Sneaky Petes News

L a Da w n T h e ra p e u t ic R i d i n g C e n te r
Fall 2010 Volume 1, Issue 1

Inside this issue:

Cost of Basic Horse Care MaineCare Cuts Grants Maine Versatility Bentley's Benefit Ride Upcoming Fundraisers About LaDawn TRC
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Horse in Focus: Zippy

Zippy stands out with his light gray color and dark black mane and tail. Hes a quiet horse and the children love him. Hes an intrinsic part of the LaDawn riding program with 25-30 people who ride him every week. The riders range from little kids to older adults but Zippy is able to offer the same gifts to all of them: physical improvements, help with socialization skills and emotional stability and some of the riders even get to ride Zippy at local horse shows. The mother of a young girl who rides Zippy says that the hippotherapy helps to increase focus, core strength, self confidence, sensory regulation and tolerance for correction and acceptance of feedback for her daughter, Violet. The bond between Zippy and Violet has grown as Violet has ridden him and hes now become her partner in the show ring. Just recently they won first and fifth place ribbons. Born on May 3, 1998 in Marengo, Iowa, Zippy made a journey to Connecticut where he was then bought by Liz Howard who then donated Doing My Own Thing, aka: Zippy, to LaDawn TRC. Zippy has navicular in his front hooves which prevented him from a rigorous training and show schedule, so his new job as therapy horse fits him well. All therapy horses have to go through a trial period, and within a week Zippy was ready for his job. According to Donna Lariviere, He was moved here, and acted like he had lived here his entire life. A superstar in the pleasure show ring, Zippy is looking for budding cowgirls and cowboys to join him in competition. Private or semiprivate lessons with all the great therapy horses are available at a reasonable cost.

Student Input
Every week, in all weather, I ride Zippy, a grey and white quarter horse. I am Owen S., 11 years old, from the Sanford schools. I have been riding Zippy for 9 months. I look forward to greeting Zippy, grooming with a curry comb and hard brush. I think Zippy looks forward to my lesson and care. We are now helping a new rider with their space and preparing obstacles that our horses are comfortable with. After riding, giving Zippy a carrot treat, I ask to feed and water all horses. Sometimes I work in a team of 3 student riders. We remember to take the twine off the hay, and top off all water buckets. We check with each other. I listen to the therapists and aide, when I take the lead lines, guide the horses to their stalls, when it looks like a rainstorm is coming. I want to continue my lessons, and ride Zippy. Owen S. DiAnne F. Donna Sonya

Photo by Owens family, during visit to LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center

August 3, 2010

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Volume 1, Issue 1

The Cost of Basic Horse Care

Most people are unaware of the high costs involved in owning a horse. There is the cost of board which runs $4800 per year. This provides a stall which is cleaned out daily with turnout time in the pasture. Hay and grain are provided at least twice a day and water buckets are filled. If a horse needs special feed or supplements this is not included in the price of the board. For example, Shakona will soon be on special feed due to her allergies that costs an additional $5000 a year. Horses need routine hoof care which includes trimming, filing and shoeing by a farrier about every 6 weeks. The average cost of farrier services for a horse is approximately $1,400 per year. Regular vet care including vaccinations and a Coggins test runs around $250 a year. Worming is another $60 per year, and the cost of floating teeth (i.e.; filing down the bite so that horses can effectively chew their food and take a bit) is about $300. Remember, these are the costs without injuries or accidents. Each time an equine vet comes out to provide care there is a barn call charge, in addition to the cost for each medical procedure medication, and lab test. There is no predicting what these costs will be annually, but with multiple horses barn calls are inevitable. So when we add up the predictable costs of food, shelter, and basic medical/hoof care the resulting figure is $6,810 per horse. Multiply that by the five LaDawn therapy horses, add in Shakona's special feed and you will arrive at $39,050. Ouch! That's a tough place to start, before any accidents, injuries, sedation for grooming, tack (e.g.; saddles, orthopedic saddle pads, bridles, halters, bits, bell boots, fly spray, etc. etc. etc. Each of the Ladawn therapy horses is looking for corporate sponsorship to help pay for their basic care. If you, your employer or someone you know may be interested in contributing to the care of one of our terrific horses, please contact us at 4990080.

MaineCare Cuts
Children who once
As of September first, new MaineCare guidelines have been implemented that significantly impact the provision of therapeutic horseback riding services. The fee paid for each lesson has been decreased by 10%, from $42.40 to $38.60. Given that MaineCare is the payor for the majority of clients who receive therapeutic services at LaDawn TRC, this will result in a significant loss of income. In addition to the cuts in fees, under the new guidelines children who once qualified for therapeutic services at LaDawn may no longer qualify. The regulations around who can receive occupational therapy services and how these services will be delivered has been significantly narrowed. For those children who continue to qualify for therapeutic riding under MaineCare, a $2 copay will be due at the time of the lesson. For children who do not qualify for MaineCare funded services, LaDawn will be offering private and semiprivate lessons at a reasonable cost. A letter will be sent to those affected by this change. It is essential that parents and caregivers meet with Donna to discuss whether your child will continue to qualify under MaineCare and if desired, whether placement in a private or semi-private lesson would be best. We encourage you to speak to your legislators about the way in which state cuts have affected your child and family.

qualified for therapeutic services at LaDawn may no longer qualify.

Grants
LaDawns has received the following grants this year and would like to express our gratitude to the following foundations and organizations:

Davis Family Foundation -- $5,000 for the Ride For Children program (free sessions for children not covered by insurance or MaineCare). Maine Community Foundation -- $2,500 for the Ride For Children program. Simmons Foundation -- $1,900 to purchase Saddleback billing software. Maine Parkinson Society--$500.00 to fund therapeutic riding for a student with Parkinsons Disease If you have any information on grants that would be appropriate for our organization to receive, please email information to: Tim Greaton our grant writer at tim@greateastdevelopment.net.

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Maine Versatility Challenge

Fundraising Success
Our Spring bulb sale raised $500. The Yankee Candle fundraiser raised $1000. The Versatility Challenge raised $1,100. LaDawn shirt sale raised $500.00. Thank you to the students, families and staff who participated in these fundraisers. We depend on the proceeds.
On May 2nd this year LaDawn was one of six equine facilities to host a Maine Versatility Challenge where all were welcome to sign up to compete for fun. It was a great event that brought the equitation community together to compete and help aid LaDawn in their therapy riding program. The versatility challenge consisted 12 judged and timed obstacles for horse and rider to maneuver through, and the competition had 4 separate divisions: Youth Novice, Adult Novice, Youth Open, and Adult Open. The proceeds went to supporting LaDawns therapeutic riding program that consists of five therapy horses who need lots of love and money to keep them able to help children and adults with disabilities. The obstacles ranged from having your horse stand still while being tacked up, side-passing over poles in an L shape, to riding through the horsey carwash: a frame with foam noodles and streamers hanging off that every rider had to pass through. In Open Adult first place went to: Ryan Eastman on Smart Country Ect.; in Novice Adult: Bruce Blackman on Cisco; in Open Youth: Morgan Valliere on Tank and for Novice Youth: Grace Grenier on Sassy. Anne Whitehouse volunteered and did a great job as DJ and Elaine Lariviere was our announcer for the day. We want to thank all the volunteers for all the work they did, there was a lot to do and it was appreciated! Every effort helps sustain the therapeutic program and that helps the children and adults involved have the possibility to thrive.

Bentleys Benefit Ride

On August 28, a gorgeous summer day, one hundred and ten motorcycles thundered out of Bently's Saloon in Arundel Maine on a Victory ride to benefit LaDawn TRC. Their ride would take them on a seven hour journey from Maine to New Hampshire and then to Vermont, where they would meet up with another 100+ riders and continue on with stops at various venues. Eventually the riders returned to Bently's where they enjoyed a barbecue and then an evening of music featuring a variety of excellent bands, including Artimus Pyle. The event raised $1,150, as well as an awareness of the benefits of therapeutic riding. LaDawn staff, students and Board members were on hand to speak about the program and answer questions. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the riders, the two Bruces, and Bently's Saloon for making this such a success.
Thank you riders, the two Bruces, and Bentlys Saloon.

Upcoming Fundraisers
In October we will be having another Yankee Candle Fundraiser with candle delivery in time for Christmas. Please pick up a catalogue and order sheet in the viewing room and share it with family and friends. The quality of the candles and products are excellent, so everyone benefits! We will be having our first annual Halloween stall door decorating contest. For a $25 entry fee, you can decorate the stall door of your favorite horse and get into the spooky holiday spirit. Students/families who wish to enter should claim the stall door of their choice by notifying Donna. Remember that assignments to stall doors are on a first come-first serve basis, so put in your requests early!

Yankee Candle Fundraiser . Just in time for Christmas!

Please note that the poker tournament scheduled for October 3rd has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts with other tournaments.

L a D a w n Th er a p eut i c R i d i n g Ce nt er
Contact Information Donna Lariviere Physical Address 995 Goodwin's Mills Road Dayton, ME Mailing Address LaDawn Quarter Horses Therapeutic Riding Center P.O. BOX 558 West Kennebunk, ME. 04094 Phone Number (207) 499-0080 Fax Number (207) 499-2597 E-Mail Address ladawn2@myfairpoint.net
LaDawn is on Facebook. Please become a friend and check out our latest photos and posts.

Were on the Web www. ladawntherapeuticridingcenter.com

Our mission To serve Maines population with disabilities by fostering horse and human interaction through therapy that will improve our patients physical, mental and emotional lives. Our vision To provide Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Horseback Riding to ALL York County people in need, regardless of their affliction or financial/insurance status. Our program Since 2002, LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center has provided equine assisted therapy that has helped hundreds of patients better cope with their emotions, relationships, and physical environments. Overseen by a Maine-licensed Occupational Therapist & Licensed Therapeutic Riding Instructor, our indoor and outdoor arena program applies goal achievement timelines that are geared toward reaching each patients maximum potential. The additional coaching that we provide to parents, caregivers, and/or support structure staff seeks to facilitate and further the use of new skills, which in turn improves the quality of life for not only our patients, but also for their families, their clinical workers, and their peers.

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

LaDawn TRC Board is looking for a highly motivated and energetic volunteer to help identify and develop corporate and individual funding opportunities. Please contact us for more information about this special volunteer position.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Whether you are interested in a hands-on, experience with the horses, have data entry, newsletter or cleaning skills to share, or are interested in working with our therapy students, we have a volunteer job that will fit your schedule and interests. Please contact the barn at 499-0080. Every little bit helps us to better care for our students and horses! A resounding THANK YOU! to everyone who lends a hand a LaDawn! (You know who you are.) Without the support of our volunteers, parents and families we would be lost. To each of you who gives from the heart to make LaDawn TRC a program of excellence, Thank you. Your efforts are seen and appreciated. Newsletter Staff: Leslie Blackman Monique Downs Amy Littell
We on the Board of LaDawns TRC are interested in your ideas and feedback. Please feel free to contact us at the email addresses below: Crystal Lariviere, President: beausfaith@me.com Kelly Canning, Vice President: kcconverters@gmail.com Heidi Piknick, Treasurer: piknih@mmc.org Kim Sayward, Secretary: kmsayward@yahoo.com Mike Campbell: mike@kasprzakinsurance.com Amy Littell: dramy4kidz@yahoo.com

Newsletter Staff: Leslie Blackman, Monique Downs, Amy Littell

THE OUTSIDE OF A HORSE IS GOOD FOR THE INSIDE OF A PERSON