woodside Archives - NCEFT National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

Wisdom from Winnie

February 15, 2013 by Development Director

Winnie the Pooh is rarely recognized as a sage advisor, but while digging through pages of quotes on “love” it became evident his sentiments apply beyond the Garanimals crowd.

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.

“Yes, Piglet?”

“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”

His words, or more accurately the words of author A.A. Milne, cut through the saccharine sweetness of Valentine’s Day and remind us of its true purpose: expressing love for those who make our lives worth living. Romantic, familial, or friendly, it weaves itself into every nook and cranny, impressing upon us the importance of connections. So pervasive is its reach that we sometimes overlook its very presence, failing to notice the small ways in which it shows its face.

Love is the horse that leaves his breakfast to find you at his gate, softly snorting into the palms of your hand as if to say hello. Love is the spontaneous hug of a child who’s pushed past her fears and ridden without help. Love is barn dogs who run to meet you, stickers shared from the mailbox, sisters holding hands, and grandparents who tirelessly give encouragement from our viewing deck.

Though we try to express our love with chalky pastel candies and construction paper hearts, the most poignant declaration is the least obtrusive. Our therapy horses offer steady shoulders to lean on while students learn two-point and calmly accept heads on their rumps when children lay down. They tolerate balls being thrown and countless butterfly clips in their manes. Every day they show their love by simply being there for the children and adults who need them. At NCEFT each hand that reaches out can be sure of them, and of us, a family of volunteers, staff, and donors just waiting to share the love.

Push

January 23, 2013 by Development Director

There’s a fine balance between patient and student, between therapy and riding. Being an instructor is a lesson in balance, and much like the horses we utilize, our perception is dynamic. We walk into the arena with a preconception of our student’s ability based on their diagnosis; a summary of symptoms, contraindications, and prognoses. Expectations can then be modified to accommodate so called disabilities. There. That’s the moment where student becomes patient, and consequently where we have the ability to do the most good.

For the past few weeks a rider and horse have been reshaping our perceptions. Gone is the “adaptive”, leaving only “riding” to represent her work in the arena. There are no games, no colored scarves, or Simon Says. Instead she performs intricate patterns, guiding her horse through a series of movements often beyond the grasp of able-bodied riders. And she’s told no, or not good enough, do it again. We push. We ask for more, as much as she can give. Then the moment comes when the horse softens and the stars align while she sits the trot with more poise than you thought possible.

You spin around, looking for witnesses to the harmony. “Did you see that?” We help her out of her wheelchair and onto a horse and there the accommodations end. Somewhere between the mounting block and the arena gate she goes from patient to student, on the back of the horse she becomes a woman complete.

Amongst Friends

December 14, 2012 by Development Director

Last Sunday was one of those days where the rain kept its distance, clouds parted, and the sun turned its face towards our facility on Runnymede Road. Staff had been preparing for our annual holiday party all week, wrapping garlands, hanging wreaths, and bravely scaling the roof to plant pointsettias in the second floor window boxes. Santa’s honorary reindeer had been bathed, blanketed, and bedded down in a clean stall, ready to carry in the guest of honor.

The final gift bag had just been placed behind the tree when the first minivan pulled into our parking lot. Soon a steady stream of wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers began pouring in, and it wasn’t long before the once empty tables were groaning beneath platters of mashed potatoes and spinach quiche. Families loaded up paper plates and found seats between friends new and old. Holiday music could be heard through the speakers, choral voices accompanied by the jingling of silver sleigh bells as Jack pulled the carriage around the ring.

The children might tell you the best part was riding shotgun in the Woodside fire truck, or perhaps sitting with Santa and Sebastian, but the parents have something else to say. Again and again they told us this was their party. In a month inundated with invitations, this was often the only event to which they rsvp’d “yes.” Our annual Family Holiday Party was the one place where their kids could not only be themselves, but where “themselves” is just like everyone else. Service dogs lay side by side while their owners took turns petting the horses, and Santa had all the time in the world to talk to a little boy who still believes.

In the words of one Mom, NCEFT is where we can be ourselves.

Silver Meets the Natives

July 5, 2012 by Development Director

For the past few weekends Barn Manager Bonnie MacCurdy has made the trek up North to spend time with Silver at the trainers. Each time she focuses on something different, and this past weekend Silver was introduced to one of Woodside’s indigenous animals: the cyclist. Characterized by bright plumage, they travel in packs throughout our neighborhood, emitting sounds ranging from rapid clicks to sharp bell-like tones. Their seemingly alien appearance has been known to send many a horse into a tailspin.

With the help of her son Daniel, Bonnie spent an entire day acclimating Silver to the many ways in which cyclists navigate Woodside. Daniel furiously pedaled straight at Silver only to peel off at the last second. He soundlessly approached from behind the carriage, whizzing past the horse without warning. Fast and slow, forwards and backwards, near and far, they made sure Silver was comfortable with it all. By the end of the day the horse would contentedly follow the bike while loose in pasture, walking along the fenceline with Daniel pedaling slowly on the other side.

Many have heard or used the term “bombproof” to describe a horse, but its use can be misleading. You may picture a horse standing drowsily at a tie rail, head hanging low, eyes half-closed while fireworks go off just feet away. The thing is, we need our horses to be attentive not comatose. There’s a story about our late Executive Director, Barb Heine, in which she asks hopeful hippotherapy practitioners to identify the most dangerous horse. In front of the group stands a handful of horses, all but one are at attention, heads up, ears pricked as they take in the environment. The last horse is much like the one described before, sleepily ignoring everyone. Which one poses the greatest risk?

When horses show emotion, whether it’s fear or contentment, they communicate with us. If a horse suddenly freezes during a session, raising its head and looking intently at the far end of the sensory trail, we can follow their gaze and see the deer that’ve made a guest appearance. The handler can adjust, soothing the horse or heading to the other side of the arena where the guests are out of sight. Imagine instead that the horse is checked out, dull to their environment. They fail to see the deer until nearly on top of them, and their seemingly sudden appearance causes the horse to startle without warning.

Silver shows a keen interest in his surroundings; simply put, he’s inquisitive. We’re encouraged by his desire to investigate everything and by doing so, to learn at an astounding pace. Like Sunny, at only three years old Silver has the wisdom of a much older horse. With the right training, we’re confident Silver will follow on the same path of his predecessor, becoming not only a therapeutic driving horse, but a member of the NCEFT family.

Our New Driving Horse…

June 29, 2012 by Development Director

Silver at the trainer’s facility getting used to traffic and being driven outside of the arena

Meet Silver! We could tell from the very beginning that this was a good horse, one whose temperament made him perfectly suited for the job. After talking extensively with Silver’s owners via e-mail and phone, Bonnie contacted her good friend Patti Jo and asked her to go take a look. Patti Jo threw the kitchen sink at the horse, making sure he was safe and calm both undersaddle and in harness. She tested his reaction to toys and other novel objects, and tried to get a good feel for his personality. Meanwhile, back in California Bonnie was sitting anxiously by the phone waiting to hear Patti Jo’s report. When the call finally came there was nothing but good news, the horse was wonderful!

Silver at the trainer’s working on riding and being comfortable around carriages. Though it may sound strange, some driving horses are scared of carriages when they’re not the ones pulling it.

Up next was the vet check to make sure Silver didn’t have any health issues that might prevent him from comfortably doing his job. We were thrilled to hear he passed the check and set to work getting his travelling papers in order. After that it was only a matter of arranging his transport from Wisconsin to California. Silver’s first stop in California was at the trainer’s facility where he’s currently spending a few months getting his riding and driving skills polished. Though he won’t be making his first appearance at NCEFT for another month or two, we’re enjoying updates from the trainer and waiting (im)patiently for his arrival!

Wisdom from Winnie

Wisdom from Winnie

Push

Amongst Friends

Silver Meets the Natives

Our New Driving Horse…

NCEFT: HORSES. HOPE. HEALING.

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