Calendar to aid legend of dressage

Sisters Country artist and equestrienne Kimry Jelen has collaborated with photographer Barb Riebold to produce an equestrian calendar for a cause.

The proceeds will help renowned dressage trainer Karl Mikolka and his wife, who are struggling with medical problems.

Mikolka was diagnosed in 2009 with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He has been getting treatments and attempting recovery since then. He has not been able to teach, and the medical bills continue to come in. Recently his wife, Lynn, fell and broke a leg. She has been teaching music lessons for income and will not be able to continue until she recovers.

"Barb Riebold and I have teamed together to create a colorful, high-quality and functional calendar that will raise funds for Karl and Lynn Mikolka," Jelen explained.

Though the Mikolkas live in another state, Jelen is counting on the pull-together spirit of the Sisters Country equestrian community - and the quality of the calendar - to encourage folks to help out while putting some first-class equestrian art on the wall.

Several of the paintings in this calendar have been inspired by photographs taken by Riebold during Karl's clinics, photo shoots at Saint Cloud Ranch and 2Lip Stud.

Helping the trainer is a very personal mission for Jelen.

"I was lucky enough to ride with him in clinics for two years. He is an amazing teacher, but not for the fainthearted," she said. "Karl expanded my ability to ride dressage; he was generous in his teachings, pushing me to new levels of understanding the why - I'm still and forevermore figuring out the how."

All proceeds from the calendar will go directly to Karl and Lynn Mikolka.

Calendars are 11-by-17 inches, top-bound, printed on thick easy-to-write-on 80-pound cardstock; a hole is punched in the top for hanging.

Calendars are $25. They are available locally at Angeline's Bakery & Café and at Sisters Feed & Supply. Visit http://www.kimryjelen.com for more information.