Room at Children’s Hospital Dedicated to Fallen Competitor, Kiley Marschand
By: Brittany Bevis
On June 4th, 2016, the horse industry lost a lovely, young competitor, daughter, sister, and friend, Kiley Marschand. 15-year-old Kiley passed away after a year-long battle with leukemia.
Friend and fellow competitor, Ellexxah Maxwell, wrote a blog for EquineChronicle.com in Kiley’s memory. Click here to read.
Over the past three years, the Indiana Quarter Horse Association and Indiana Quarter Horse Youth Association, of which Kiley was a member, have been hard at work on a special project in Kiley’s honor. Their idea was to create a special room at the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital that would encompass all the things Kiley loved so much.
Kiley was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2015. Immediately, fundraising began in an effort to contribute money to the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, where Kiley was being treated. In June, the IQHYA hosted a Pie-In-The-Face Auction where exhibitors had the opportunity to purchase a pie to smash in the faces of their favorite horse trainers. With additional financial assistance from former IQHA President Steve Headley and his wife Kathy, the initial donation was complete, and the process of designing and planning the layout of the room could begin.
Sadly, Kiley would never see the room complete. “With the concern of a huge financial undertaking for IQHYA and an entire youth association full of heartbroken kids, the Headley family made a tremendous donation of the remaining funds to complete the room,” IQHA says.
Now, the Indiana Quarter Horse Room is finally complete and serves as a functioning space for children fighting illnesses. The room is filled with horse-themed memorabilia including show outfits, spurs, tack, horseshoes, and photos of horses. It includes the names of all Kiley’s horses on faux stall fronts and incorporates her favorite color, purple. A large plaque that hangs above the doorway shows a quote from John Wayne that says, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Along the back wall, there is a life-size mural of a horse show taking place with horses and riders competing in various disciplines in a covered arena. On the floor, graphics of Trail obstacles like cones and poles allow patients to “walk through” their own course.
“In the wake of something tragic, we have had the opportunity to create something beautiful for countless children to enjoy,” says Chris Jones, IQHA President.
Click here to take a video tour of the room.
The Indiana Quarter Horse Association is a state affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association. Established in 1948, IQHA is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018. For more information about IQHA visit www.iqha.com or contact IQHA Secretary Ginny Tauer at iqhatauer@gmail.com
