Skate-a-thon 2011 – Fun off-the-ice includes carriage rides

Rod Lugert will bring two of his Belgian draft horses to campus Saturday to offer carriage rides during the Skate-a-thon for Parkinsons.

Rod Lugert, associate director for information technology services, will bring two of his Belgian draft horses to campus Saturday to offer carriage rides during the UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s.

Lugert and the horses will be on campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and give rides around the east end of the UNMC campus.

The carriage rides cost $5 a person with all proceeds supporting the skate-a-thon — which is a fundraiser for Parkinson’s research and care.

Other off-ice activities Aside from the horse and carriage rides, other off-the-ice activities at the skate-a-thon include: An autograph session with the UNO Maverick hockey team at 10:30 p.m. on Friday; A blanket drive to benefit people on the Winnebago, Santee, Rosebud or Pine Ridge American Indian reservations; and An ice cream-eating contest at 3 p.m. on Saturday. KMTV’s Carol Wang will emcee the contest. Wang also will emcee the skate games following the ice cream eating contest. See the full schedule of skate-a-thon activities.

Below, Lugert tells us more about his horses.

How did you become involved with your work with horses?

When I was a kid my dad always had draft horses, so when he passed away in 1997, I brought his horses down from North Dakota.

How many horses do you have?

I have six Belgian horses. I will only bring two to campus on Saturday. Their names are Bob and Dolly.

When do you work with horses?

I belong to the Sodbusters Association in North Dakota and twice a year I take four horses up there for field demonstrations. In the summer months, I do some field work as time allows and also take them to parades. In the winter, when weather cooperates, I do sleigh rides.