The Lower Connecticut Valley Educational Riding Association,
Inc.
L.C.V.E.R.A. Hadlyme, Ct.
06439
Vol. 3
No. 3
LOVERA is in full swing with our fall season well underway. Eleven adults ride Monday evenings at Westbrook Hunt Club; twenty Old Lyme - Lyme students and two cerebral palsy adults ride Tuesdays from 9am - 2pm at Kingswood Farm, Lyme; eighteen students from schools in Essex, Madison, Guilford and Higganum ride Wednesdays from 9am - 2pm at Sea Horse Farm in Chester and eight riders come to the Goulds in Hadlyme on Thursday afternoons. These fifty-nine riders are assisted by fifty-five volunteers and taught by four instructors. Holly Ridgeway, Edi Griswold, Jonnie Edwards and Kathy Skolem are creating imaginative, demanding classes for all riders. Two riders are trotting independently and cantering on the lunge line! Trail blazing has been done by the riders at Sea Horse Farm so they could enjoy trail rides on these lovely fall days. Complicated mazes and obstacle courses have sharpened the steering and perceptual skills of many riders. Stable mangement continues to be an area of emphasis for LOVERA. Once the sequential steps in grooming, tacking up a horse or cleaning a stall have been mastered, the rider gains self-confidence and will transfer this ability to other learning situations. Carolyn Jagielski, our LPT, is always on hand assisting and evaluating the physically handicapped riders. I urge you to come visit a class. The enthusiasm is contagious! Judy Lovelace Executive Director
Nonprofit, tax exempt organization
Fall
1984
Jonnie Edwards, Holly Ridgeway, Judy Lovelace, Edi Griswold and Carolyn Jagielski spent some time this summer with Marge Kittredge who has run a therapeutic riding program for twenty years. Marge's words of advice and encouragement were sound: "teaching the disabled is just like teaching the able-bodied, it only takes longer." Marge's barns are lovely, her horses well mannered, her instructors excellent and her students are extremely enthusiastic about their riding program. We all enjoyed our stay and came back to Connecticut bursting with ideas and the knowledge that LOVERA also has an excellent therapeutic riding program.
weak that she was unable to sit astride a horse even with two side walkers giving her full support. It was necessary for her to have a backrider who provided sufficient support, allowing her tight muscles to relax. A key member in this process was the horse Romey. Her gait was slow enough to be smooth and yet sustained sufficient rhythm to relax Jennifer's spastic muscles. With each session our rider improved her strength and endurance and by the middle of the summer, Jennifer no longer needed the support of a backrider. Now it was up to the horse to take over. Silvia provided a better gait for Jenni. Today they make a team that would be hard to improve upon or separate. Jennifer sits astride Silvia with only minimal asistance from her side walkers. Once astride she is able to sit up straight and maintain her balance going up and down hills. Her muscle tone has become nearly normal at times. The most satisfying result of this program has been watching this courageous child's posture improve. For we can now see her brilliant smile as she calls back to her Mom a strong "Bye,Bye" as we head for the trails. Carolyn Jagielski
JENNI'S STORY My daughter, Jennifer is six and a half years old and has been diagnosed as mentally retarded and having cerebral palsy. The LOVERA program was recommended to me by her previous physical therapist, Kail Cadman, in the spring of 1983. At that time Kail was trying to have Jennifer stand at a walker. She needed some stimulation to get her back straighter, She recommended horse-back riding therapy because she felt that the motion of the horse would stimulate the back muscles so that Jennifer would have to sit up straighter on the horse. When she first began riding she was very floppy. As the horse would walk you could see her pick her head up and straighten her back, Jennifer still needs to make more gains to walk by herself with a walker, but with continued riding it is my dream that she may accomplish that goal some day. But even if that goal is never realized, Jenni has found another activity to take pride in and that is worth a lot in itself. Priscilla Klekotka (Jenni's Mom)
Nearly one year ago I read an article in our Shoreline newspaper searching for volunteers to teach handicapped children to ride horses. I have loved horses since I was a small child. More recently I have enjoyed working with handicapped individuals in my professional career, At LOVERA I have found the opportunity to combine the two activities I enjoy most in life - horses and using my to skills as a Physical Therapist help people. I have witnessed many changes in the program in my first year. But, the most thrilling change for me has been watching the progress of a young cerebral palsy rider who rejoined LOVERA last spring. Jennifer has improved her physical condition and developed a self reliance during the last eight months. When this child started with us her muscle strength was so
Volunteer orientation and training sessions were held in mid-September for all volunteers. Responsibilities of leaders and side-walkers, emergency procedures, stable management structure were some of the items discussed. 45 volunteers attended these sessions. If you were unable to attend or wi~h a refresher course on any pomt contact any instructor or Judy Lovelace (767-1974)
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"Foxy" is a 17 year old white pony owned by a female Episcopal Priest. Originally he came from a large Long Island stable and was used as a lesson horse when purchased for her daughter. He now lives at Sea Horse Farm, so that he can be used to teach other children. My favorite horse was "Angie", a small white pony with a sweet face. What a background she brings to this class! Now 24 years old she lias won awards as a State Champion year after year; Reserve National Small Pony Hunter Champion for American Horse Shows; Connecticut Hunter-Jumper Small Pony Champion and Pleasure Pony Champion, Impressed? Even at this age she has been shown seven times this year and has won seven times! Carol says that she has taught a 'million' kids to ride. This year she is winning the same award she won ten years ago. All this and a perfect too, Must be her famous disposition Welsh background. In some of the stalls around the end of the ring were some other horses also used in our program. "Clyde" is a half Arab, large gray pony who definitely knows when he has someone special on his back and may even refuse to trot if he feels that the rider's balance is not right. "Duke" is a 18 year old Chestnut who is a semi-retired pony club horse. From the age of these horses , I wondered if it took the older animal to be useful for our program. "Not so.", said Carol pointing out "Bobby", a 5 year old that is just as reliable, Along with the horses in the ring are chickens and dogs. The chickens don't seem to bother the horses and what a treat for our children to see the two week old baby chicks. Along with rabbits chickens, dogs and horses Caroi Libby has a busy life, She notes, however, that on Wednesdays she gets very little work done as she likes to stand and watch the LOVERA group in action. G.J.
SEA HORSE FARM Sea Horse Farm in Killingworth, is a new experience for Wednesday riders of LOVERA. It is a twenty four horse farm owned and operated by Carol Libby. I went up to the farm on a lovely Wednesday not long ago to talk to Carol. The indoor ring is a commodious 70 'x 150' space with lots of room to give classes. The day I was there was Hallowe'en and pumpkins were perched on posts and the instructor and the volunteers were in costume. Fun to see the instructor with red, .blue, green and yellow hair and glitter on her face (Do you recognize Holly Ridgeway?), What in the world was Joan Rivers doing as a side walker? (Do you recognize Judy Lovelace?), Three of Carol's liorses had LOVERA riders on their )acks, The horses are interesting in themselves, as they all have led busy lives before contributiing their talents to LOVERA, Archie, an almost 16 year old Chestnut, has at previous times been owned by some well known people in the Hunter-Jumper world. He was shown as "Windup Toy" in the past, now owned by Sheridan Mathies of Madison, He has been a Connecticut Pleasure Horse Champion and Under 14 Champion. He has been shown up until this year and is now semi-retired. He is known as Sea Horse Farm's Resident Unicorn because he has a bump on his nose from some long ago unknown blow. Although he has been shown as a hunter, Carol says that he feels that these classes are the Big Time. She refers to him as an "Ace". All the horses here behave differently with our riders on their backs. These horses show total oncern for their special riders. Even when their mouths are accidentally abused, they are tolerant. Carol notes that the horses seem to look forward to the day. They seem to concentrate and not get upset, 3
LCVERA's film "I THINK I CAN" has received outstanding acclaim from all audiences, Local schools, churches, 4-H clubs and community organizations have all had special showings, A copy of the film may be purchased for $400. It may also be rented for $50 a week/ $150 a month, Interested parties should contact Judy Lovelace 767-1974 or Jake Jacobs 388-2400,
LCVERA is indeed fortunate to offer therapeutic riding to such a diverse population from so large a geographic area. We can do this thanks to the generosity of area stables who let us come in and virtually "take over" their barns for the period of time that we are there. Not only do we use their rings but we also use some of their school horses. This means that LCVERA's horses don't have to be trailered each day and that, even when they are, they can take a "Break" during the day, THANK YOU Jane Whelan at Westbrook Hunt Club; Lucien Therault at Kingswood Farm, Carol Libby at Sea Horse Farm and Lytt and Sis Gould at Brush Patch Farm!!
After eight years of dedicated service to LCVERA, as our Treasurer, Grace Hamiliton has asked to be replaced, Grace has watched us grow from the small beginning to what we are today, She and Frank have done an outstanding job. Thank you Grace! Jake Jacobs, as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, has announced that Committee's decision. Stanley Mason Babson has accepted the job of Treasurer. Stan and his wife, Millie, live in Lyme, Stan is a CPA and has been the chief Financial Officer of many large corporations. We are very grateful that he has agred to assume this post. Welcome, Stan!
LCVERA has a new four legged "instructor", Whippoorwill's Silvia is a lovely Morgan Mare which Mary Jean Vasiloff has loaned LCVERA for a year, Our physically handicapped students love her steady walk and broad back, They even ride her backwards with their elbows and forearms leaning on her rump. Our more advanced students love her friendly eyes and trusting manner which gives them confidence to walk and trot off the lead line, Each volunteer who works with Silvia wants to take her home, Thank you, Mary Jean, for letting us all enjoy your lovely mare. (Read more about Silvia elsewhere in this newsletter)
According to NAHRA guidelines for accrediation, whenever an accredited program changes instructors or facilities, that program must be reaccredited. As LCVERA has four new instructors and is using a new stable, our program will be re-evaluated. This awareness is keeping instructors, director and volunteers on their toes! Good habits make a successful program.
THANK YOU Judy and Dick Lightfoot for a feastive fall volunteer get-together. Good times were had by all,
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on the double. The foal was covered with blankets because she was still alive. When the vet came he picked her up in his arms and ran for the house issuing orders of what to bring; heat lamps, towels, etc, We all piled into the kitchen while he started to treat the foal for hypothermia, shock and so on, We ran out to the barn and milked the mare, ran back with a few ounces at a time which he syringed into her frozen and drooping lips. By now we had contacted the man who owned the colt and who accidently had bred the mare. He left his job in Southington and raced to Old Lyme. While the vet and two of the farm helpers worked over the filly, the man and I cleared a space in our basement, brought in rugs, boards, piles of bedding and brackets. The whole end of the basement was turned into a stall. We brought the mother, Silvia into the house and gave her some hay and water and then went to see how the filly was coming along. Her tears and her urine had been frozen but she was thawing out, breathing and dry. Her pathetic little mouth hung droopy and limp. She was weak but she was alert now and paying attention to things around her, We milked the mare some more and she drank willingly, Her temperature which should have been right around 100 was 67 for more than four hours, Finally it started to climb. Everyone was rubbing at first to stimulate circulation but the veterinarian told us that was the wrong thing to do. She should have been lowered into a tub of warm water, But with the heat lamps and his pumping sugar and other nutrition into her she was making rapid progress. Finally he carried her downstairs and propped her on her feet next to her mother, Silvia nuzzled her and moved around to make it easy for her to nurse. This was Silvia's first foal and she was remarkable about the whole thing! The filly nursed as if she had done it many times, But she was too weak to stand alone, We lowered her down into the warm bedding under more heat lamps and for two weeks she was attended. Every fifteen minutes she was lifted to her feet and held so
SILVIA and KISMET Whippoorwill Silvia has •ecently joined the "staff" of JCVERA, Silvia is a young black Morgan mare who comes from the same farm as Whippoorwill Hello, a mare who has served the program with distinction! Silvia now resides with La Beau, also from McCulloch Farm, and the two little black mares live with Mary Gould, Both mares were broodmares before they came to LCVERA and this is the story of Silvia's foal, Kismet, When Silvia was a yearling she was leased to a man who wanted to become a Morgan breeder. He had purchased a colt and a gelding from McCulloch Farm but hadn't the money to purchase the filly just then. He took the filly with the understanding that he would train her and could buy her in the future. If he couldn't afford her, at least she would be schooled. This man had a son who suffers from Cerebral Palsy and is profoundly deaf. The mare, Silvia proved to be and sweet to handle that 10 gentle the son took an active part in schooling her to ground drive and demonstrated their lessons in front of a big crowd for the Morgan Horse Versatility Event. But while Silvia was at their house she and the colt were together one cold February day, No one thought much about it. They were both under two years old. 'Hard times came to the man and he had to return Silvia, unable to buy her. She was fat and happy and in great health and by now she was nicely schooled to drive. Over the winter she grew fatter and fatter and she was put on a strict diet and treated like all the other two year old fillies. January 26th it was cold. The farm was in the midst of a freeze and that morning it was 15 degrees below zero, Sue, who fed up the barn that Silvia lived in, was just doing her routine chores when she -apied a lump of shiny stuff on the floor of Silvia's stall. She thought that it was a dog that was wet. When she took a closer look she saw it was a foal, new born and frozen, She ran for help. The veterinarian was called and he came 5
she could nurse. She grew stronger by the day and suddenly early one morning I heard Silvia speak to her and heard her get to her feet by herself and go to nurse. From then on she gained weight and grew well. She had a big hole in her hip where she was frozen. It was infected and had to be treated regularly. Frostbite can lead to gangrene so we watched with great care. But the new and to show at the healthy flesh started edges of the wound and soon the area filled in with healthy tissue. There is still a scar to this day. For three months Silvia and her baby, Kismet, lived in the basement. They watched television and became pool game critics. They mooched carrots from everyone who came to play pool and pet the horses, Kismet is a miniature Morgan. She will never attain normal size but, fortunately for her, there are two grandchildren in our family and she has been chosen to be their pet and companion. She will carry on, being the typical family pet that her Morgan mother and grandmother have been, Meanwhile Silvia will make a whole lot of children happy in LVCVERA, Mary Jean Vasiloff McCulloch Farm, Old Lyme, CT
NARHA MEETING NARHA's Annual Meeting was held in Kissimee, Florida on November 2nd and 3rd. Approximately fifty people attended coming from as far away as Canada and Mexico, Natalie Bieber, Board member of both LCVERA and NARHA, reported for NARHA's medical and research committee., Nat was to the Board again and re-elected Judy Lightfoot, our President, was elected to the Board for the first time, Congratulations to you both! Anne Wright, our former well-loved instructor, was named Director of Development. This is a position, newly created, by NARHA after Anne had presented them with the need for such a service, She will be traveling throughout the country, visiting various riding programs, co-ordinating efforts, using her theatrical background to lure celebrities for fund raising events. A perfect job for Anne. We know that she will do well, Judy and Anne showed our LCVERA movie, "I THINK I CAN" to a wildly enthusiastic audience. To many it was the "Star" attraction of the meeting, and generated much interest by other groups in obtaining copies. There are plans to show this wonderful film again in our area so if anyone is interested in knowing the dates, places, etc. call Jake Jacobs 388-2400 or Judy Lovelace 767-1974 or drop us a card.
WANTED: VOLUNTEERS for Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons 11am - 2:30pm, Position available immediately, Call 767-1974 for more information,
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LCVERA TELEPHONE NUMBER 767-1974 9am - 3pm Monday thru Friday --::::.___ -----
VANISHING LUXURY Did the recipients of their time and talent ever express their gratitude? It frightens me, somehow, to imagine what the world will be without them.
VOLUNTEERS are like yachts. ..... '1ey could stay moored where it's .e and still justify their being, but they choose to cut through the rough waters, ride out storms, and take chances. They have style. They're fiercely independent. If you have to ask how much they cost, you can't afford them. Volunteers and yachts have a lot more in common these days. They're both part of an aristocratic era that is disappearing from the scene. They're both a luxury in a world that has become very practical. Day by day, the number of volunteers decreases in this country as more and more of them equate their worth ·in terms of dollars and cents. They don't contribute to our civilization. They are civilization - at least the only part worth talking about. They are the only human beings on the face of this earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfishness, caring, ience, need and just plain loving oue another. Their very presence transcends politics, religion, ethnic background, marital status, sexism, even smokers vs non-smokers. Maybe, like the yacht, the volunteer was a luxury. And luxuries are too often taken for granted. One has to wonder. Did we, as a nation, remember to say to the volunteers, "Thank You for our symphony hall? Thank you for the six dialysis machines. Thank you for sitting up with a sixteen year old who overdosed and begged to die. Thank you for the hot chocolate at the Scout meeting. Thanks for reading to the blind. Thanks for using your station wagon to transport a group of strangers to a ball game. Thanks for knocking on doors in the rain. Thanks for hugging the winners of the Special Olympics. Thanks for pushing the wheelchair into the sun. Thanks for .,.. •,g.
Erma Bornbeck We dedicate the above message to all our wonderful volunteers at LOVERA. What a grand job they are doing.
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On a beautiful Sunday, October 7th, at McCulloch Farm's Versatility Event, LOVERA gave a demonstration with Todd Eiriksson on "Cherie". He gave a fine performance, following the directions of Instructor Kathy Skolem. He showed many of the exercises that are a part of our program. Sis Gould took over the microphone to explain to the crowd the LOVERA approach. Lit Gould led "Cherie" and Jake Jacobs and Todd's mother were side walkers.
Welcome to LCVERA's new volunteers: Linda Roach, Tiffani Smith, Jeanne Mugavero, David Todd, Nancy Morosa, Betty Spearin and • Sally Cornish •
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.J the media stand by them when they needed a boost? Did the professionals make it a point to tell them they did a good job? 7