THE NEW WEBSITE

● The new

website

● Crystal Ward

Memorial

● Donkey Days

clinic Photos

● Mule Clinic

Photos

● Upcoming

events

WEBSITE NEWSLETTER

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THE NEW WEBSITE

Crystal, who was born and raised in Santa Cruz, owned a variety of horses, mules and don-

keys since she was old enough to ride. Growing up in the country and surrounded by horses

as a youth, Crystal was fortunate to experience what most young girls can only dream.

In 1981 Crystal purchased her first mammoth jack donkey (“Cocky Doodle” from Montana)

and shortly afterwards her second donkey (“Dry Gulch Michelle” from Oregon). After that

she started gradually trading in her horses for the longears.

Predominately a western rider, she also competed in English (hunt seat), driving, both Eng-

lish and western side-saddle riding. Crystal has been competing in equine events since 1969

including literally hundreds of parades throughout the United States. She rode in the 1989

Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., Oregon’s Rose Festival Parade, Arizona’s

Fiesta Bowl Parade, and eighteen consecutive (18) Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasade-

na, California.

Crystal dedicated her entire lifetime with equines, from training, breeding and running a

boarding facility, which amounts to nearly five decades of equine involvement. In 1997 The

Ass-Pen Ranch opened its doors to the public, designed with both breeding and training in

mind. Crystal was a judge in the following Associations: American Mule Assn. - since 1995,

National Miniature Donkey Assn. - since 1996, North American Saddle Mule Assn. - (Senior

Judge) - since 1995, American Donkey and Mule Society - since 1985, International Side-

Saddle Organization - since 1981 and American Miniature Horse Assn. - since 1993.

She was instrumental in having the public become aware of the donkeys and burros that

have suffered through countless decades of abuse and neglect through the hands of man-

kind and in the wilds through environmental stress and harsh conditions. Her dedication will

be honored with an Interactive Educational Center named after her at the Peaceful Valley

Donkey Rescue Visitors Center in Texas.

Crystal enjoyed working in her garden, making jewelry, home improvement projects and had

become interested in geology and rock collecting. She recently had set up a rock shop in an

Airstream trailer.

She is survived by her father Harold Ward and brother Steve Ward. Preceded in death by her

mother Norma Ward and her brother Greg Ward.

Private services will be held by her family. A Celebration of Life with friends will be planned

once a final investigation report is completed from the incident. Bishop Mule Days will include

her in their “Empty Saddles” memorial.

Donations may be made to your favorite equine rescue, equine organization or club in her

memory. Cards and remembrances can be sent to: Harold Ward, P.O. Box 9504, South Lake Ta-

hoe, CA 96158

Click to donate to the PVDR Crystal Ward Memorial

Ass-Pen Ranch

Green Valley Mortuary

Donkey Days Clinic

Mule Clinic Pictures

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25Santa Ynez

Mule Show

26Santa Ynez

Mule Show

27Santa Ynez

Mule Show

28 29 30

April 2014

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20Mule Days 21Mule Days 22Mule Days 23Mule Days 24Mule Days

25Mule Days 26 27 28 29 30 31

May 2014

EVENTS CALENDER APRIL/MAY

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7Slenders Show

8Slenders Show 9 10 11 12 13Kernville 14Kernville

15Kernville 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27Penn Valley

Show 28Penn Valley

Show

29Penn Valley

Show

30

June 2014

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2Bear Valley

3Bear Valley 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

August 2014

EVENTS CALENDER JUNE/AUGUST

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27One Moore

Mule Show

28One Moore

Mule Show 29 30

September 2014

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 3 4 5 6 7Donkey Sym-

posium 8Donkey Sym-

posium

9Donkey Sym-

posium 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

November 2014

EVENTS CALENDER SEPTEMBER/NOVEMBER