Newsletter – Fall 2006

Riding Session

When Class #3 started August 6^th, the temperatures were again, rather warm.  We all rolled with the temps and dressed a bit cooler incorporating less strenuous activities and some water games into our riding sessions.  We tried to start some new fashion fades, shorts with boots, but we don’t believe you will see it making any of the latest fashion magazines. 

Tossing Mr. Froggy into a bucket of water became one of our rider’s favorite games.  It’s was just amazing how much more accurate our targeting became when throwing a wet spongy frog into a bucket of water. Mr. Froggy even got to cool off some horses/ponies and some volunteers.  We had some cooler riding session during the Class and even a couple of Sundays with some rain.  The instructor just had to give instructions a bit louder on the Sundays that the rain beat on the tin roof. 

With the start of Class #4 on October 1^st, cooler weather has prevailed and of course shorter days, so we have moved our riding times up ensuring that all are gotten home at an early hour.  We incorporated our new ramp into our riding program.  All the horses accepted it right from the start, and some even liked it better than the old.  It took a couple weeks for some of our riders to get used to it.  It looked different, but it is serving us all very well now.  Thanks again to Cowboy’s Custom Cycle and DoDa for making a dream of ours come true.

Tony and Freddy, the two Halflinger/Paint ponies on loan to us from Dr. Roy Hall, are working out really well.  With their incorporation, we have been able to bring back riders that we haven’t been able to serve since the passing of Buff.  We have also been working with another old gelding named Buck, who is twenty-nine years of age.  He’s been everywhere, done everything, and still has lots of left over energy.  His owner, Dr. Phil Bentz, has agreed to let us use him.  Can you think of a better way for an older horse to live out his golden years then by being a therapeutic riding horse and letting young riders experience the thrill of sitting atop a large muscular gentle giant.  Currently that gives us five horses to choose from to accommodate our riders.  Remember though, you can never have to many therapy horses.  We do occasionally run into scheduling conflicts and we do believe in giving our horses time off, so if you think you might have a solid, older, gentle horse that could be used for therapeutic riding, give us a call. See the “Contact Us” page for numbers.

With your help Purina Mills will donate to our center.

Purina is offering a way for you to help NARHA and our therapeutic center.  Here’s how it works.  If you feed your horse Purina Mills Equine Senior horse feed, buy five bags between now and year’s end and just save your cash register receipt(s) and send them to us.  We can then complete the Equine Senior horse feed rebate forms we were issued.  These forms and your receipt(s) will enable Purina to rebate $15 to be split 50/50 between NARHA and Independence Farms!  This is just a small gesture but it could pay enormous dividends.  Send us those copies of your Purina Equine Senior horse feed receipts to Independence Farms, Inc., School of Therapeutic Riding, PO Box 35, Washington, KS 66968.  This promotion ends December 31^st, so get them to us by December 15^th so we have time to fill out the rebate forms.  If you have questions call 785-325-2719.

Farnam Assists our Therapeutic Riding Center through AQHA. 

Farnam has made a recent decision to actively support the American Quarter Horse Foundation’s newest program that assists therapeutic riding centers;  America’s Horse Cares.  Farnam has notified the AQHA that it would like to distribute cases of Ivermectin paste dewormer to NAHRA certified therapeutic riding centers who have recently applied for assistance from the America’s Horse Cares program.    Independence Farms has met Farnam’s requirements and has received a case of Ivermectin paste.  The paste will be used to aid in the health of our five horses/ponies that are currently being used in our riding program and for the prospective horses/ponies that will be used in next year’s riding program.   Thank you Farnam and AQHA!

Does your club or organization need a program?  How about you let us do the presentation.  Call 785-325-2719 to visit with someone about it.  We love what we do and we’d love to tell you and your club or organization about us!  

Are you looking for a way to do community service?

Contact us.  We could possible help you fill that need.  We are aware that many high school students need to do community service to fulfill scholarship and award qualifications.  It doesn’t matter whether or not you have any experience with horses.  We have other jobs that could help you to fulfill or meet those requirements, such as; arena setup and cleanup, photographer; refreshments; and fundraising activities.  There is something for almost everyone.   We just need to know who you are and when you are available.