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Wyoming
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Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International



Title Sponsor: Purina, the official feed of PATH Intl.
Spotlight on New Mexico   
* HIPICO Santa Fe is pleased and proud to welcome the New Mexico Center for Therapeutic Riding (NMCTR) to its new home on the HIPICO Santa Fe campus and to present this wonderful organization as a beneficiary of the 2016 Grand Prix de Santa Fe.

NMCTR is a community-based nonprofit that enriches and expands the lives of Northern New Mexico children, youth, and adults with special needs through equine-assisted activities and therapies. They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a member of PATH Intl. The center partners with community-based organizations, including the Santa Fe Public School District's special education department, the New Mexico School for the Deaf, the Albuquerque School for the Blind and Vision Impaired, the Santa Fe Youth Shelter, senior centers, and individual riders with special needs.

In its second season at HIPICO Santa Fe, the $50,000 Grand Prix de Santa Fe will take place on Sunday August 14, 2016 as the grand finale of the A-rated Santa Fe Summer Series, and the New Mexico Center for Therapeutic Riding will be one of the 2016 beneficiaries.

Therapeutic riding lessons officially begin February 29, 2016 and will continue through the spring. The success of NMCTR depends on generous donations to help fund the many expenses of a therapeutic riding program, such as feeding, housing and caring for the four-legged horse friends who are the heart of the services provided. NMCTR is always looking for volunteers to help support theses incredible horses and their riders. Interested donors and volunteers should email Ashley Armijo or contact her by phone at (505) 948-6900 .

For more information about NMCTR contact Ashley or visit NMCTR.org .
* Loving Thunder in Albuquerque was featured at the KOBTV Health and Wellness Fair in Jan. The Wellness Fair features businesses that provide health services from across the State of NM. Four of our horses were present and ready to greet the crowds of people that came by the booth. We were sponsored by a local feed store which provided lots of press and commercial exposure. We were featured on Good Day New Mexico a local morning talk show, and the evening news with two spots featuring our children's program and our veterans program. We had over 60 people sign up that were interested in volunteering or riding and have had three new riders actually start riding as a result of seeing us at the Fair.
 
* Loving Thunder is the recipient of a two horse trailer donated by Sandia Trailer Sales. Morey of Sandia Trailer heard about our hard luck story last summer and decided that we needed a trustworthy trailer. LTTR was headed to a summer camp horse experience for 65 kids on the autism spectrum, Camp Rising Sun, an annual event for us. We take five horses and only had a three-horse trailer. So we were borrowing a friend's trailer and the axle broke on the freeway. We were able to get the horses off the freeway, everyone was safe, but it took us all afternoon to get horses where they needed to be and the trailer repaired enough to "limp" home. Luckily Colleen Novotny, 4 Winds Equestrian, loaned us another trailer to transport the two horses to the camp and home again. Thank you to Morey and Colleen for helping us provide a great camp to the kiddos despite the arrival challenges.
 
* Doug Thal, Thal Equine Service, came to our center and provided a training to our volunteers and staff. He gave detailed instructions on how to use the Horse Side Vet Guide App. This app for your phone, tablet or computer gives you the experience of a vet at your fingertips. With more than 660 ailments, injuries and care tips, it walks you through everything you need to know about gathering info to be ready for the phone call to your vet or give aid until the vet can arrive.  http://horsesidevetguide.com/ 

This app is $4.99 but will be the best money ever spent on your horse. You can learn how to take horse vital signs and review lots of other resources to learn more about your horse and once downloaded the app is available even without internet service. Dr. Thal is an avid horse person and realized that we are using the internet to help with our horse care. He wanted to provide a trustworthy resource with accurate information for everyone's skill level. Check it out for free on your computer and then download it from your Play Store. 
 
* Loving Thunder is the recipient of donated farrier services for the first time in our 8 years of operation. Bob Bachen a retired farrier and now a farrier supply rep for Delta Mustad has generously agreed to do our farrier work. Thank you Bob for giving your time and talents to Loving Thunder. What a great feeling that people are beginning to believe in and support our efforts with in kind services.
Colorado
* Freedom Hooves Therapeutic Riding of NW Colorado, in their fifth year of operation, will open for the 2016 season on May 16th this year. They plan on four 5-week sessions ending October 31st.
 They have two certified instructors, one instructor in training and one volunteer instructor, nine versatile horses and over 100 volunteers to support the services offered to this community. They expect to serve 50 participants this year.

Freedom Hooves currently runs six distinct programs including Veteran's Horsemanship, Individual and group therapeutic riding lessons, adult group home riding and ground school lessons, family equine assisted therapy, a Ranch Hand program for at risk youth and an adaptive vaulting program.

* The Flying Squirrels Vaulting Team is very excited to be presenting at the Region 10 Conference in Casper, WY, May 20-22, 2016! Come to the conference and check these vaulters out.
 
* Hearts and Horses is hosting an Advanced Prep workshop September 3-5 with Sandy Webster. We're wait-listing the "mock" candidates, as it's possible we'll have someone pull out; there's plenty of room for auditors.
 
* Additionally, over the past year++, Hearts and Horses have been under a renovation of one of the indoor arenas. We have completely gutted the arena/grooming area/tack room, etc, etc and also have added a 2700 sq. ft. office space. To date, they have raised over $850,000 in donations and in-kind services to make this dream come true. No dollars for this project have come from the general operating fund - just an amazing generosity of Northern Colorado contractors and donors. They're hosting an Open House May 1st from 2-4 p.m. and will have a ribbon cutting with the Loveland Chamber of Commerce as well as newspaper coverage of the event. 
 
* Finally, Hearts & Horses was just in an article in The American Cowboy Magazine in an article related to travel.  
Utah
Michelle Weed has accepted the position of Program Director/Associate Professor for the developing EAAT program at Utah State University. Until now, they have offered an intro level special topics class that is an EAAT overview for the past 2 or 3 years.
 
We don't have more specifics on their goals for the program (they are evolving), but I'm sure there will be much to report once she gets settled into her role. Welcome to Region 10, Michelle!
Wyoming
* Reach 4A Star Riding Academy in Casper, WY, is excited about their newest program with the Therapeutic Foster Care program at Central Wyoming Counseling Center. This is specifically for teens who are in foster care with CWCC. They come to R4ASRA for an hour and a half every other week with the off weeks being an opportunity for more in depth processing at CWCC. They will be working on horsemanship skills that will enhance interpersonal skills, self-esteem, communication skills, and positive interactions with adults.
 
* Reach 4A Star is excited about hosting our Region 10 conference this year. Please check the website and register for the conference today!

In addition to a plethora of business planning, disability management and teaching techniques, this conference has 2 very special vaulting sessions and many hours of DE (disability education) continuing education credits. The conference committee has tried to bring you many hours of quality education and entertainment to help you serve your clients better and renew your enthusiasm for therapeutic horsemanship. Two lunches and two dinners are included and there is even free camping available onsite!

If you've not been to Casper before, get ready for a Cowboy good time!

* CHAPS in Sheridan, WY, is a member center, working diligently toward accreditation as a Premier Accredited Center. They are expecting a site visit in May and if they are successful, will be one of only a small handful of PACs in Wyoming. 
 
* CHAPS currently has 12 program horses including some draft horses. These gentle giants are very intuitive and work very well in our veteran's groups. They are currently looking for a driving instructor to expand the services offered to their riders. 
 
* CHAPS big fundraiser is April 23 from 4-10 at the Sheridan College AgriPark. This fundraiser will include BBQ, dancing, a photo booth, games as well as live and silent auctions. All proceeds will go to scholarships and will help them start to work on accepting more riders from the waiting list. 
 
* Last but not least, CHAPS will be sponsoring a community outreach event at Tractor Supply in Sheridan on May 7 from 10-2. They will have rider demonstrations, knowledgeable staff, volunteers and clients ready and willing to answer any questions about what we do, and why we do it. 
 
For more information please contact Kristen. 
Arizona
* The students at The H.E.A.R.T. Center in Phoenix, AZ just finished with a camp fundraiser through Paper Clouds Apparel! Four kiddos created original artwork that was then chosen to be featured on customized t-shirts sold for two weeks through the Paper Clouds Apparel website. Their t-shirts were such a hit that we raised about $1,000 worth of scholarship funds to go toward our campers in need!! Paper Clouds Apparel is an incredible business and this is a super fun fundraiser for any organization! If you have any interest or questions about how to get involved with them, please feel free to contact me.
 
* The H.E.A.R.T. Center hosts a very special overnight summer camp for kids of all abilities! Overnight Camps take place at our beautiful camp location in the forest of Pinetop, AZ. We take the horses and a small group of kids to experience the wonders that outdoor recreation has to offer! Campers get to experience the excitement of attending camp with their peers while our well trained staff assist them in working towards their therapeutic goals. Let us gift your kids with a summer they will never forget and a therapeutic experience that will spring you into the new school year with ease. See flier and website for additional details and contact us with any questions!
 
* H.E.A.R.T. Center Special Olympics Team riders have had the opportunity to participate in two horse shows this season! Thank you to all the hard work of the host centers- Silver Lining Riding and Horses Help (both in Arizona) for making these opportunities available!

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Events listed are for information purposes and do not necessarily reflect PATH Intl. policy, imply endorsement or comply with PATH Intl. Standards. They may or may not be eligible for PATH Intl. continuing education units on instructor compliance forms. For questions regarding CEUs, contact Bret Maceyak at the PATH Intl. office. 

 

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