Rake It In for the new Therapy Department!

Introducing the new therapy department. A way to expand services and knowledge through the help of our very special therapists! First up- a little bit of fundraising. We've got these awesome rakes for sale for just $5. They are really cool in that they are shaped more like a hockey stick than your traditional rake. What an awesome way to get some yardwork done by playing some leaf hockey... and even better benefiting WCR. Contact the office if you are interested. 952.934.0057

Keep your eyes on the WCR website for all the exciting events!

Busy Busy!
We just completed our annual tack sale (below are some photos of all the awesome stuff there was!) and in May we had a special event hosted by the Onion called Brewing for a cause.
Watch out because coming up is the annual golf tournament, ride-a-thon, and a trail ride fundraiser. See our News and Calendar pages for details on these events.

Familiar Faces

Began my second session today, my first as a solo instructor. It was really exciting, and kind of a bit of everything coming full circle.

My class consists of several clients that have moved from the Independence site, which I was a Teaching Assistant at for a long time, so many of the faces were very familiar. All the time I spent there, at the shrine barn, learning about these clients and about the program. It was these clients that had taught me about different things, hooked me into the teaching part of the program.

So to start class and see their progress and successes is really cool. Now I can watch them grow on these different horses at a new site with new classmates. There's more to learn, me included. I guess that's another thing about WCR, often there are attachments that are made to a client, horse, volunteer, instructor, and because of the strength and longevity of the program we can follow each other as we grow and change.

And it's not just in the riding ring, over the last two years I've been to graduation parties for two of our clients. But we are all living lives, and having this common place to meet once a week for months out of the year. Through orchestra and band concerts, proms, starting school, birthdays, etc.

Every week when we ask what's new, talking about those things in our lives, and to look back at how long you've been in the program together, and all the things that have happened and changed. And that we were doing this, together, all the way along. I bet I don't even know that much compared to the beloved Bev & Dick. They know better than anyone what it means to watch someone change through the years and WCR. I'm only beginning to see what that means.

Well, for fear of rambling, I'll be done. Sometimes this program just moves me, and I realize how lucky I am to be receiving this kind of "therapy" in return for my service. It's definitely better than getting paid.

NARHA Certification

Well, over the last four days I put about 650 miles and 9 hours on my car. I traveled to Oregon, WI (just outside Madison) to a therapeutic riding center called Three Gaits for a NARHA two day workshop and certification weekend. But it was all worth it for two pieces of paper that make it official- I am now a Registered Instructor.

Thursday and Friday were workshop days. It was during this time while learning and talking with two NARHA Master Instructors and about twelve other people hoping to get certified, I realized what a well rounded program We Can Ride is. Everything we talked about, every example they used, every scenario, I had heard or seen it before through WCR. I could think of a client, horse, volunteer, or an instructor that had taught me something, had educated me a certain way that allowed me to be this well educated instructor in training. It is a real testament to our program, and the people in it.

The we had to demonstrate our riding skills Friday night. I was on a cute paint horse named Snowcap, who was very steady and un-bothered by the thunderstorm, but that in turn made him a little pokey. It took some effort to get him going... but we managed to finish the pattern with all components. Then it was lesson time on Saturday. I had to teach a 20 minute lesson to two clients... with everyone watching! But it was really great, the clients were very smart and engaged while we learned about horse parts!

Equine therapy people are awesome people. Across the board with everyone that I met there, whether working on certification or volunteering, everybody was so helpful and supportive. Everyone wanted everyone else to pass. Sharing stories of experiences and horse stories, talking about lesson plans and class actives.

It was an experience unlike anything else. I am so thankful for the support of WCR and all the clients, volunteers, parents, staff and IOS who helped me on this journey. Who taught me something new, who were patient and encouraging and offered constructive advice. I will be continuing to learn and develop as an instructor with WCR's help, and I look forward to being able to help them grow in return.

So, I am happy to join Debbie and Signe as 2007's NARHA Registered (Certified) Instructors.

Here's my certificate!

Congrats to our newest Certified Instructor!

I just got word that Jenni has just passed her NARHA Certified Instructor test! Congratulations are in order. Maybe we can get Jenni to make a blog post about her experiences!