1983 June Newsletter

The Lower Connecticut

Valley

Educational

Riding Association,

Inc.

L.C.V ER A Hadlyme, Ct.

06439

Vol.

2,

No.

January

1

PRESIDENT'S

1983

REPORT

Congratulations and paeans of appreciation to all members of the LCVERA family.

This has been an exceptional fall.

A partial listing of our successes includes: OUR RIDERS: As a group more riders rode independently and all gained new confidence and physical skills.

The final fall Wednesday session in Westbrook was a landmark.

None of us will forget that achievement.

OUR VOLUNTEERS: All fall a total of 55 faithful people reported to <our separate sessions,two in 2stbrook, one in Lyme and one in Hadlyme.

Not only did they transport, schedule, groom, trot and look after equipment, but they related in the most subtle and effective ways with 60 riders, building their confidence and self-esteem.

OUR TRUSTEES: We have had numerous and long meetings (a President is supposed to control that, I know).

Our committees function well.

Patti Peoples' Evaluation Committee has made a lot of suggestions and her report is forthcoming.

All aim at improving our services to riders.

The Hamilton's Finance Committee has presented us our best-ever budget.

Jake Jacobs is our first Development Chairman, charged with coordinating and maximizing all fund raising.

Judy Lovelace's Outreach Committee has established this quarterly newsletter, set up an LCVERA Family ~sociation and plans a Fun Day for all riders . Greta Jacobs and Mike Boyd's Publicity Committee is responsible for this newsletter and for all publicity a bout LCVERA appearing in our local papers.

A SEASON OF PROGRESS

This report wouldn't be complete without mentioning our Director Sis Gould.

No one knows the number of hours she spends making certain that the program works.

She coordina .tes the children, the horses, the volunteers, the stables and the gear.

No small task.

LCVERA couldn't function without her.

And our instructor, Anne Wolcott, what can I say? She knows no limits.

Not only is she our tireless instructor, unable to say no to another rider or session, but she is or has been our chief fund raiser, letter writer, editor of FYI, friend to horses, volunteers and special advocate to every rider.

LCVERA thrives.

As president I am fortunate to be among people so dedicated to its purpose.

We seek to enrich the lives of all o u r riders but it seems our own lives are so much more enriched the more we serve them.

Judy

Lightfoot

CONFERENCE

TRUSTEES MEETING The Trustees meeting on November 10, 1982 had eighteen present at Judy Lovelace"s house.

During the three hours!-

you

many

can

items

read

were

from

discussed

other"s

Anne Judy

Foundation

as

N.Y.

reports.

The Secretary (Lytt Gould) was asked to write a warm letter on behalf of LCVERA to Jan at Cricklewood and Jane of the Westbrook Hunt Club to express

our

deep

appreciation

Committee substitutes to call

Germany

for

reported the and the if one can't

11

such

done Children's

a.s was

last

so

August Hospital.

at

the

Sandy Meinsen reported having a meeting with Hugh Cafferty, Director of the Pupil Personnel for Regional School District #17 in Higganum.

Another door was opened.

Hope Douglass' resignation because of lack of time was accepted with regret and Nat Bieber was elected back on the Board to fill the vacancy

The next January Episcopal

meeting was scheduled for 13th at noon at St. Ann's Church in Old Lyme. the

best

of

this

summer,.

applying

therapeutic

wishes

Judy Lytt

Warwick,

was

Conference held in

Four

Americans

e>:ercises''

Seminars of this sort are extremely valuable.

Anne, Susan and I came back stimulated with new knowledge.

As a board member of LCVERA I was particularly pleased to go as it allowed me the chance to discuss with instructors from California to Virginia to Rhode Island how their progress has developed, their finances and funding.

..

This also brings for the New Year.

1n

fall.

while providing training in riding skills and stable management.

Specialists facilitate the recover progress of head trauma patients from various physical, psychological cognitive and social handicaps.

These two papers were again presented to riding instructors and physical therapists at a November Seminar in Warwick N.Y. Jan Jokich and Barbara Glasow also discussed the various English and German therapeutic riding centers they visited.

Demonstrations and discussions on the pros and cons of backriding and vaulting were held.

Dr. Don Rankin reported that Dr. Marty Sklaire will be a consultant to LCVERA. The Connecticut Pediatric Society has a meeting in March in Fairfield at which we hope to put on a presentation

Conference

this

presented two papers at this conference.

Barbara Glasow and Jan Jokich reported on therapeutic riding in the U.S.A. They noted that NAHRA and National Association of Sports for Cerebral Palsy are the major representatives who promote riding "for sport, education and thera.py in al 1 50 states".

Liz Stanford and Pat Hawn presented a paper on Equestrian therapy in the treatment of traumatic head injury patients.

Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital and Thorner-oft Equestrian Center use a team approach in

Molly Francisco was warmly thanked for her time spent doing drawings of pets at the Guilford Fair.

Proceeds helpedthe Scholarship Fund.

successfully Newington

Susan DeLaurentis and attended the Winslow

The Fourth International on Therapeutic Riding

the use of their facilities.

It is hoped that a cleanup-maintenance day in the spring done by LCVERA parents, volunteers and students will help them get ready for a busy time= The Volunteer need for more urgent request be present.

Wolcott, Lovelace

Gould 2

Lovelace

INSTRUCTOR'S

REPORT be available only during class sessions; all records to be returned to the file the same day. And thirdly, we are looking at each of our riders as possible "graduates" with the skills and confidence to go on to a standard program.

Nothing is so sure as change and change we must if we are to remain tal and useful.

The changes in LwVERA are coming about primarily through the efforts of the Evaluation Committee and it's Chairman, Patti Peoples, and through the revelations of two self-evaluation meetings held for all volunteers in early December.

And part of the new look for "83 is simply the natural consequence of the growth of an organization that has become rich in capable personnel and has the confidence to use that resource.

11

0

The future looks bright for LCVERA as new ideas are implemented and other innovations such as vocational programs in high school and employment in local stables begin to hatch.

Anyone involved in this program, whether rider, parent, typist, donor, or fund raiser can take great pride in this unique group.

We have had the dedication and the vision that was necessary to stay with a concept long enough to make it an effective tool by which many individuals who were not "born equal" have gained the insight into their capabilities that has allowed them to break out of their labels and aim for a better life.

Part of our success is the time, effort and consistency with which we approach our "work" - and the question asked is valid, "Wouldn't ANYTHING that you put so much time and effort into WORK?" The answer would have to be, Yes ••••• but could a basketball or a swimming pool inspire this same number of people to put in so much time, so much heart, so much effort?

It is the horse on which it all depends - the horse who breaks through the silence of the autistic, reverses the depression of the wheelchair bound, convinces the failing learning disabled child that he can control something outside himself and then internalize that control.

And maybe it is the kind of people who have understood the bond of horse and man who know intuitively that we are all here to help each other trust in ourselves.

And the only way to trust yourself is to make that first committment to trusting another; that "other" is the horse.

And what is this new look?

The first new wrinkle is to be the instigation of team-teaching.

Each rider will have an "assignment" for each lesson, eg. softening hands, speaking in complete sentences, balancing in the half-seat, and will have a leader and one or two sidewalkers who will assist him for the first half of the lesson in ..-~rking on that goal.

The second lf of the lesson will be a group lesson except in cases where individual instruction is more beneficial.

The second part of the new look is record keeping - and we are not trying to paperwork ourselves to death.

In order to increase the effectiveness of the teaching/learning process and more appropriately respond to individual deviations in behavior or performance, we have devised a Student File that will become part of LCVERA's records.

This file is available ONLY to the instructor and those volunteers working directly with the riders.

The file will include a history; parent and teacher forms; reports from ancillary professionals such as speech therapist, school psychologist or physical therapist; an instructor's form, which will include individual goals; and lastly, a volunteer's form on which 1unteers may remark on successful n,ethods, suggestions for improvement, etc.

This permanent Student File will live in the instructor's station wagon and will

Anne Wolcott Instructor, LCVERA

3

FINANCE REPORT

DEVELOPMENT

As a result of our successful fund raising activities during the fiscal year of 1981 - 1982, the Association began this fall in a sound financial condition.

Providing we keep within our budgeted expenses, we have enough money now in the treasury to present fi seal carry us 0 ,t~rougl;lMJhe year ( 1982 - 1 'iITTl . We are faced, however, with a considerable financial challenge.

Our income this year from fees for instruction will

When asked if I would work on development-and realizing my shortcomingsI inquired as to whether I was being asked to develope spiritually, morally or physicaly.

I was told that intellectually would do since everyone knows that

decrease

as

a result

of

11

new-improved

at

our

present

fall.

assistance

working out appreciated.

level

economic

of

You can

be

you

give

can

this

problem

Frank

Hamilton

that

us

Outreach

for

early

Committee 1983

is

primary

any be

rider's

as

focus

communication.

a support

families

money.

The contact will not be hard sell but a personal effort to acquaint them with LCVERA. so ••• on this basis if we can mention your name,Wonderful!

If you would rather we did not, we will respect that.

If you woul~ like to present our case personally, we can assist with NEW-IMPROVED literature.

Newsletters will be published four times a year; thus keeping all of you aware of LCVERA's growth, potential and responsibilities.

The LCVERA Fa~ily Association has been formed

raising

Being so convinced I would like to introduce others to LCVERA. How can you help? with NAMES: within a Corporation who would guide us to the proper channels, people to contact in Funds, PEOPLE.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE The

find

If I, personally, was not unequivocally convinced of the merits of this progam I could notwould notask anyone for a nickel.

in

will

of

My concept is that if suffient people knew LCVERA and its program, there would be no fund raising problem.

operations

sure

means

ways

Now I have no new improved ways but I would like to work on some old tried and true ways.

The only new part is that I would like your help.

conditions and reduced government grants.

Last year we had also a large contribution from an anonymous source which we can not expect to be repeated this year.

Therefore, at the present date, our budgeted expenses will exceed our anticapated income for the year by approximately $9000.

Thus, a,l though we have enough money in the treasury to carry us through this year, we must find some fund raising activities during the winter and spring to erase this shortfa,11 and permit c,s to continue next

devel □pment 1 ,

system

and

for

functions.

A new

our program a handbook developed.

and its goals for volunteers

brochure

Judy

for

all

You can contact me after Feb.5 at 388-2400; or Sis Gould (434-1407) Judy Lightfoot (526-2914) whenever.

Jake

our

LCVERA

depicting

as well as are being

Lovelace 4

,Jacobs

or

PUBLICITY The current issue of "AMIE" (WINTER 1982) has a wonderful article by Norma Galehouse on our well beloved instructor, Anne Wolcott, and LCVERA. It also includes great photos of Anne and Sis with a couple of students.

DON'T MISS IT'

LCVERA HORSE COMMITTEE The Horse Committee for LCVERA has been formed this fall.

Headed by Andy Weyer and backed up by the two well-known "horse hands" Nancy Altrui of Branford and Holly Ridgeway of Chester, the committee will serve to formalize guidelines of acceptance and the arrangements for sponsorship of horses donated to our riding program.

Fortunately for the Horse Committee, much of the groundwork has already been done by Sis and Anne during the years that LCVERA has been functioning without a designated "Horse Committee".

It has also been a time of learning; experience and observation being two of the best teachers of all, and the committee will try to put on paper a code of guidelines concerning 1ated animals which will keep this "" ea running smoothly as LCVERA grows.

Meanwhile, we get our Holly goes to interview four-footed applicant over the holidays.

We do not function however.

Please,

This is the beginning issue of our e>:panded News Letter; which will now be coming your way four times a year.

This is to fill the communication gap and keep you all posted on our increasingly busy life.

Please remember to send any and all interesting bits and facts to your Publicity Twins.

We certainly would appreciate it!

Mike

Boyd and

Greta

Jacobs

LCVERA PLEASURE RIDE There were Pintos, Morgans, Thoroughbreds and Saddlebreds; and 47 year there were 10 year olds olds and a handsome young man on a cutting horse and no one could have had a better time.

LCVERA's first

feet wet as a to our program

11

organized

11

trail

ride

was

an

unqualified success.

Sixty riders went out on the winding trails on Jane and Cottie Davison's beautiful corner of the Connecticut River Valley, led by Jane, Sally Aubrey, Andrea Weyer, Sally Payne and Sis Gould.

Each group at its own pace wound its way through hemlock and laurel, around and over jumps, skirting along the marsh returning to the barn for a hot lunch and stirrup cup served

by Molly Francisco and Charlotte Quigley.

Rumors of a semi-annual ride are NOT e>:aggerated - Janie's Slash and Burn Crew is hacking its way into the Nehantic State Forest even now.

in a vacuum, friends, we are

interested in hearing any ideas and suggestions you may have as to things we might look for in potential candidates, or if you know of any possible sponsors of horses or ponies that may be added to the program in the future.

Jot your ideas down or call your nearest H.C. member.

Every volunteer has the potential for being of enormous help to LCVERA by sharing this kind of information.

Thanks.

Andy Weyer

Anne Wolcott

5

program. different message another fullment

DAY IN THE ;·ouNTRY Our Sixth Annual Day in the Country took place under clear skies on the last Sunday in September at Brazillai Farm in East Haddam.

Guests were greeted by flowers and bouquets of yellow balloons and busy LCVERA Volunteers who directed traffic, served coffee and sheperded childre~.

It was a day full of wonder and excitement.

At 11:30 a large group started off on a botany walk to discover snakewort, pipsissawa, Christmas fern and more common flora of the Connecticut woodland.

Antique cars arrived all morning and three horse drawn carriages provided rides all through the day.

Younger children took endless rides on patient ponies and talked to the chickens.

Lunch was served AL FRESCO on the lawn to the strains of Stu Ingersoll's Bango Band and no, that was NOT Craig Clairborne in the kitchen - merely the combined efforts of The Country Squire, several dedicated mothers and 5 LCVERA volunteers with chopped egg and crushed nuts on their hands.

The the

main attraction Demonstration

riders

whose

If you missed this year's "DAY'', mark September 25th 1983 on your calender - and bring friends.

Anne Wolcott

CHRISTMAS LETTER TO SIS December Dear

pleasure

t<aila,

and

gave

us

to

thank

you

wonderful li·fe long

riding dream

program.

It was my to ride a horse •• and

suddenly;1

through

volunteers

much

for

you

my dream

Since I have been that both my ba.ck stronger

your

and

ha.s

your

come

kind true.

riding I notice and legs a,-e so

than

they

used

to

be ••• and I can do more things for myself •.. thus I have the will to live.

I love riding and I enjoy th e>~ercises nut

in

that

Ann gives

on

e:-:ercises

my days

keeping

The blue gesture.,

their accomplishments illustrated for us all how much this program does to enhance their lives, their possibilities.

As a special treat Jan Royce Conant appeared on her magnificent 4th Level Dressage Horse.

1982

Mrs Gould~

I want

this year was by seven LCVERA

obvious

Each year we have a audience who takes the home with them - and perhaps disabled person finds the of riding a horse.

and

in

us.

spend

I am a most

of

shape.

ribbons were a cute I enjoyed the party

you

ga.ve too, and hope that you excused the fact that I did not eat or drink anything.

I have a problem eating and drinking ••. well, it is messy and noisy, and I do not care to dine out,.

My involuntary movements are not to my pleasure either, but I

a

breath-taking display of the perfect harmony of horse and rider executing the very demanding school figures of dressage.

somehow

lump

it.

have a Blessed Well I hope you all Christmas ••• and thank you also for introducing us to Rosemary and Lynn.

This fund raising event now shares the limelight with other efforts such as the car raffle, but the Day in the Country serves as much as a way to introduce the concept of therapeutic riding to an increasing number of friends as it does to raise needed dollars to continue the

They

and

have

been

a God send

I. Sincer-ely,

6

to

my aunt