|
Ride-A-Thon
September 4, 2010
The Ride-A-Thon is High
Horses’ major fundraiser for the year. After collecting pledges,
riders embark on a beautiful trail that is clearly marked. Please
support us in this endeavor.
Staff members and our horses
participate in this event. They welcome and encourage your support.
Please consider choosing a participating staff member or horse and
collect pledges in their honor.
Flyer & Entry Form
Horse Sponsor Forms
First Giving
|
|
|
Volunteer of the Year
Ann James
Every year High Horses selects a volunteer
of the year from our very dedicated, and hardworking team. Ann is
a long time volunteer with over 16 years, who has dedicated countless
hours in the ring. As one parent expressed, “Ann exemplifies
all of the ideal characteristics of a High Horses volunteer. She
is capable, reliable, helpful, cheerful, punctual, concerned, experienced,
and always ready and eager to learn. She treats everyone with courtesy
and respect: riders and their families, horses, staff, and fellow
volunteers. She is also fun to be with and has seemingly limitless
energy.” Thank you Ann.
|
|
|
WISE/High Horses
High Horses and WISE will pilot
a six week program for WISE clients during our Spring 2010 session.
Specific equine facilitated activities help participants increase
self awareness, develop strategies for personal safety, and better
manage stressful encounters. Program staffing will include WISE
staff member, Abby Tassel, and High Horses staff members, Lasell
Bartlett MSW, LICSW and Susanne Haseman, LCMHC, CEFIP-MH.
|
|
|
Vermont NARHA Horses for Heroes Collaboration
High Horses is one of four
Vermont NARHA certified therapeutic riding centers that have partnered
to serve veterans by bringing NARHA Horses for Heroes to all of
Vermont. NARHA Horses for Heroes is a national program designed
to provide equine facilitated activities and therapies to veterans.
Pilot work done by Walter Reed Army Medical Center made it clear
that equine assisted activities and therapies were beneficial psychologically
and physically to war wounded veterans returning from the Iran and
Afghanistan conflicts. The veterans showed improvements in balance,
range of motion, mobility and self confidence. Over the past few
years NARHA Horses for Heroes was developed for personnel who have
served the country in the armed forces. Guidelines and standards
were set to ensure safety, understanding of unique needs, and growth
for this stimulating program.
Vermont has a large base
of personnel who have served our country both recently and in the
past, yet as a rural state, finding services that can assist upon
the return to civilian life can be difficult. For this reason four
NARHA centers have brought Horses for Heroes to Vermont. As Dr.
Paul Spiers, a Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist wrote in
support of their efforts, “… Vermont centers are helping
NARHA develop a model for how services can be provided to as many
veterans as possible where their population is not concentrated
around an urban center.”
Each center – High
Horses, Dream on Curls, Rhythm of the Rein, and CHAMP – has
collaborated over the past year to streamline access for veterans.
Each center individually offers equine assisted activities and therapies
year round in different regions of the state.
More information on each center is available on these websites:
CHAMP: www.vtchamp.org
Dream On Curls: www.dreamoncurls.com
High Horses: www.HighHorses.org
Rhythm of the Rein: www.rhythmoftherein.org
|
|
|
Vermont NARHA Horses for Heroes at High Horses
We are honored that funding
from the Hartland Foundation, Inc is enabling 5-6 veterans served
by the White River Junction Veterans Affairs (VA) to participate
in the Connections program at High Horses for six months, the result
of a promising collaboration between High Horses and the VA.
Looking toward securing future funding to benefit veterans, we
will carefully assess participant progress toward measurable functional
and psychological goals met through the equine assisted mental health
activities provided in Connections.
High Horses is one of four Vermont NARHA certified therapeutic
riding centers that have partnered to bring NARHA Horses for Heroes
to all of Vermont. NARHA Horses for Heroes is a national program
designed to provide equine facilitated activities and therapies
to veterans. More information is available on our website and at
www.NARHA.org.
|
|
|
VSA Arts of Vermont
We are excited to continue
our collaboration with VSA Arts of Vermont (www.vsavt.org). Expanding
from our 2008 pilot program, in 2010 all of our instructors will
be able to incorporate the therapeutic music expertise of a VSA
member, for all riders one week a month for four months: May, June,
July and August.
Like before, the therapeutic music specialist will spend time in
the ring enhancing the rider’s experiences by mindfully using
musical instruments known to stimulate and/or balance a rider’s
physical, emotional, and mental states. Simultaneously, the specialist
will be educating staff, volunteers, and interested family members
because we want our riders to continue making functional gains with
the help of music beyond this four month program.
We were delighted by the enthusiastic response to our pilot program
in 2008. Riders, riders’ families, and High Horses staff members
all noted the positive influence of the live music which elicited
improved posture, calmness, focus, and attention. |
|
|
February Break Camp
This winter our instructor,
Sharron Garreau, developed the February Break Camp for High Horses
riders over the February school break. Four of our ongoing riders
were able to participate in the three consecutive days of riding
and horse related activities.
This new program gives our
riders an opportunity to ride during the two months we generally
do not provide lessons, as well as riding three days in a row and
for longer than the usual half hour individual lessons.
It was an exciting experiment to see what is suitable for our riders,
and we look forward to doing it again in 2011.
|
|
|
Staff Training with Judy Cross Strehlke
High Horses provided a 2-day
centered riding clinic for all staff last fall. The purpose was
to enhance staff teaching skills and strengthen communications while
allowing staff to actively engage in experiential learning for both
unmounted and mounted activities. Judy Cross Strehlke generously
shared her Level IV Centered Riding expertise to facilitate changes
in our knowledge and awareness to benefit us and guide us how to
pass along our gains to our High Horses riders. For more information
on Centered Riding, see www.centeredriding.org.
|
|
|
Facility Upgrades
Changes! During the winter
months when regular lessons were suspended, we initiated some major
changes at Brookside Farm.
The ring we use for our May through October lessons is now elongated,
allowing for riders to experience the benefits of riding and therapy
activities along the straight sides for more strides before moving
into the turn at the end of the long side of the ring. Although
the ring width was simultaneously reduced, it is still about as
wide as the indoor arena.
The indoor arena now sports a 4 x 8 mirror! Traditionally used
in equestrian training facilities, mirrors allow a rider to visually
self-monitor balance during riding activities. We will be installing
a mirror for lesson use in the outdoor ring as well. Our riders
quickly found enjoyment looking at themselves astride the horses
during their lessons.
High Horses extends a big ‘Thank You!’ to the Norwich
Women’s Club, the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, and
an anonymous donor who together made these mirrors possible. |
|
|
Annual Horse Show
October 2, 2010
The Horse Show is an incredible event
held at Brookside Farm on Route 5 South. All High Horses riders are
encouraged to showcase their remarkable gains and invite family and
friends to witness their joy and hard work. Please note the date on
your calendar.
Click here to view and order professional photos taken by our volunteer,
Judith W. Bowen. judysphotographs.com
|
|
|
Special Olympics
September 26, 2010
High Horses Therapeutic
Riding Program, Dartmouth Riding Club and Special Olympics of NH
(SONH) will host the Fall Equestrian Games on Sunday September 26
at Morton Farm in Etna, NH. We encourage all riders with special
needs to consider entering as an athlete. Please access the registration
forms and event rules from High Horses’ web site or through
SONH. The events for the games and the order in which they are scheduled
are as follows: Pass the Baton, Equitation, Obstacle Race,
and Barrel Race.
Registration starts at 10am with opening ceremonies beginning at
10:30am.
This year our team, coached
by Mary Gerakaris and Michelle Lague, includes Olivia G., Travis
S., Emma D., Bo H., Joe S. and Klarey B.
High Horses would like to
especially thank Brookside Farm for donating ring time for our team
practice.
|
|
|
Tuck School of Business students volunteering on their annual "Tuck
Day of Impact"
|
|