Re: FW: Fjordies in therapeutic programs (lenghty)
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] One last comment on Therapeutic Riding Programs and then I'll be quiet. As in any and all certified businesses - just because a program is NARHA certified does not necessarily mean it is better than a program which is not. There are many wonderful programs out there which are not NARHA certified just as there are NARHA certified programs which are not well run. I am very impressed with everything NARHA has done for TR over the 30 plus years and I have been attending their conferences and seminars since the 80's and learned a lot. My advice is check the program out in person and preferably unannounced - when appropriate talk to the riders, the volunteers, the Instuctors and the coordinator. Also volunteer yourself, see what happens during lessons. Check horse care look at their feet, stalls, coats etc. , turn out areas and amount of time for turn out, records that are or aren't kept. Our guys are out 24/7 unless the weather is bad. Fit of riders to saddles - saddles to horses - bridles or halters with reins - is there a checklist to keep track of how many times a mount is used each day and is it a walk lesson or a wtc lesson - there is a limit on how many of each are allowed each day. Is each horse given at least one day off each week (old guys may need more). This checklist also allows Instructors to know "who" has been used that day and for what. With multiple Instructors this is important. Some of our mounts are listed as 100 lbs or less or walk only or whatever their particular needs are. Heavy riders may ride on a thick pad with a surcingle that has handles - this distributes their weight better. All riders mount from the mounting ramp or using the lift so there is no drag on the horse's back. Even our "able bodied" riders mount from the ramp to reduce twisting the horses back. Most of our riders ride using a halter and reins - this eliminates any accidental pulling on the horse's mouth. Some stay with this arrangement forever - others work up to the bridle. Leads for volunteers are "Y" shaped when attached to the bridle - many times the halter is under the bridle and used to lead from. We have an open door policy at Freedom Hills as a 501(c)3 our records must be available to the public. I'm sorry this got so long but it was important to me that everyone realize for most TR programs our Horse Therapist are worth their weight in gold. We could not provide riding therapy without them and we know it. A good Horse Therapist is a happy, healthy, well treated partner. I hope I didn't come off as a know it all because I most certainly don't and never will but I have learned a lot since that first time at 3 when my Dad plunked me on my pony and told me to ride or fall off. Yep, fell off and occassionally still do but also still horse bound!! Blessings, Robyn in MD
FW: Fjordies in therapeutic programs
This message is from: "kathy johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -Original Message- From: kathy johnson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 11:29 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fjordies in therapeutic programs Hello there-- I did a bit of raking this am and found the daffodils and crocus in blossom under the leaves. It's great that spring is finally here!! I chose to do the raking close to the pony pasture so I could keep an eye on the comings and goings of two new additions (saddlebred gelding and morgan mare) to our herd of horses for the therapeutic program called We Can Ride in the Minneapolis, MN area. Both are here on a 60 day trial...to make sure they can do the job...both mentally and physically. The horses are our BEST partners..so they have to be happy with their job also!! I am an riding & driving instructor for this program and host two nights of carriage driving plus one day of hippotherapy using my fjords at our farm, Woodpecker Woods. Currently, we are using three full time (Ada Karin (from Linda Hickham), Ranka (from Carol Rivoire) and Rorik's Gunner. Two more...Fjona I(from Linda Hickham) and BDF Kapprell (from Carol Rivoire) are "in training". The saddlebred and morgan are here to find a horse with a narrower base than the fjordies have. The therapists have been very excited using the fjordies because all of them have unique strides and motion as well as their kind spirits and heart. This means they can pick the right horse for what the student needs in regard to vestibular input. Our hippo kids range from 2 years to 14 hears old. Our driving students range in age from teenagers...to a gentleman in his sixties. I agree with alot of the previous posts about the care and concern each horse has for its student. During class, they pick their steps carefully being very intuitive that they have special cargo aboard. Two of our carriages are equipped with hydraulic lifts to accommodate wheelchairs. The thrill for a student confined to a chair being able to trot outside...have the wind in their face and navigate a cones course is my greatest joy! And the horses make sure they do it well and also enjoy the fun times! All of the ponies are ridden/driven before classes with an abled-bodied rider/driver...as well as after class. I want them to be able to cut loose and have some fun. Between the hippo classes, the tack is removed and they are allowed a 15-20 minute break in their stall with fresh water & hay. The stall area is quiet with classical music...so they can relax and unwind. They are always willing to start again when a volunteer comes to get them tacked up!! Our three mainstays have been in the program for 3 years...taking part in demonstrations as well as lessons. Privately, all of the horses have been used in pleasure driving, a driving trial and a distance drive...just to give them some variety in their life! I would not trade any one of them for the world! GO FJORDS!!! Kathy Johnson
