Special
Events:
December 6, 2007: Oakridge Middle School Horse Club and PMH
Program
OMS Horse Club is
‘pet project’
By CHERYL RONDEAU
Naples
Daily News
Once a week, 12 Oakridge Middle School
students horse around after school, while sharing their equestrian skills with
fellow handicapped students. Directed by
eighth grade math teacher, Katie Sullivan, the OMS Horse Club is one of several
new after school programs at OMS. She decided to become involved because her
daughter Clare, a sixth grade student at OMS, loves horses.
So far this year, Horse Club members have
learned about various breeds of horses, how to keep a horse healthy, the
difference between an English and a western saddle,
and how to safely move around a horse.
Sullivan says bringing the school’s handicapped students into the
group was a good fit and natural extension of the club’s goal of
equestrian education.
“Our school is a center school for
Profoundly Mentally Handicapped (PMH) children in Collier County,”
Sullivan explains. “We currently have nine PMH students.” The benefit of bringing children and animals
together has been known for many years. Sullivan says that while most people
have heard of pet therapy with dogs, the club provides an expanded version
— horse therapy. Horse Club
members work with the PMH students and their teacher Melia
Martin, to share excitement of grooming and riding horses. The timing was
right, academically, too.
“These students are currently
learning about large animals,” Sullivan explained. “The horse club
is planning to enrich their lessons.”
The club enjoyed a recent visit from Laura Hauze,
of Tikigator Farm, who brought her five-year-old
palomino pony Beach Boy. Hauze and Beach Boy have
volunteered their time to help with the horse training. Sullivan says Beach Boy is a veteran
“public speaker,” traveling with Hauze
all over town and doesn’t mind the noise and commotion created by
enthusiastic students. “The kids
were able to pet and groom Beach Boy,” Sullivan said of the special
visit. “They watched him move through his different gaits -- walk, trot,
and canter.”
Sullivan says many horses interact
naturally with kids, looking for simple commands and children can carry out
those kinds of instructions. She said that there isn’t a specific breed
of horse that is used for horse therapy but the horse must have a calm and
patient temperament. During the visit,
every child in the unit was able to touch Beach Boy. Even those in wheelchairs
were wheeled close enough to brush or touch his soft hair. “The PMH students couldn’t say
what they were thinking,” she said of the experience. “But you
could see their demeanor change along with the look on their faces.” The visit was the first of many exciting
experiences planned by the club.
“We are excited about the impact that this experience has brought
to the PMH students and the horse club members,” Sullivan said.
Thank
you members of Oakridge Middle School Horse Club for inviting Beach Boy to your
school!
November 9, 2007: Christ
Community Lutheran School Hoe-down!!
It
was that time of the year again….and it was a wonderful cool November
evening for the CCLS Hoe-down! What a
turnout! Beach Boy was invited back to
greet the students and their parents, and boy were there a lot of them to
greet! Hats off to Melody Halprin who, once again, did a fantastic job putting
together and organizing the festivities!
There were games, face painting, raffle prizes, great food, dancing, and
awesome silent auction items! TikiGator
Farm donated a fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels, as well as two riding
lessons. Other prizes included
photography sessions, landscape service, gift baskets, and much more! If you missed out this year, be sure to check
back next fall and come on down to CCLS for an evening of western family
fun!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Bob Folk!
Winner of the fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels!
October 9, 2007: Oakridge Middle School Horse Club!
A BIG thanks to Katie and Clare for
inviting us to participate in their after school Horse Club! The day’s topic was
“Grooming” and the students learned about the different kinds of
brushes, their use, and how to groom a horse from head to hoof! Clare demonstrated the different grooming
techniques and taught the students how to pick up a horses feet and the
importance of hoof care. The students
also learned about a horse’s conformation, and what to look for when
buying a horse. It was Beach Boy’s
first visit to a school and we all had a blast!
It was a great hands-on experience for everyone! Thank you Oakridge Horse Club!!
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