1985 (Spring) Newsletter

The Lower Connecticut

Valley Educational

L.C.V.E.R.A. Hadlyme, Ct. 06439

Spring

Riding Association,

Nonprofit, tax exempt organizalion

1985

Vol. 4

FROM THE PRESIDENT: I am ready for LCVERA spring semester.

How about you ?

It's the riders, the horses, the volunteers I'm anxious to see. There always have to be meetings but fewer and fewer as Judy Lovelace and an effective committee system take hold.

Now there's time for the best part of LCVERA, working with the our riders.

Inc.

No.1

\oJa 1 \s ouf' \as-I-d<l1 horse 'bqc.Kr1J;l"\11hot rnaKes us ver1 sad, We cnn'I\.Jqif ur/,"i\,~ s+ur1S q3a1f\.1hqn\\ 'jilU tot' a\\. :JO~r hdp, f\ I

'.'<'-.,

It looks like we'll have 50 clients this term with one additional Monday night class at Westbrook for young adults. Several of these riders rode on Wednesdays at Seahorse Farm last term and two will resume riding after a term away. It's nice to know LCVERA was such an important part of their lives that they missed it and want to return.

Over the winter our tack has been cleaned and inventoried.

Jake's Development Committee has a fundraiser in the works. The staff has been evaluated.

We have a new horse named Uncle Bill adopted by the Quigleys, New volunteers have been recruited, winter classrooms have been held at area schools and our movie, I Think I Can, has been shown to new audiences.

I've got spring fever. The best part of the program is ahead of us. I can't wait to see you.

Judy

Lightfoot

/\

'Jake' Jacobs has announced that the following people have agreed to serve on the Development Committee: Stanley Babson Bim Christianson Lytt Gould Stuart &. Jane Hotchkiss Sabine de Landevoisin Isabel Leach Judy Lightfoot Judy Lovelace Cynthia Rowley Jim &. Anne Spillane

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT

UPDATE ON JENNY H.

Fall. 1984 was a growth period for LCVERA. Riders went to new stables, rode new horses, worked with new volunteers, and were taught by new instructors.

This challenge was successfully met. Ring work, as well as stable management, contributed to many riders greater self esteem.

Others beamed as they graduated to the ranks of no side walkers and sometimes no leaders. Two riders are cantering under careful supervision.

Volunteers welcomed the freshness of the classes, helped to combat the more chaotic times, appreciated the instructors' desire for input and contributed greatly to the successful post evaluations.

This winter instructors and volunteers have visited some of the classrooms.

Riders and instructors see a new side of each other. Sandy Meisen's Center School class is making a paper mache horse from a chicken wire form created by Marianne Pfeiffer. Jonnie Edwards has shared with her classes the fun of having Misty of Chinocoteague grow up in her back pasture, Valley Regional and Old Lyme High School students will be joining the ranks of LCVERA volunteers this spring. Working with the Guidance Counselors and Service Committees of the schools these students will be given credit for their volunteer hours with LCVERA, Our Spring Session is just around the corner. Horses, volunteers, instructors, and most of all, riders are looking forward to the week of March 25th when we begin.

Judy

(Jenny Hotchkiss is now 18. She is Downs Syndrome and you may remember her father's story in our April 1982 Newsletter in which he told of the Doctor's advice to 'take her home and feed her'. The Hotchkisses DID do that and, to quote from that article, - "We believe in feeding her the challenges of life to develope the knowledge and skills which bring fulfillment and someday, we hope, self sufficiency".

This is an update on Jenny today.)

After six years of learning, confidence building and enjoyment Jenny can no longer participate in the LCVERA riding program because of her school schedule.

During her time with LCVERA she has learned how to get on with horses and to love them.

Not only has the program taught her to ride, but in its final phases has taught her barn management and care¡ of horses as well, Jenny now has her own horse, Sam, of whom she is very fond - and the feeling is mutual, We frequently see Jenny in the field, head to head with Sam, each enjoying the other's company, But it does not stop there, Next we will see her lead him into the barn where she will put him in cross ties prior to beginning work on him, First she will examine his feet and clean out his hooves as necessary, For this operation he will patiently pick up his feet while she does a competent job of cleaning them out, Next she will start the grooming process, all the time carrying on a running conversation with him which he seems to enjoy, There is only one problem, however. Sam is tall and Jenny is not quite tall enough, The result is a well defined water line determined by the length of her reach,

Lovelace

DRIVER NEEDED to pick up Dottie Burgess in Middletown, drive her to Kingswood Farm in Old Lyme, and then to return to Middletown on Tuesday mornings March 26th to June 4th, 2

Sam does not like his worm medicine and June has tried various strategies to get him to take it. No attempt to disguise the medicine has worked because he is too smart to be ?ooled. Jenny, however, has the answer. With the medicine mixed with molasses and grain, handful by handful he will take it from her as she croons "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down in a most delightful way".

This autumn with an LOVERA instructor Jenny has been having private riding lessons which are geared to her capabilities and are designed to progressively further develop her riding skills. Winter will soon be over and Jenny and Sam will again take up where they left off a few months ago.

But she misses the LOVERA program and hopes that in the future her schedule may be adjusted to include it again.

Stuart. Hotchkiss

"'fELCOME TO NEW VOLUNTEERS: Mary Halliwell, Cher Savage, Mary Beth Stanton, Sally Handy, Chris and Marty Tengowski, Kathleen Kelly, Lois Fitzgerald, Carol Anderson, Debbie Strain and Kim Roy. We'll miss Joyce Prinz, who has moved to a farm, but hope once she's settled she'll join us again. And Gerry Brundage who has a new full-time job, but hope that next fall her schedule will allow for some LOVERA time.

A HORSE IN OUR BEDROOM I've done quite a few interesting things for LOVERA over the years sometimes to Andy's consternation.

This winter there was a horse in our bedroom!

He was well formed, 11 hands high at the withers, and wobbled restlessly in his stall between the window and our bed, his muzzle nosing Andy's pillow. The floor was covered with shredded newspaper, Andy couldn't get in or out of the bed on his side and I couldn't make it properly.

Andy felt that we could do without such an inconvenient roomate but I became quite fond of our four legged friend.

He was prickly though and tended to catch my nylon nightgown on his thorny spikes.

THORNY SPIKES???

Well, yes; you see, this horse was made of chicken wire and was the armature for an LOVERA school room project.

The shredded newspaper was destined to become the paper mache skin of this life sized pony, and he, himself was destined to be permanently stabled in Old Lyme's Center School.

Sandy Meinsen, teacher and LOVERA board member, initiated this project at the end of our fall semester.

Today our friend is a fixture in her room, weekly being made more substantial by the ministrations of half a dozen paste covered youngsters.

Discussions center about his sex, his name, his color. He already sports blue eyes, pink ears and nostrils and a red tongue.

Visiting hours can be arranged with Sandy. But watch out! She might have a project in mind for you!

Marianne

LCVERA's film "I THINK I CAN" has received outstanding acclaim from all audiences.

Local schools, churches, and community organizations have had special showings.

If your organization wishes to see the film -.lease contact Judy Lovelace at ,67-1974. A copy of the 16mm film may be purchased for $300 or rented for $50. It is also on Video Cassette purchase $75 or rental for $25.

Pfeiffer

POSITIONS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATl<]LY Wednesday volunteers 9:30 to 2 at Sea Horse Farm, Chester. Leaders and sidewalkers needed. Riders disabilities are; learning disabilities, mental retardation and celebral palsy. Contact Judy Lovelace at 767- 197 4.

QUIZ TIME

HAVE MISSION WILL TRAVEL

1 - Who visited

What ever happened to Anne Wright? Is she up there in East Haddam feeding her chickens, curing bacon and writing avant garde poetry?

Yes, all of that, but she has also redecorated her dining room to look like an office and works at all and odd hours as the new Director of Development for NARHA, our parent organization, Her duties include fund-raising, membership and communications, Anne might be likened to a ferret, searching out the carefully hidden treasures - the resources of individuals, corporations and foundations who will respond to the call of philanthropic giving, Still traveling for John Angier Assoc,, Anne is able to drop in on small and large centers throughout the country, recently visiting an extraordinary program on the Windward side of Oahu, Fran Joswick's establishment in San Juan Capistrano, Lida Mccowan and Bliss Brown at the Chaff Center in Michigan, Thorncroft in Pennsylvania and The National Center in Washington,D,C, As Editor of the NARHA NEWS, Anne will open channels of dialogue between centers, among instructors, riders and volunteers and with the world of the disabled and their support system, Through NARHA's desire to become visible and viable, display booths will be prominent at major shows and professional and horse related conventions and a hospitality tent, sponsered

by NARHA, will be a friendly haven for riders and their coaches at competitive events.

Anne Wright is still available for your comments, dreams and suggestions at the usual place - and is often home and answers her phone,

2 - Who is lazing Island?

has donated

on a Carribean

3 - Who is showing her drawings exhibit at the Florence Griswold House?

in an

4 - Who will have work displayed at the River Museum at Steamboat Dock from April to December?

5 - Who slipped her ankle?

on the ice and

broke

6 - What two of our professionals are buying books on "What to Call Your Baby"?

7 - Who just

returned

(Answers will be found page of this newsletter)

from a Safari? on the last

The Cabbage Patchlike doll , made by Dot Smith's daughter and donated to LCVERA was raffled off before Christmas, Dorothy Millen won and LCVERA added $132 to our scholarship fund,

CARD OF THANKS Peter Flagg from Meridan saddle to our program,

Hong Kong in February?

a 4

This past year my role has changed from volunteer to instructor, In doing so my responsibilities have gone from spending my time with an individual child to teaching a group of children.

It was a little overwhelming, at first, when they all look at you for guidance and reassurance; and you hope you have both to give. As the weeks went by I found that the experience and the children were giving me more confidence and in turn they were learning more, I've also learned a lot from the volunteers who really do give me the insight into the individual child that you don't get as an instructor, It is such a challenge each week and very rewarding.

I love it, I still volunteer on Wednesdays so I am playing both roles and feel that they are equally important.

LCVERA has been a great experience for me and I hope that I give as much to the program as it gives to me,

Judy Lovelace and Anne Wright have been traveling the circuit, showing our film, "I THINK I CAN", They visited The Ethel Walker School in January to show it to FAVAR (Farmington Valley Association for the Retarded) who hope to start a therapeutic riding program, In February Judy and Kathy Skoien presented this film to ACLD (Associqations of Children with Learning Disabilities) at the Old Saybrook Park and Recreation Building.

This is a parent organization.

A discussion followed the film of the many benefits that the riding program offered for the Learning Disabled.

~~

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TRANSITIONAL MEDITATIONS Jonnie When I first heard about LCVERA I was instantly interested in joining the program. I had grown up with horses and having hunted, shown, Pony clubbed and taught riding I thought I'd be somewhat qualified to volunteer for this program. I was a little nervous in the beginning as I had never been around Special Children such as these. I soon learned not to be afraid as ,in fact, they were more loving, caring and tender than many children I already knew. Under Anne's excellent guidance and with help from the other volunteers, I soon felt very comfortable and couldn't wait for Wednesdays at Cricklewood with all my friends, the children and horses. I have been with the program for six years and feel that the experience has been invaluable, As a volunteer I became very close to the children, as I worked so closely with them, The whole hour is spent with just that one child and I learned so much about them - their personalities; their likes and dislikes; how many brothers and sisters they have; what costumes they are wearing on Halloween; what fears they have; which horses they like, and why; which volunteers they like, and don't like and all this combined forms a wonderful bond with them.

Edwards

Our resident painter, and devoted LCVERA volunteer, Molly Francisco, had her latest effort on the October 19th cover of the "Cronicle of the Horse", It is a painting of Nat Bieber's five horses, a pony and two dogs all pictured in a Rocky mountain setting.

It was while out in Colorado that our board member, Nat, became intrigued with horses and the use of them in therapeutic riding,

David Todd of New London, who is presently in the Navy, has been volunteering on Monday Nights. He wrote Judy Lovelace a letter in which he indicated that he is making monthly donations to LCVERA through his paycheck, Twenty one gun salute to you David, and our deepest thanks.

5

THE CONTINUING SAGA OF KISMET

TEN POINTERS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

In our last newsletter we told you the remarkable story of Kismet, a small Morgan filly, whose birth at the McCulloch farm in Old Lyme was a true story of survival and love. In mid-October of last year, trouble again came to the two year old, Ellie Johnston, a LOVERA volunteer, reported it this way in the Gazette.We thought that those of you who don't have access to that paper might enjoy this story too.

"At mid-night the fog over Whippoorwill Road was a solid blanket and hard rain was falling. Somehow little Kismet had strayed from the herd of family and friends and had gotten through the pasture fencing to the road. She was lost and cold and could not see where she was. Suddenly the bright headlights of a car were almost upon her, She jumped over them in her fright, landing on the car's hood and suffering the searing pain of a broken femur and pelvis, She slid off the car and somehow stumbled to the soaking grass of a lawn where she lay covered by the fog and the night, , Two young men were in the car, Luckily they had been driving very slowly as they could see through the darkness no better than could the little horse, Horrified they recognized Kismet and set out to find her.

A whinney brought them to her side. They took their coats and wrapped the little mare against the cold and one of them cradled her head in his lap while the other went for help, Again friendly hands brought blankets, Doctor Caltabiano came to attend to the pain and shock,, Mrs Vasiloff (Kismet's owner) spent the night in a sleeping bag on a cot close to Kismet, ignoring her own recently broken ribs and hand and the cold rain falling, The young men did everything they could. Their care and concern were tremendously important to the well-being of the little lost pony, It never occured to them to vanish into the fog and hope that no one would ever know. They did all the right things,"

(From Our Volunter Handbook, volunter consultant to a Saint Minn, Public Schools, abridged Winslow Program's handbook)

by a Paul, from

"You do a good job of ... " It is possible to point out some useful act or contribution in each person.

Children especially need to be encouraged.

"You have improved in ... " Improvement should be expected and noted. It is an antidote to discouragement, a spur to'trying, "We like (enjoy) you, but we don't like what you do". It is important to distinguish between the person and his misbehaviour, the student and his mistake.

"You can help us by .... " Give students the opportunity to be useful and helpful, "Let's try it together", Children who think they have to do things perfectly are often afraid to try something new, "So you made a mistake; now what can you learn from that?" Students will learn from their mistakes if they are not made' to feel embarrassed, "You would like us to think that you can't do it, but we think you can" restores selfconfidence and motivation.

"Keep trying, Don't give up" encourages.

"I'm sure you can straighten this out, but if you need help, you know where to find me". Children, especially, need to hear us express confidence in their ability to solve problems.

"I can understand how you feel but I'm sure you'll be able to handle it", Sympathizing may convey that life has been unfair, Empathizinit, understanding the situation and believing in student's ability to adjust to it, is much more helpful,

APRIL 26th, FRIDAY - BUS TO NEW YOF CITY, The Metropolitan Museum has a current exhibit on Riding Apparel.Come to the Exhibit - Shop -Lunch etc. Wine and ice provided for the trip home. Call 767-1974 for further information and to sign up, 6

It is a statistical fact that the absence of overt emotional problems does not proclude their existence.

The backgrounds of many of these children lack what you and I consider normal everyday necessities and it is through no fault of theirs that this exists.

A REPORT FROM A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

The students in our classroom are mix of slow learning students and those with severe learning problems.

Enviromental and biological problems are the source of most of the handicapping conditions found in the special room.

I have always felt that the riding program for these students is not so much a muscle and coordinating exercise but something they will remember in their later years as a wonderful childhood memory of gentle horses and gentle people.

a

Betty

Greene

The abilities of the students range greatly due to their ages 6-12 yrs.

At times people question the difference between slow learners in the "regular" classrooms vs the slow learners in the special needs room.

The difference is that the children in the special needs room have been tested and evaluated many times and many cases for several years .1fore the decision is made to assign them to this class. This decision is made by a group of eight or more people including the parents and is usually made because the child has special learning problems that is prohibiting his progress in a regular class. Many times along with the specific problem the child has already developed emotional problems and or behavioral problems that impede his growth in a regular classroom setting.

There may be times when it could be questioned about the efficacy or justification of having the riding program for children with little or no visible handicaps.

It is true that watching a young C-P child develop over the years into a fairly strong rider is exhilarating to say the least - but each time I see individual students taken in hand by A. volunteer so that the child has \ention on a 1-1 basis I know it is nelping that child for that period of time more than a day that I spend with him. The volunteer is a person apart from the teacher or parent who discipline them.

ANSIERS TO00IZ

1 - JudyLightfoot 2 - Sis & LyttGoold; Grace& Frank Ha11ilitoo 3 - SallyAubr ey 4 - Harianne Pfeiffer 5 - JamieEoords 6 - Garolyn Jagielski& SandyHeinsen 7 - ltllly Francisco

,.