Elbert County News 0122

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January 22, 2015 VOLU M E 1 1 9 | I S S UE 51 | 7 5 ¢

ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

State rep outlines goals for the session Staff report State Rep. Tim Dore, R-Elizabeth, District 64, took some time to answer the following questions from Colorado Community Media as the legislative session got underway. Describe two bills you feel are of particular importance that you plan to sponsor this session and tell us why they are important.

Erin Kelly demonstrates alternative riding styles used in therapy. Photos by Rick Gustafson

Horses, people unite for therapy SaddleUp! Foundation is volunteer venue By Rick Gustafson

Special to Colorado Community Media

POSTAL ADDRESS

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)

OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100

It’s the first Saturday morning of the new year. Temperatures have dipped into single digits overnight, and the snow crackles under the tires of a sporadic flow of cars that slow as they enter the driveway north of Elizabeth. Following a short pause, the drivers ease forward, finding a gap between the SUVs, pickups, and sedans already lined up in front of the SaddleUp! Foundation’s powder blue metal riding arena. Inside, it is cold but not freezing. The scent of hay and horse mixes with the smell of brewing coffee. Ten future SaddleUp volunteers sit or stand, sipping from Styrofoam cups under the lone radiant heater running the length of the hall’s ceiling as a few stragglers wander in. The coffee urn has sprung a small leak, and drops of coffee seep from the faucet. Jamie Anthony, therapeutic riding instructor and SaddleUp’s volunteer coordinator, moves in and stops the leak with a quick twist of the faucet shank. In addition to working with students at SaddleUp, her job is to make things work, providing the proper mix for the center and the dozens of people who offer their time to the center’s outpatient and therapeutic horseback riding programs.

SaddleUp specializes in providing equine therapy for people with special needs. Also referred to as hippotherapy, the technique uses horses in physical, occupational, and speech therapy for patients with physical or mental impairments. While the facility does offer lessons to able-bodied individuals who want to improve horsemanship, the majority of the SaddleUp’s students have brain injuries, multiple sclerosis or autism. “Autism is big for us because it is such a wide diagnosis for so many conditions,” Anthony said. ”A lot of disabilities fall into that.” Equine therapy focuses on three areas: physical, mental, and emotional. In addition to strengthening core muscles required for riding, the horse’s natural rhythms combined with a horse’s warmer body temperature helps relax muscles, improve balance, and provide the riders the sensation of walking normally. Teamwork is also an important part of the volunteer’s and rider’s experience. Each rider works with a certified therapeutic riding instructor (CTRI) and, ideally, two volunteers. Each team member performs specific duties such as leading and side walking to brace a rider. These activities cater to the student in ways they may not have experienced in the normal course of their lives. The therapists feel this element of teamwork and the courage to mount an animal the size of a horse helps boost self-esteem.

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Later in the year, I plan to introduce legislation that will set up impact payment funds to counties that have had to spend additional money in law enforcement and educational costs related to the legalization of marijuana, giving especially rural counties much needed aid in off setting increasing cost. What do you believe should be the top priority of your chamber of the Legislature this session? Jobs, the economy and education. We need to do all we can bring good jobs to Colorado, all four corners of Colorado. These jobs needs to be…good-paying jobs that provide real opportunity for hardworking Colorado families. The economy has been improving but there is still room for improvement, and decreasing the burden of regulations is a big step to making sure we have an economy that continues to grow. Education is key to our state’s future, and allowing parents, with local school boards and teachers decide what is best for our kids is the way to best educate the future of Colorado. We must reduce testing, expand local oversight and remove the federal and state overreach in our local schools. With control of the Legislature being split, how can the two major parties best work together to ensure important legislation gets passed this session?

DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US

P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY

Horses continues on Page 9

My focus continues to be working on legislation that will assist the hardworking families of Colorado. With this in mind, I plan to introduce legislation that would restrict the use of EBT cards (which are basically “wel- Dore fare debit cards”) from being allowed to withdrawal monies from ATMs located at establishments with questionable moral character — strip clubs, marijuana shops and such. This would assure Colorado stays within federal requirements but also, and more importantly, assure that taxpayers money being used to assist those in tough times is being used for its intended purpose, buying baby formula, diapers or food for the family.

Veteran Saddle Up volunteer Theresa Sanderson demonstrates how to clean a horse’s hoof.

If Republicans and Democrats work on truly what is best for Colorado, and ignore the political agendas of the special interests, we will be off to a good start. Each senator and representative is tasked to work for the people, and as soon as we lose sight of this, Colorado loses. We have an opportunity, as we do every year, to focus on what is right for the people of Colorado, and I hope my colleagues will join me this year in making that focus consistent.


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