I finally got to ride!!

Of course on my last day of SCORE I finally get to ride! Finn (who is a horse by the way) was about to get taken back to the barn because his rider didn't show up.  So I was just kidding around and said "Hey if he needs to get ridden I could ride him" and the instructor turned to me and said "I think that is a great idea!" I was so shocked. I thought she was kidding but she was totally serious. So I went to my car and got my helmet (yes I keep my helmet in my car just in case for emergencies like this) and was the lead rider for the class. This class the riders are almost independent and are working on trying to tort off lead.  So I would demonstrate how to post in the trot and the kids would follow behind me and try to match my movement. After their trotting was done I get to show them what a canter looked like (they are not going to canter anytime soon). It was so cool to be the demo rider and show them how to do everything and to top it off I was able to ride the one horse I wanted to ride all alone. So it was a great ending to SCORE.

Therapy Animals

During my research about therapy animals I found something interesting about a animals that most of us wouldnt think to be a therapeutic animal. Department’s revised ADA regulations have a new, separate provision about miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. (Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 inches to 34 inches measured to the shoulders and generally weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.) Entities covered by the ADA must modify their policies to permit miniature horses where reasonable. The regulations set out four assessment factors to assist entities in determining whether miniature horses can be accommodated in their facility. The assessment factors are (1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether the miniature horse is under the owner’s control; (3) whether the facility can accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility (U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division)

Riley: Cricket

So yesterday the new pony got to be used in class. Her name is Cricket. Now Cricket is very special because it normaly takes horses at least a month to be accapted into the program, and it only to her less then a month. The nickname we gave her is "Kickit" because thats what you have to do in order to get her going. Cricket has been used in able body classes but yesterday was her first therapeutic class. You would never have known that she wasn't a therapy horse before. She was so clam, and was just as good as some of the old timers.  Its nice to see horses added to the Windrush family.

Therapeutic Riding

I have already learned so much about therapeutic  riding in my little time being there. The people I work with are so inspiring. I would never picture someone who was blind standing up on a horse, or know what an Australian stock saddle was.   Windrush has also taught me some things I could do to improve my own riding with my horse. One thing is when you sit sideways and walk it improves your core, and just simple warm ups I can do to get my warmed up before I ride like different stretches I can do on my horse while he is walking around warming up. Windrush is a very special place that if you ever have a chance to volunteer to work in a class I highly recommend it.   

Eyes

On Thursday mornings students from Perkins School for the Blind come to ride at Windrush. I worked with this boy, we will call him E. So E was completely blind. and was probably between 10 - 12 years old. That particular lesson we were vaulting. Vaulting is when you preform gymnastic moves on a horse like laying down on the horse, kneeling, standing up, ect. So E was so excited to find out we were vaulting. We rode up to buckets that had cards written in braille so he knew what trick he had to do. He was doing headstands, standing up, even trotting sitting backwards. I know I could never do any of that. I am much more comfortable sitting on the horse than standing in it.

The story.....

Today one of the people that I was leading today had a very big impact on me. This women was probably in his 40's didn't need any side-walkers so you think why would she be doing therapeutic riding? I don't remember her name but we will call her D. So D had a nerve problem in her right hand and right thigh. Because of this she sometime might drop her right rein so that is why I am there.  I asked her if she wanted to share, "How did you get your injury?" She told me that she slipped in a store display and ever since then she has had this condition. So D told me a little about her history and it turns out that she use to ride dressage at one of the highest levels you can go (which is every hard to do... like a couple steps below Olympics). It made me sad that this injury keep her from riding like she use to do, but she is so happy when she rides. She doesn't care what she does while she ride she just love the sport

The Pony Tamer

So sorry I didn't blog last week it was kinda a crazy week.  I had planed to do it all on Friday but I got a really bad cold, then a stomach thing that lasted all the way to Sunday. It was just not a good weekend for me. The week on the other hand was very good before I got sick. I have officially conquered Burrito.  Burrito is this little pony. I mean little. I am 5'4'' and he is am arm rest for me. Now don't get me wrong we all love him; its just... he has a mind of his own. The first time I ever had to be a horse handler for this pony the instructor told me treat him like I rhino. I thought she was kidding. He likes to go, go, go. Meanwhile I am using all of my arm strength to slow him down to good calm walk, where he is thinking I want to take off for this hills. After was had a little chat (and I put a chain on him) we finally came to an understanding. Now I get him to do this nice slow trot (a trot is like a jog) and the two of use get along very well. So when they ask does any one want to take the little bugger I happily volunteer. Oh did I mention he is in his late 20's. (Thats old for a pony.

Windrush Week 1

Yesterday I was a horse handler for a women who was paralyzed from the knee down.So because she was paralyzed to get the horse to walk or trot she would say in a loud voice "Walk on" or "Trot on" and he would do it. She could steer perfectly by the way she was riding you would never know she was partly paralyzed.  She ended up being for Beverly and was talked about what were good beaches around here. We both agreed singing was the best.  

Windrush Week 1

Wow I have such a cool SCORE project. On Monday I worked in this one class that had someone who couldn't walk very well riding a horse that was once wild in Nevada. I think it is so cool how these animals can be legs for people who can't walk. It allows them the freedom to move around on their own without a wheelchair or crutches. So while I was watching this boy ride I was thinking what a unique pair. Guinness (the name of the horse) could be all wild and crazy but he is so calm and helping this boy. If you ever have a chance to volunteer at Windrush or even watch it is a incredible experience.  

Windrush Week 1

So on Tuesday I worked with this girl in the barn, but I don't remember her name. Anyway she was 22 years old but did't look that old at all. I think she had some burns on her face but I couldn't tell. She was the nicest girl ever and loves working with the horses. As we were grooming she asked me how old I was and guessed I was about 23 because I seemed so mature. I said no lower and she guessed 20. She keep guessing till we got to 18 and said "Please tell me you are 18 because if your not you should be." I told her I was going to be 18 next month and she said good, then we both had a good laugh. I am meeting a lot of cool people here and everyone is so nice and wants to help me learn.

Riley McCarthy (Outline)

Score Outline
Topic: Working with kids with special needs at a therapeutic riding center

Thesis: There are many types of treatment and programs that help kids with special needs or disabilities. Animals help these kids in ways that medicine cannot.

Paragraph one: Introduction

                         Talk about what I am been doing for the past month and a half

                         Explain what Windrush is and how it helps people/ what kind of people it helps
                       

Paragraph two:   Autism

·         What is autism

·         Symptoms

·         How to treat it

·         Why animals will help children with Autism

Paragraph three – five: 

Other different types of special needs, and disabilities that Windrush treats at their barn.

Like Autism talk about

·         What it is

·         Symptoms

·         How to treat it

·         Why animals help children with it

Paragraph Six:  Therapeutic Riding

·         Explain what is therapeutic riding

·         How is helps children/ people who have just comeback from war/ for even people with stress and anxiety

·         Give a number of how many centers there are in the United States

Paragraph Seven: What other types of treatment there is to help kids with special needs

Paragraph Eight:  Animals Law

·         What it is / how long it has been enacted, and by who

·         What does it mean

·         What does it do

·         Why it is important

Paragraph Nine:  Why animals help kids with special needs

·         What type of animals they use

·         How the animals help

·         Why it is animals that help

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