SPRING-SUMMER 2007

This spring has been a busy time for Independence Farms. Things started happening in February and have just progressed from there.

Our two instructors Michelle Woerner and Terri Gauby traveled to Waterloo Iowa to attend the NARHA Region 7 Conference there February 16th through the 18^th. Michelle and Terri attend these types of conferences for continuing education hours so they can recertify their instructor’s status with NARHA every year. NARHA requires all registered instructor to have 20 hours of continuing education every year for recertification along with CPR and First Aid training. The conferences are a great way to get those continuing educational hours. Topics covered for recertification deal with many equine related issues; the training of the equines and of the volunteers used to work with the equines and riders; non profit business issues; understanding riders and their different types of disabilities and how to adapt games and/or equipment to make the rider’s riding sessions more beneficial while keeping all involved safe. Terri and Michelle normally split up and attend different sessions to get the most out of the conferences. They then share their notes with each other and discuss all they’ve learned on the trip home and again when preparing for training or riding sessions.

Besides being our instructors, they both hold other offices with NARHA. Michelle is the NARHA Kansas State representative and Terri is the NARHA Region 7 secretary. Those that do hold offices within NARHA are spread out geographically, so the conference is the prime opportunity to meet and discuss Region 7 business all in one trip. The states included in the Region 7 area are Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas. The conference is also a place to meet people who share the love of helping others, through the use of the equine. Many have becoming good friends as they have been meeting up with each other now for several years. Independence Farms has been sending representatives to these conferences for six years. The networking that goes on at theses conferences is phenomenal. It’s always exciting to hear what others in our industry are doing, how they are accomplishing things and to know they do encounter the same difficulties as we do.

Then Independence Farms had a bit of fun before the work for this year began. They held their annual Appreciation Supper at Mayberry’s in Washington on February 25^th. Entertainment was lined up and pizza ordered. The IQ Quartet provided the entertainment. Everyone present sure enjoyed their music selections. Invited were board members, staff, volunteer, riders and their families, everyone who helps to make the riding sessions and the organization a success. Since riding sessions ended in November of last year, many riders and volunteers have not seen each other since. Friendships are developed during that time and it’s a great way to visit and catch up especially after the busy, hectic holiday season. Nominations were taken for Rider, Volunteer and Horse of the Year. This has also become an annual event, and is a spin off of NARHA yearly recognition awards. Brianna Hermsch, Sabetha, was chosen as Rider of the Year, Amanda Jordon, Beatrice as Volunteer of the Year and Freddy, a leased horse from Dr. Roy Hall of Mayetta, was our Horse of the Year. Brianna and Amanda received NARHA memberships as prizes for their nominations. That way they will be eligible for the NARHA nominations later this year that will be presented at the Annual NARHA Conference in Anaheim California in November.

March was brain storming and organizational meetings. Not all business is horse business. A certain amount of administrative work needs to be done to keep things going. So the board met several times in March, both as a large group and in smaller, committee groups. Contracts were redesigned if needed and renewed. Schedules were drawn up and reviewed. Rider packets were sent out and returned and worked into the schedules. Volunteers were contacted and scheduled. Training was scheduled. Issues learned at conference were shared and implemented if needed. Strategic planning took place, mission and bylaws reviewed. 2007 will be our sixth year anniversary. it was time to reflect and plan for the future. The board looked back, assessed, reviewed and then looked into the future. All the original objectives are still in place with one modification. The one adjustment to be made is the objective of becoming a large center, one that owns property, buildings and horses. Being a smaller center than originally planned for has not turned out to be a bad thing. Big differences are still being made in the rider’s lives and that’s what counts. Others are seeing those differences and recognizing that Independence Farms is providing a wonderful service to these people.

The skills and tasks taught to our riders are carrying over into other aspects of their lives and family, teachers, friends are noticing.

April, training began. First Volunteer training was done on Saturdays the 7^th and 14^th. About 6 new volunteers came aboard to help as leaders and side walkers. They needed to be trained and came both Saturdays. New things learned at conference were shared with seasoned volunteers also. They were requested to be at one of the two Saturdays. An older gentle horse was being considered as a donation and needed to be evaluated. That was worked into the training sessions as well. The 15^th and 22^nd, riders came for evaluations and to get reacquainted with the horses they would be riding and with the volunteers they would be working with. Riding sessions were scheduled to begin Sunday, April 29^th at 2 pm. Everything was in place and ready to go by then.

Class #1 for 2007 began on schedule on Sunday April 29^th, but things got a bit jumpy as a terrific storm passed through the morning of May the 6^th, requiring us to cancel riding sessions for that day. Damage was done to the fair buildings were sessions are held and a volunteer’s farm where one of our horses is housed was damaged and clean up needed to be done before the horse could get out safely. It was deemed unsafe that day to ride for all the various debris around the gold barn, the flapping of tin and the possibility of more unpredictable weather coming our way. The next week we were back and things were in much better shape. The weather has cooperated nicely since then. Temperatures have been lower than normal and all are enjoying that. Some riders have been working on the ground with their horses, learning how to lead them, unsaddle them and how to groom them. If things go as planned you may see them and us at a local horse shows.

Independence Farms received free tickets to attend the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Tour & Clinic scheduled for June 2 & 3, in Kansas City, MO at Kemper Hall. Many of our volunteers are fans and enjoy attending functions like these. Eleven volunteers and staff were able to attend the clinics. Lots of information and useful equine training information was received that day. Thanks Pat and Linda Parelli, we greatly appreciate the tickets.

A memorial gift was given in Faye Ditmars name, to purchase new equipment with that the riders would benefit from. New helmets for the riders were suggested and purchased with some of the money. They are much cooler than our previous ones and it’s showing in terms of better concentration and focus during riding sessions. They also adjust easier than the previous ones too, just a turn of a knob. Class #1 will be winding up on Sunday, June 29^th. A break will be taken as they will be preparing the gold barn for the upcoming fair. Class #2 is scheduled to begin the 12^th of August and run for six weeks. Then Class #3 will be the last for the year, scheduled to run from Sept. 23^rd to the end of October.

July 29^th is the Washington County Fair’s Open Horse Show. Our plans are to be there and to participate. Scheduled are three riders to compete in the therapeutic riding class and two riders to show in halter class. Excitement is rising in everyone. Riders are looking forward to competing, staff and volunteers to helping them do their best and we will be using our new portable ramp to assist them. The ramp is light weight and easy to move. Takes just minutes to unhitch and setup, a welcomed change from the extra heavy wood ramp that was used in the past. Check back later to see how our riders faired at the Fair.