{"id":28907,"date":"2012-05-17T21:00:23","date_gmt":"2012-05-18T01:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/miserybay.usanethosting.com\/wordpress\/?p=28907"},"modified":"2012-05-17T21:00:23","modified_gmt":"2012-05-18T01:00:23","slug":"cover-89","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/cover-89\/","title":{"rendered":"Perfect Partners"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nPat Brown leads Luke, riding Penny, while Deb Brya and Rick Meeker keep an eye on the rider<\/em>
\nLocally, there\u2019s a collective interest between Tootsie Rolls, horses and handicapped children that seems to avoid recognition, but instills confidence and self worth, warming the spirit in a manner much like the comfort stemming from a taste of the chewy chocolate that fosters the unity.
\nThe candy is tied to the Knights of Columbus organization; the horses belong to area owners; the children are intermediate school district students who \u2013 under the caring attention of dedicated volunteers – ride the horses. The equation produces enjoyment, personal balance improvement and a great measure of physical therapy to combat sensory challenges. The collection is known as Clinton County 4-H Horseback Riding for Health Program and it\u2019s been around since 1983.
\nCurrently, it\u2019s a three times a year, three week schedule of three days each week where handicappers are saddled up and led through a series of activities that range from simply walking the horse, to negotiating a small maze, to completing a stretch to drop a baton, ball or bean bag in a pail and return. While the riders delight in such contests, a hidden benefit unfolds. It\u2019s called \u201chippotherapy.\u201d Literally, \u201ctreatment with the help of a horse.\u201d
\nAs the horse walks, center of gravity is displaced three-dimensionally \u2013 back\/forth, up\/down, side to side \u2013 resulting in a therapeutic effect on the rider through the repetitive pattern of movement. Additionally, there is a positive interaction between the rider and the horse as the rider experiences warmth and acceptance from the horse and in turn expresses love and care.
\nDonna Apostol, a physical therapist, has been with the program since its inception in 1983 under the aegis of then Clinton County 4-H agent, Theresa Silm. The two were instrumental in initiating what has become a well scheduled and effective activity. Age of participants range from 4 to 26 and three-week sessions are conducted in April, August and October.
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\nDonna Apostol, left, and Kathy Grew are key members of the staff conducting the horseback program for handicappers.<\/em>
\nDuring the year long three session schedule nearly 30 students are involved, attended to by roster of 35 volunteers. Each rider is accompanied by three volunteers; one leading the horse and one walking on either side while attentive to the rider. Riders are contacted two weeks in advance of the first session and are selected on a first come, first served basis.
\n\u201cThe children love it,\u201d explained Apostol. \u201cWe really don\u2019t have to worry about horses without riders!\u201d
\nBoth riders and volunteers come from across Clinton County and are aligned with the program through connections with 4-H and Clinton County Intermediate School System (RESA). Many of the volunteers are horse owners and bring their charges to each session.
\nWhile Apostol serves as coordinator of the program, active sessions are conducted by professional trainer, Kathy Glew who not only works with the local 4-H organization, but with Beekman Center as well. She is a member of PATH, an acronym for Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. In addition to the local program, she conducts workshops for riding instructors.
\nMeanwhile, if you haven\u2019t tied the Tootsie Roll to the routine, herein lays the relationship. Each year the Knights of Columbus conduct a sale (you\u2019ve missed it?) of the candy in partial funding for support of programs benefiting handicapped children. Local KofC chapters – St. Johns, Fowler, DeWitt, Pewamo and Westphalia \u2013 have united to provide substantial funding to the Horseback Riding for Health program.
\n\u201cWe are extremely grateful to the Knights of Columbus,\u201d commented Apostol. \u201cTheir ongoing support and response to special requests are vital to our schedule. Another organization, St. Johns Lions Club, has also been very helpful when out of the ordinary expenses occur. We are most appreciative.\u201d
\nThat appreciation extends beyond to many who make periodic donations of funds, horses and equipment and countless hours of personal time.
\nThe next scheduled series of rides is set to begin June 11. For more information interested persons may contact Donna Apostol, 989 224 8010 or apomead@frontier.com<\/a> or Kathy Glew, 989 224 2394, handsonharmonykg@yahoo.com<\/a>.
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\nA snack in the grass is enjoyed by riders and volunteers prior to graduation from the spring session of the 4-H Therapeutic Horseback Riding program.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pat Brown leads Luke, riding Penny, while Deb Brya and Rick Meeker keep an eye on the rider<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28907\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/archive1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}