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NARHA Home
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NARHA Region 9Report Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington |
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rev 10/18/2007 |
Regional
Representative:
Annie Mabry
annie_mabry@hotmail.com
NARHA REGION 9 CONFERENCE will be held Sept. 8-10 at beautiful PRDA in Langley, B.C. Please check the Region connection for updates. |
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LITTLE BIT TRC in Woodinville, Washington has their spring/summer session well under way with a whopping 305 class volunteers per week keeping their nearly 200 weekly riders and hippotherapy clients going. Unfortunately, their waiting list still stands at over 200 individuals, but they remain committed to their plans for expansion. Over the session break, Little Bit hosted the AHA approved Level 1 courses, which were taught by Pippa Hodge and their own Steve McKenzie, who is hoping to become AHA faculty soon! They also hosted their annual Media Day event, where members of local media get to experience riding with a simulated disability. Their annual Reins of Life benefit auction, Galloping Gala, was held April ww, and was an incredible success as well as a lot of fun for all involved. The 20th annual Pat Flynn Memorial Horse Show as held on June 23-25, 2006. Eighty-five riders competed in various disciplines, including Dressage, Hunter Hack, Equitation, Obstacle and Costume. Riders from EquiFriends, PRDA in Langley, B.C., and The Rainbow Connection TRC in Alaska travelled to the show to compete and enjoy the festivities at Little Bit's 30th Anniversary BBQ to celebrate LB's birthday! Over 200 riders and guests were in attendance, and awards were presented to people significant in Little Bit's history. ParaEquestrian Dressage National Championships: (USET Headquarters- Gladstone, N.J.) Little bit sponsored two horse and rider combinations who qualified to compete at Nationals. Erin Alberda riding Ryan O'Riley (Thoroughbred) and Beth Levine riding Valeur (Danish Warmblood) each rode two tests and their Musical Freestyles to finish 3rd and 4th respectively overall. Both are now on the short list for the USET ParaEquestrian Team. Wedding Announcement!! Only July 29th Steve McKenzie, PT and Jessica Aronson (Instructor) will wed in Carmel, Ca. Both are currently employed at Little Bit. Congratulations! | ||
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EQUIFRIENDS in Snohomish, WA will be hosting their annual show, which is expanding from previous years, and will now run over two days. Riders can sign up to compete in Dressage, Equitation, Obstacle and Costume. |
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NORTHWEST THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER has had an interesting year. They are embarking on their 13th year of therapeutic riding. Sadly, Katie Hart, their wonderful instructor graduated from Western Washington University in March and has moved to Redmond, WA. She is planning a summer wedding to her longtime fiancé' Joseph, and is applying to PT school and is moving onto her own horse property. She will be missed! Kim Higginbotham, a B Pony Clubber, will be taking over. NWTRC began their spring riding lessons on April 18, held a horse show on June 3rd, and their 8th annual golf tournament on June 8th. They currently have 29 riders enrolled, and still have their wonderful Norwegian Fjords, Kurt and Kleng, both 14 yr old geldings. Their BOD had a day long retreat in FEbruary, and they have grown their Board to 10 enthusiastic members with a big job ahead of them. They also have a new website, www.nwtrc.org , developed and donated by Karen Hower and Warren Monroe of www.Webrodeo.com Check it out! | ||
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HOPE THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM on beautiful Whidbey Island in Washington, has many exciting changes to report. They have a new and ethusaistic Board of Directors who met in November and created a wonderful 3 year business plan. One of their goals was met in January when they were provided the use of an indoor arena on the north end of the island. They began classes in January and will be able to run year round at this location, which along with their current location on the south end of the island, now allows them to operate two days a week, thus serving more riders in their community. They are also the proud owners of four HOPE horses. Each of these horses were donated to the program and are actively in use. Two of the horses, Peanut, a 16 yr old Shetand gelding, and Max, an 8 yr old Quarter Horse gelding, are in training to become drining horses, which is also a part of HOPE's 3 year plan. Recently, three HOPE riders participated in the South Whidbey Pony Club jumping show, in the walk/trot division. The Pony Club has been very gracious about encouraging and accommodating the riders from HOPE, who always place in the ribbons and were very excited and proud of their accomplishments. |
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THE RAINBOW CONNECTION
TRC in Anchorage, Alaska held a very successful Cowboy Ball benefit/auction in March, with over 300 people in attendance. A great time was had by all, and they raised over $75,000 for their program. Summer classes in Hippotherapy, Driving, Sports Riding and training the Anchorage Special Olympics Equestrian Team are keeping the program busy with 60 participants and a large waiting list. The addition of a one day a week Equine Facilitated Mental Health program conducted by EFMHA certified therapist Lori Nelson, has proven wonderfully exciting. Lori is a level 4 CHA instructor of riders with disabilities, as well as a licensed psychotherapsit with her own practice in Soldotna, AK. Lori drives to Anchorage one day a week to offer this beneficial form of equine therapy to Alaska Children's Services and Assets, using Rainbow Connection therapy horses. Rainbow Connection sent one of their promising young competitors, 13 year old Ally Beischer, to the Pat Flynn Memorial Horse Show in June at Little Bit TRC in Washington, and had such a great time that they are planning to send more riders next year! Plans are also being made to expand their driving program with a second instructor filling out her paperwork for a certification clinic in October. RC's driving program has proven to be wildly successful, and is a huge hit at the annual MDA camp every summer, and driving classes will be held at the Rainbow Connection Benefit Horse Show on Aug. 26th. |
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THE
PEGASUS PROJECT servicing the Yakima Valley has moved! Their new location at 4680 Hwy 12 has provided them with new exposure and accessibility that is allowing for productive growth and education about the program. And, they report, it's BEAUTIFUL! Pegasus thanks NARHA for their help and information. |
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FORWARD STRIDE of Portland, Oregon was chosen as one of 30 organizations (and the only equine center) to participate in the 2006 United Girls Summit at the Oregon Convention Center. The purpose of the Summit was to inspire girls, ages 8-18. to be strong, smart and bold, no matter how their bodies worked. Further, the Summit strove to educate them about healthy choices for enhanced nutrition, fitness and relationships. Forward Stride's vaulters, under the direction of Marci Siegal-Kittrell, participated in a demonstration, furthered the understanding of the transformative power of equine activities, and showed off their stuff to thousands of Oregon and Washington girls. |
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BUTTE SPECIAL RIDERS in Montana just finished their first session of riding classes with 25 children ranging in age from 3 to 21 years participating in classes each week with an emphasis on equestrian skills such as mounting/dismounting, backing, turning, and trail. The range of disabilities of the children is vast, from speech impairments to spastic quadriplegia. Volunteers are incorporating team activities in each of their 45 minute riding sessions, and are beginning their second session, which is full. This all- volunteer program and their special riders are having a great Montana summer! |
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BITTERROOT THERAPEUTIC RIDING will be going to Camp Mak-A-Dream about 100 miles from home on July 31st with 6-8 horses and a crew of volunteers, instructors and friends. Camp Mak-A-Dream is for campers with cancer, and the day will be filled with sharing the BTR horses with kids ages 6-14. The campers come from all over the world, and with the state-of-the-art medical facilities onsite and the beautiful Montana countryside, its a very special time for all kids! Butte volunteers feel blessed to spend the day taking campers for rides, and always return home tired, happy and with very full hearts! They hope in the near future to acquire sponsor support so they can participate on a monthly basis as Camp Mak-A-Dream is open year round to campers from all walks of life. |
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