Independence Farms News
October 2003
New Board Member: Independence Farms has a new board member as of the October 20th board meeting. Her name is Donna Frye and she is from Haddam, Kansas. She has lived in Haddam since she married in 1976 and has raised four sons there. She also has one granddaughter. Donna is employed by the Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas (USD 333-Concordia. Currently she is the special education facilitator and resource teacher at USD 221, K-12. This is her 27th year as an instructor of special needs students. We’re thrilled to have her lend her expertise to the Independence Farms organization.
New horse donated: We have a new horse that has been donated by Lester Lawrence of Clifton, Kansas. The horse’s name is Buff and he is 16 years old. He has been working wonderfully with the IF riders and volunteers.
2 year old horse purchased by IF: The latest fundraiser for Independence Farms is the purchase of a 2 year old horse. It is being trained by Stephanie Ohlde, Horse Manager of IF. Details of the auction of this horse, which will be in the spring, will be in upcoming newsletters.
Cold weather approaching: With the upcoming cold weather, sessions will move to the indoor arena in the Gold Bar on the Washington County Fairgrounds. Sessions will be running at 2 and 3:30 to allow for riders and volunteers to get home before dark.
When is a Bareback Pad Not a Bareback Pad?? Answer: When it is a therapeutic tool in a program working with a mental health population! In an equine facilitated psychotherapy or experiential education program working with kids or adults with emotional problems, the activities are designed to promote emotional processing and/or emotional learning. The team, consisting of the riding instructor, the mental health professional, or educational professional, translate therapy goals into lesson plans. Depending on the activities, issues such as trust, fear, control and communication, just to name a few, can be addressed, helping the client/student move to a healthier emotional state. Designing the activities can be challenging and fun! It is important to remember that while we hope to impart good horsemanship principles, the point is not a good riding lesson (why, sometimes these clients never get on a horse!), the point is a process for emotional growth. The type of equipment, as well as the type of activity, can be important in addressing particular issues. For instance, doing away with the saddle all together and using bareback pads instead can help with:
Trust: When is the last time you rode with a bareback pad, maybe with someone else leading you around?? You have to learn to trust , and pretty quickly!
Balance: The metaphor of being able to balance on the horse (how you do it, what it feels like) can be useful in discussing balance in life.
Concentration: For attention-disordered kids, the consequences of not concentrating while sitting on a bareback pad are strong reinforcers!
Relaxation: Most mental health clients carry lots of stress and tension in their bodies. The warmth of the horse, the softness of the pad, and the experience of the animal’s movement can all lead to considerable physical and emotional stress reduction.
Sexual Trauma: Clients who have experienced sexual trauma often have difficulty spreading their legs to mount a horse. This can be important feedback to a trauma victim, though it can also trigger volatile memories. A highly skilled and experienced team consisting of a mental health professional and an equine professional can really help this client heal from the trauma and develop a new relationship with their body.
Always remember Safety, safety, safety. At all times safety is top priority!!
By
Marilyn Sokolof, PhD., and Memree Stuart, MIS
Fall 2003 NARHA’s STRIDES