ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program

Cedar Valley United Way

Progress Report 2013/2014

Target Issue: Health-Healthy Youth and Adult-Overall Good Health

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program2013/2014 Request:$45,000

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program2013/2014 Award:$20,343

Number of anticipated participants to be directly served by the program annually: 750

• Changes to the number of anticipated participants based on current conditions:__0___
• Total number of actual participants: Phase 1: 811 Phase 2: 297

Phase 1*Phase 2* Cumulative Totals*

1. 87%

1. 12%

1. 45%

1. 88%

1. 14%

1. 45%

*Report only unduplicated numbers

• Healthy Goals that are set, are individualized for the participants at their intake assessment and include the following:
• Increasing Muscle Strength
• Increase social skills
• Exposure to the outside environment
• Working on mental and Emotional well being
• Increased safety awareness
• Nutritional education and awareness
• Increasing self confidence and self image

• Please note as well that we get a secondary or trickle affect on our volunteers and parents. They are participating in the classes as well as side walkers and leaders and have increased physical activity as well as exposure to nutritional education and socialization skills (these is reflected in our #3 above)

Based on the above information, what changes, challenges or improvements are being implemented or experienced to impact the effectiveness of the program?

• Phase 1:

Challenges that we are running into within our program is still the lack of facility space to expand to serve the growing numbers of individuals interested in our program, we are currently working towards implementing our plan to relocate for expansion of our facility. We are still making changes to increase staff to offer more classes and increase our programming as well as improve\increase the quality of programming that we provide to our individuals to keep them actively engaged. Additionally we are challenged by the lack of an indoor facility to prevent the cancellation of classes due to weather and hold year around programming in the winter. However, even with these challenges, the program has remained very effective in meeting the needs and goals of our participants and we are seeing continual improvement in their health as well as their attitudes.

• Phase 2:

Some challenges that we are running into within our program is the lack of horses due to the loss of two horses earlier in the spring. This makes it difficult to serve the ever growing number of individuals interested in taking part in our therapeutic program. We are slowly growing our heard again, but it does take time to acclimate the new horses into the program. Even with fewer horses in the program we are still offering top quality services to all of our participants. Even with these new challenges we are facing, the program has remained extremely effective in meeting the needs and goals of our participants and we are still seeking for continual improvement in both their health and their attitudes.

Share at least one of the “success stories” or accomplishments that a participant has experienced during each reporting period. This must be participant focused and aligned with the intent of this award.

• Phase 1:

Success that we have seen is tremendous. We have a 3 year old participant that is non-verbal and confined to a wheel chair or stroller that started taking lessons with us this summer. The progress we have seen is amazing. She cannot wait to come out and ride and always has the biggest smile when she see her horse each week. She is actively engaged on the horse and is following single step instructions that we give her that exercise both her mental capacity as well as her physical ability. We have seen her go from a very awkward walking gate to an almost normal walk when she gets off the horse at the end of the session. Our encouragement of her to use her verbal skills is paying off as well. She would not vocalize or communicate anything to us or the horse when we first started and this Fall she finally started to “mimic” our commands to get the horse to stop and go. Although she is not fully saying the words she is making the sound and getting better at it with each ride.

Another individual that we have has a disability that leaves him deaf as well as very vocal with loud sudden yells and outbursts. When he first came to us this fall it was a challenge for us to communicate with him and we required sign language interpreters to communicate with him. He was not sure about the horses initially and we were not sure if we could get him on the horse safely with the communication barrier. Once we created special story boards that prepped him to get on the horse and staff and volunteers had a crash course in sign language, his riding sessions began. We were concerned that his loud vocal outbursts would disturb his horse or other horses in the arena but after 5 minutes of riding, the outbursts stopped. He relaxed into the horse, became actively engaged in the lesson and focused on staff that was instructing him on the basics of riding. He quieted down and only had a vocal outburst when he was finally asked to get off the horse because he did not want to get off. We have repeatedly seen his behavior and actions change each time that he gets on that horse and he becomes a totally different individual. Staff and volunteers have worked to increase their knowledge of sign language to more effectively communicate with him. His sister and parents are amazed at the affect a horse has on their son and eager for our spring classes to begin again.

Additionally each riding session we see volunteers get exposure to individuals with disabilities and come out of their shells to bond with our clients as well as create lasting friendships and relations. Volunteers also learn acceptance and how a standoff attitude affects our clients and they are working toward bettering themselves as well.

• Phase 2:

ASPIRE’s Mini Horse camp was held two mornings during the week of the Waterloo School district’s Spring Break. Our programming provided a safe, fun, and educational equine activity for children 4 – twelve years old. Campers enjoyed learning how to groom and lead our herd of four Miniature Horses at the farm. My favorite moment during the 2 days of camp was when we discovered one of our Miniature Horses, Pixie, did not like part of the obstacle course that the children were leading the horses through. The horses were to be led into a hoola hoop on the ground and stopped inside the circle for a moment before walking on. Pixie was timid about the hoop and quietly but firmly refused to step into the ring. This was a wonderful teaching moment to show the campers that it was ok that Pixie didn’t do exactly what we wanted her to do. All who led her learned to be patient and let her check out the obstacle, but then let her go around it. In fact, the campers themselves would step inside the ring to show her it was safe, but she never did warm up to the idea of stepping into that scary hole. I saw the compassion and empathy from the campers as they observed Pixie’s anxiety and figured out the way to get Pixie through the course without stressing her and making her enter that circle.

There was an older lady that for her last wish, only wanted to ride a horse. She had cancer and was not going to live much longer. When she came out to ride, it was a nice and peaceful afternoon here at ASPIRE T.R.P. She was very excited and was excited just to ride a horse. Her daughter said that she was excited for this all day, and that she had not been this cheerful in a long time. Once on the horse you could just see all the worries go away and how much this lady was enjoying her ride on Benny. She loved his long flowing mane and how it just was so white and thick. She said thank you to the side walkers who were beside her. This really opened up everyone’s eyes to see how much this lady enjoyed her ride.

Additionally each riding session we see volunteers get exposure to individuals with disabilities and come out of their shells to bond with our clients as well as create lasting friendships and relations. Volunteers also learn acceptance and how a standoff attitude affects or clients and they are working toward bettering themselves as well.

Phase 1= July 1, 2013-December 31, 2013Report Due: January 15, 2014

Phase 2=January 1, 2014-June 30, 2014Report Due: July 15, 2014