a guitar signed by Kelly Clarkson? — and visited with old and new friends.
Among them:




- Nancy and Ron Natinsky, longtime Equest supporters, who later in the evening would receive the group’s coveted Citation Award.
- Honorary Chairs Kristina and Phil Whitcomb, themselves the parents of an Equest client.
- New Equest CEO Myrshem George, resplendent in a pair of black Christian Louboutins with tiny gold spikes. Myrshem admitted that, despite recently taking the reins of the equine-therapy program from former chief executive Lili Kellogg, he hadn’t yet had his first ride in the saddle. Not to worry, Lili advised; he would adapt.
- White-bearded Jody Dean, who would serve as the evening’s emcee. Jody, who was excited about having worked as an extra on TV’s “The Chosen” and “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” said his hero is the famous character actor Burt Mustin, a salesman who didn’t make his screen debut until the age of 67.






To arrive at the arena, the guests — including last year’s speaker Timmy Newsome with Sabrina Greene, Susan and John Farris, Angie and Kevin Kadesky,Christie Carter, Phyllis Glazer, Mary Martha and John Pickens, Beth Layton, Tiffany and Paul Divis, Chris Denney, Daryl Anderson and Equest Board Co-Chairs Lisa Loy Laughlin and Clint Haggerty — were presented with glasses of champagne from the champagne wall after threading their way through the Equest horse barn. There, therapy mounts like Thorin, Hickory and Potter were spiffed up and ready for their close-ups with guests like Shawn Baker and David Maddox. Then it was a downhill trek to the arena for the main event of a seated supper and the evening’s formal program.





A few headed that way were in for a surprise, though. That’s because lightning suddenly lit up the grey sky, thunder boomed like cannon fire, and a gully washer for the ages swept over the festivities. Fortunately, Equest staffers seamlessly hauled out black umbrellas to be sure guests like Amy Green and Luis Araujo made it from the valet drop-off to the barn, and then from the barn to the arena.
Sitting down finally to a dinner of aragula salad, filet of beef and roast chicken breast, and vanilla cheesecake, Ball guests were greeted by Jody before enjoying a performance of “America the Beautiful” by Candy Williams. Next came a talk by Myrshem, who told how Equest’s equine programs were improving the lives of hundreds of children, adults and military veterans. Co-Chairs Lindsay Ballotta and Jenny Merkle then took the lectern, followed by Lisa and Clint introducing Dallas City Councilmember and Equest advocate Jaime Resendez, who presented Nancy and Ron with their Citation Award. Equest Co-Founder Susan Schwartz then presented the Founder’s Award to Lili, who’d served the non-profit for 28 years before announcing her retirement last fall.
Wrapping up the evening’s program were Clint’s keynote — he talked about how Equest’s programs help veterans face the challenges of “coming home” after service — and a live auction of six items conducted by Louis Murad. To put a bow on the festivities, guests took to the dance floor as Limelight, an offshoot of the Emerald City Band, pumped out a high-energy set of classic tunes and current hits.