SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program

Dear followers, at SPIRIT we are humbled by and thankful for your everlasting support and generosity. You help us create moments of connection with each other. Moments like these. We ask that you consider setting SPIRIT as your Amazon Smile charity of choice. It is a simple way to contribute to our cause as you do some holiday shopping. Keep an eye out for wishlist information as the year comes to a close!

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Alison and Huckleberry - two peas in a pod! They had a good time hanging around yesterday sharing some hugs

Boy, did we have fun with Halloween costumes this year! Thanks to everybody that dressed up. Of we didn't snap a pic, comment here to share with you SPIRIT family!

Thank you Maria for some great photos 🕷

Please join SPIRIT in welcoming Hanna Bleznak to the team! Hanna will be joining us to provide occupational therapy services incorporating hippotherapy.

Hanna is an occupational therapist with experience in outpatient pediatrics. Hanna grew up riding horses for fun and competition, and currently has one mare of her own! Over the years, Hanna has volunteered at therapeutic riding centers gaining valuable experience working with participants and horses.

A little more about hippotherapy:
Incorporating hippotherapy into occupational therapy sessions can add in targeting the strength, muscle coordination, sensory processing skills, and cognitive skills necessary for participating in activities of daily living and general attention tasks. The use of hippotherapy as a tool or strategy under the direction of a therapist has been reported to increase motivation and participation in treatment, as well as showing social emotional benefits when combined with other elements of a plan of care. 

Please contact us at [email protected] to learn more and register for sessions!

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Support SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program

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The before and after of a job well done!

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We had so much fun with our relay races on Monday!

Lots of cleaning and organizing happening today! Thank you to all the EALs and volunteers that to help! help!

Thank you for the lovely poster Eastern Ridge School!
We loved having everybody at our workshop this year and look forward to partnering up again!

Happy Birthday to Vēsma Montvillo, instructor extraordinaire! Daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā!

Want to get involved with your local Equine Assisted Activities organization (that's us!) but not sure where to start? Have general questions about what we do? Want to come out with a group and help us with volunteer projects? Drop a horsey emoji and post your question in the comments below, we will answer it!

Please join us in wishing our Executive Director Michelle a very happy birthday! 🎂 🎈

Tommy got to lessons pretty early today, so he and Abby came on the trail with the group! That was fun, Tom!

Photos from SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program's post

Horse Expo – Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park

Horse Expo April 30
Come join us Saturday April 30th at the Frying Pan Farm Park Horse Expo!
https://friendsoffryingpan.org/equestrian/horse_expo/

SPIRIT will be having a demonstration with our therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning participants! You can find us at our booth all day from 11-5! We would love to see our participants and volunteers come join us and share their experiences at SPIRIT.

Horse Expo – Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park Come to the first-ever horse expo at Frying Pan Farm Park!This event is for experienced riders as well as people who are new to the world of horses.There will be food trucks, speakers, demonstrations, networking opportunities, and businesses that sell horse-related products and services. Free, but p...

Incredible Monday riders and their horses! A few dynamic duos having fun on the final cold days of winter!

Have you ever found yourself wondering about the numbers on Cece’s neck? This is her US Trotting Association (USTA) freeze brand!

Up until 2019, freeze branding was a required part of registering a Standardbred with the USTA. Standardbreds like Cece are known for their skill in harness racing. Her brand, as well as the pacing gait that those who have ridden her may have experienced, are indicators of her life before coming to SPIRIT.

There is a movement now to overturn the 2019 rule change regarding freeze branding for Standardbreds, as having a visible marker such as the brand is instrumental to rescue groups that focus their efforts on rescuing this breed. As Cece shows us every day, a horse that has retired from racing has a lot of life and purpose left in her. If you are interested in joining this movement and making your voice heard regarding freeze branding of Standardbreds, consider reaching out to the USTA CEO Mike Tanner ([email protected]) before they vote on overturning the 2019 rule change tomorrow.

Thank you Laura for keeping us informed on this matter that is so impactful for the breed of one of our valued herd members, and for sending along some information on our own Hickory Cecelia!

https://youtu.be/haSNzHkhYh4
Happy Saturday! Please check out this very important message from one of our very own Saturday riders, Melissa! Thank you Melissa for being a part of the SPIRIT family and for being an advocate with the ARC of Northern Virginia!

Teach horsemanship skills where applicable
Teach riding skills per approved PATH standards and practices.
Communicate with rider’s parents to ensure customer satisfaction is at the highest level.
Effectively manage volunteers before, during, and after lessons according to PATH standards and The SPIRIT policies and procedures.
Assess appropriate goals for each student and ensure communication with parent/caregiver/guarding regarding progress
Other related duties assigned by Program Director

Offering training to certified Mental Health professional in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy . Previous horsemanship experience desirable but not mandatory.
Working in private setting using proven and skilled herd to provide animal assisted therapy to clients with different needs. Serving mostly youth with anxiety, depression, and families in crisis. Work includes grief, trauma and other indicated conditions for this type of therapy

Photos from SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program's post