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Hi Kelly !
Congrats on getting your coaching training going. After meeting my friend
Catherine Cote' ( Lundgren ) after she moved here from Vancouver Canada, I
found
out what a differance it is there to become a trainer / coach.
In the US, people can call themselves a trainer and take in horses with no
formal liscense or training themselves. I hesitate to even call some of our
local folks " trainers " when I see their methods and what come out of their
barns. ( if they have a barn )
I know that it took Catherine YEARS of study and work to coach hunters and
jumpers up there. Hearing stories of living in Europe....studying under real
masters and the testing process, along with the work she had to do to remain
at
the level she was, is astounding. Far cry from here for sure.
The therapeutic horses are a real interest of mine. This past year, we had 4
Fjords from our herd become therapy horses for 2 different programs. We
actually donated our beloved Heljo's Kaiser and a Gjest daughter, Johanna, to
" Rising Stars " a hippotherapy program in So. CA. Today....Jeff is out at
Equine Affaire in Ponoma, CA. visiting with them and seeing Kaiser do demos
for
their program. Kaiser has been to many Fjord shows with us over the years, and
was our most trusted driving Fjord. He was also my back-up Search and Rescue
mount and was also qualified in S+R. To see him out doing yet another
meaningful job since retireing from our show group, is awsome.
I sold Anvil's Rebekka and Mid's Ayla to the National Ability Center in Park
City, UT. this fall. According to Jan Drake, the director of the therapeutic
riding program there, both girls are " ROCK STARS ! " Ayla was still nursing
a baby here, so Rebekka went up there first, and proved to be a perfect,
steady mount....and basically unflappable under the pressure of riding severly
disabled people around. Jan reported to me that they
" didnt think it could be any better, " then Ayla arrived ! She is a big
Fjord, and has an amazing giant walk out.....here is a note I recieved this
morning from Jan reported from the man, with severe MS, who has been riding
Ayla now
for several weeks :
*****************************************************************************
*****
Jan,
Sorry I was not able to pick up the existing barn drawings yesterday. My
plan was to do it after skiing at 4:30.
Unfortunately a blizzard was happening at that time. It took me 45 minutes
to drive from the ski center to Kimball's Junction. I will get them Tuesday.
Concerning Ayla's impact on my Hippotherapy experience: Substantial !!!!!
She seems well suited for line driving, which provides a smoother more
controlled riding experience. This has resulted in less "reflex response"
while
riding and provides greater opportunity to concentrate on feeling the movement
of
the horse.
Ayla's gate is incredible. The amplitude of her movement enhances the
therapeutic effect for me.
Although I feel like I have had to work harder during the sessions with
her, I have not experienced any stiffness afterward and definitely have
enjoyed
improved mobility due to reduced spasticity. Other than being bow-legged,
I move better after each session.
We can talk more about this Tuesday if you want to.
Jerry
************************************************************************
Another great feeling for us, as Ayla was my personal riding
horse and tough Search and Rescue mount. It was hard for me to see her go. At
age 16, having raised several foals and been ridden pretty hard here, she now
has another job, which is so important.
Im working on an article for the Fjord Herald, with pictures of
the Fjords who have left our herd for therapeutic programs. It takes a special
type of Fjord to do this work, but it can be very rewarding to provide these
awsome Fjords with new jobs in such special places.
Lisa Pedersen
**************
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