Physical Health United States Project #22190

All Equine Services Free to Clients at BITS ETC

by Back In The Saddle Equine Therapy Center

All Equine Services Free to Clients at BITS ETC

Project Report | Apr 8, 2019
April Showers bring MUD

By Pauline Meridien | Executive Director

February School Break Camp 2019

April showers bring May flowers but before the flowers bloom, we deal with MUD.

Almost lost a rider last week. Leon came to ride his horse, Gideon. While following Melissa, his instructor, across the paddock in what seemed to be the path, we heard:

“hold up there…I’m sinking in up to my jockey shorts!”

Melissa quickly bent in front of Leon, lifting him onto her back, and out of his mired boots. With the mud nearing the top of both boots, they were nearly impossible to extract from the sucking ooze. A quick-thinking volunteer rescued both of them and the boots for a happy ending to this story. Loud peals of laughter brought home the lesson learned:

“Don’t stray from the path lest you get mired in mud.”

Leon went on to groom his horse of all mud and dust, readying him for the lesson. His patience and ability to correctly lead and groom his horse starts from the ground up, with great results when he gets into the saddle. Gideon knows Leon, and Leon knows Gideon. Our community safely teaches self-reliance and team work to get the job done!

We can’t continue to do this work without the community of supporters like you who make it possible for Leon to learn from mud, and Gideon to teach him these lessons. We have doubled the number of riders in just one year, and currently teach 50 riders a week. To serve them we have added instructors and offer school break camps as an additional way to experience the healing power of our herd. Please consider a spring donation to support the new students who will appear with the flowers of May.

Mud Bathing

Mr. Jingles, the Miniature donkey

Riding towards the May Sunshine!

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Jan 9, 2019
"Do You Still Ride in the Winter?" she asked.

By Pauline Meridien | Executive Director

Yes we ride in the winter!

Please note we have permission to use all photo's in this report. To protect client privacy, I have changed names in this report.

"Do you still ride in the winter?" A hesitant voice on the other end of the phone line disrupted my morning of shoveling, sanding, and hauling water in addition to the regular barn chores needed to feed and house 11 horses. The local plow guy would be here in an hour, but the horses need breakfast early.

"My son has been diagnosed with autism, and his doctor thinks he could benefit from riding horses." she explained

"Of course we ride in the winter!" "Let me get your information, and we can set up a tour---how old is your son?" I replied

And now we have a reason to haul the water, and shovel the snow! A new rider will begin next week, and hopefully find delight in his 'therapy' and added focus. We offer riding year-round because our clients have told us of the skills lost when therapy is interrupted. We get help from neighbors with plowing the driveway and roads to the fields, and help from over 40 volunteers who give of their time each week to keep the office and grounds running smoothly, the stalls clean and bedded, the hay stored safely, the water buckets cleared of frozen water and refilled, the daily grind that winter adds to our routine. And winter here can be brutal, NH known for cold and snow.

Some clients take a break during the coldest parts of winter; turning to aqua sports, or skiing for exercise. Then most return with the spring, ready to be greeted by their friends in the barn. But many come all year round..from .Polly (67) who never misses a week, to Jackson(2), who can barely bend his elbows through his snowsuit! Schools send busloads for group interactions, and the days are busy, into the darkness of early evening.

With the New Year at hand, I want to thank you for your financial support of our programs. Without your help, the day would be colder, the wind stronger, and the task near unbearable. It's only with the help of our community of supporters that lets us just get it done!. "It takes a village to raise a child" is an old African proverb. Thank you for expanding our 'village" of support so all our clients who wish to, can ride all year long!

Collect your horse from the paddock

Riding in the riding ring

A little hay for after the work-out

Horses drink lots of water!

A quiet Winter ride..the best!

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Oct 2, 2018
Veteran's Collaboration

By Pauline Meridien | Founding Executive Director of BITS ETC

Entrance to BITS SETC

Generous public support through this GlobalGiving Platform enables us to reach out to Veteran's Service Organizations to collaborate in bringing more people the benefits of horse interactions! Tomorrow begins our work with Team RWB (Team Red White and Blue, Manchester NH chapter).

Currently posted on Facebook:

"September 29, 2018

Open Meeting & Team Building

12:00 PM - 04:00 PM EDT

334 College Hill Rd (BITS Equine Therapy Center), Hopkinton, NH 03229

We are proud to be in the process of building a relationship with this fantastic Equine Therapy Center to be a part of their RideUP program in the future. We have asked to hold our 3rd quarter open leadership meeting at the Center so we can utilize the team building skills and ideas they have for their clients to help us in Team RWB Manchester. And, so that our members can get the opportunity to see all of the different options the Center has to offer.

Here is the breakdown of the day:

12:00-1:30 Team Building Exercise

1:30-3:00 Leadership Meeting. Lunch will be provided! If the weather has cooperated, we may be able to eat outside near their Heart shaped pond

3:00-4:00 Service Work for the Center to thank them for hosting us for the afternoon

Please wear boots or sneakers that are sturdy for your feet (and you don’t mind getting dirty), we may be on their trails and it may not be even ground.

Come join the leadership team for our 3rd quarter open leadership meeting. This will be a fun filled team building activity. This a Child Friendly Center, so bring your Mini Eagles. All are welcome to enjoy the day!!

Eagle Leader Contact..."

As a site for ongoing interactions, BITS ETC hopes to provide continued opportunities for Veterans and their families to find relaxation and respite on our campus with our therapeutic herd of horses. Anticipating an increase in clients, we have invested in a search for additional horses, and will welcome "Spencer's Rising Star" as our newest addition to the herd. Spence will be used in the Veteran's programming (Our Ride UP program for Uniformed Professionals) as well as our general therapeutic riding program for children and adults with disabilities.

So much expansion requires continued dedication to raising the funds to continue our mission. Thanks to GlobalGiving we are able to get the word out about what we do, and why we do it. Couldn't make it happen without YOU!!

Veteran Ride UP program participant

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