Therapeutic Riding

	Our Therapeutic Program how it began, and where it is now...
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LITTLE STEPS....BIG BREAKTHROUGHS... Fantasy Farms Equestrian Center is proud to announce the expansion of its already successful lesson program to now accommodate riders with special needs. We have had quite a positive relationship with the Renaissance School of Palm Beach Gardens and the J.C.C of Palm Beach County. We are now expanding our program to all children with autism and other cognitive disabilities.
Christine and the girls work with a young student...			"I was contacted by a representative from the Renaissance Learning Center in the Fall of 2004" explains Meredith Waring, owner of Fantasy Farms Equestrian Center. "They wanted to offer their students the opportunity to work with horses as well as ride them". Meredith ( a member of N.A.R.H.A., the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) has had a number of years experience with challenged riders, having taught a challenged riders in NY, prior to moving to Florida in September of 2003. "I was excited to get back into this type of program" Meredith explains, "equine facilitated therapy is amazing, we have always had great success with the students, and lots of fun too". The program started in the winter of 2004 with 24 students ranging in age from 5- 11. Students were aquatinted with the barn and its horses. Some students had never touched a horse before, some have actually ridden in the past. All the children were excited. "Just getting the students to be comfortable around the horses and pet them was a positive experience for everyone involved". Many of the students are nonverbal, but they were all able to communicate in some way with their horses, either through a pat on the neck, feeding a carrot, grooming, or giving a big hug! Surprisingly, the students who were nervous on the ground around the horses, were all smiles once they got into the saddle and rode. "Getting the helmets on was a chore in itself, some of the students were getting very upset about wearing a helmet. But, happily.... by the third session, ALL the students not only wore their helmets, but went to the tack room to get their own helmets". The students learned that wearing the helmets was the prelude to riding the horses. We had only a small handful of students who would not ride their first day... by the third day EVERYONE rode! During the summer of 2005, Fantasy Farms worked with the JCC (Jewish Community Center) camp. We had over 30 children with a wide variety of cognitive and physical disabilities come to the farm to ride our horses. This program was also a great success! With the help of the JCC staff and the Fantasy Farms staff, these children shared wonderful exeriences here at the farm for 10 weeks!
It is the small yet positive steps that make it all worth while! The daily schedule is designed by Meredith using the basic lesson outline provided by N.A.R.H.A. Lessons are instructed in two areas: the mounted portion and the stable portion. Mounted lessons are instructed by an experienced Fantasy Farms equestrian trainer. Our wonderful students volunteer their time to assis as side walkers and leaders in the mounted portion of the lesson. They then also assist each child in grooming and tacking in the stable portion of the lesson. There is a structure to each session consisting of familiarizing the students with the barn, grooming, tacking, pre-riding warm-up stretching, riding and craft projects. The students all learn to behave as expected and maintained their attention on their tasks at hand. Many teachers and assistants in the past sessions have mentioned that the students they anticipated to be scared or upset by the new environment and experience were actually the ones who blossomed at the barn. One little boy in the program was too afraid to ride his first two times attending the program. He would get his helmet on (also not an easy task at first), get to the mounting block, pet his horse...but refuse to get on. He would start to yell and get quite upset. The third session, he once again stepped up to the mounting block and began to panic. But, with his teacher there and the equine staff, we put him on the horse and let him just sit there. Within seconds he calmed down. Within a minute he was walking around the ring on his pony, smiling from ear to ear! "It is moments like that that make is all worth while", a volunteer explains "then the other kids in the group came to the ring fence and applauded him as he rode around". It was a true breakthrough for him and made everyone's day! The students all have a breakthrough in one way or another. We all learn from each other and shared many memorable experiences, as well as a lot of laughs! We are pleased to announce the great progress these children have made in the past sessions. They all became more comfortable with the barn and horses. They established positive relationships with their volunteers and the horses, and have learned new responsibilities & skills,as well as strengthened their communication skills. We are happy to say that we have expanded the program beyond the original Renaissance School students, and have had the pleasure of instructing other children with challanges from the Palm Beach County area. All in all, the feedback from the kids, parents and volunteers has been just wonderful! I need to offer a special thank you to all our devoted volunteers! Without their help, this program could never take place. Our volunteers are mostly Middle and High School students who are earning their community service hours through this program. They too have learned a great deal, and have all shown wonderful patience and caring for all of the students. WE WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERING GROUP THERAPEUTIC SESSIONS, BUT WILL HAPPILY OFFER PRIVATE LESSONS TO RIDERS WHO WISH TO START OR CONTINUE WITH THEIR TRAINING. Any student looking to volunteer in the program for community service can call the barn. Volunteers must be atleast 13 years of age. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SIGINING UP PLEASE CONTACT THE BARN FOR DETAILS. 561-743-8392 OR E-MAIL: FFEC1@AOL.COM			Ben making great progress...
			REESE & MADISON ENJOY THEIR RIDE ON THE PONIES