SECOND FIRE CAUSES STRIDES TO EVACUTE AGAIN
Another fire threated Strides on November 15, 2008, coming over the Newhall Pass towards our ranch. This caused us to have our second evacuation in one month. Although the fire didn't come as close this time, it caused considerably more smoke. As we waited for Animal Control to evacuate our horses to Pierce College, we were forced to wear masks in order to be able to breathe. We created makeshift masks for the horse out of wet towels, tied to their halters. Fortunately, we were only gone for one day this time (we were gone for a week for the last fire). Again, we had great help from volunteers, both in evacuating and in bringing our horses back home. All the horses are fine, except for some runny noses from the smoke. Below are some photos from that day:
STRIDES SURVIVED THE PORTER RANCH FIRE!
On October 13, 2008, fire swept down the Santa Monica Mountains and into the canyon below our ranch. On the other side of the street, the fire was approaching from the east and we watched it move down the hillside toward the ranches on the opposite side of the street. Our brave volunteers, many of whom had no experience with leading horses, led our horses down to Zelzah Park, a quarter of a mile below the ranch. We were met there by two huge horse trailers provided by Daycreek Ranch in Simi Valley. They evacuated our horses to their beautiful ranch and are housing them there until the fire is contained and it's safe to return. We are grateful for their generosity and the generosity of so many others who have offered to help. Below is a slide show of the fire damage, and the horses' temporary home. Because of the fire, our Ride-a-Thon has been postponed to November 6.
Annual Ride-A-Thon and Music Fest
Saturday November 6, 2008
Strides will be hosting it's 7th Annual Ride-a-Thon, with a twist this year. In addition to giving our riders an %20of%20IMG_0002-1.JPG)
opportunity to help us raise money while demonstrating their riding skills, we have added a Musical Extravaganza and Barbecue Lunch to the mix. Performances by Rambling Jack Elliott and Sean Flynn (you may not know who he is, but ask your kids!) will headline the show. We will have Halloween games and contests as well, and a Silent Auction. This is a great time to buy early Holiday Gifts! This event is open to the general public.
The cost for the show and lunch is $15 for adults with advance reservations and $20 at the door. For children 4 to 12 it's $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 3 and under are free. Admission is also free to anyone raising over $100 for the Ride-a-Thon.
Please call us at (818) 341-4737 to make your reservations, or e-mail info@strides.og. We look forward to seeing you there!
Kyle and Strides Represent Autism at the Midsummer Night's Dream Fundraiser for Equestrian Special Athletes
It was a magical night at Moonshadow Ranch during the first fundraiser held by Special Sprit, Inc. a new non-profit founded to raise funds to benefit children with special needs who ride. Our rider, Kyle, was chosen to represent children with Autism that night, and he made us proud! It's difficult enough for a child with Autism to be in a new place, let alone ride a new horse! Kyle rode a Haflinger gelding named Calvin in the arena in front of a large audience who came to support this new fundraiser. Calvin is larger than the horses Kyle is used to, and he was afraid at first. But after he rode him (including kneeling and standing on the horse), Kyle asked, "What horse am I riding next?" Kyle enjoyed watching the vaulting demonstration, and wanted to kneel and stand just like them on his borrowed horse.
Kyle has been riding with Strides for over a year. He had only a few words when he started, but talks up a storm now. He loves horses, and this was a chance for him to shine.
Kyle thanks Calvin after his demonstration of riding and vaulting.
Congratulations to Robin Rapport and Joan Blank for Passing the NARHA Instructor Certification Exam
Nora Fischbach, Joan Blank and Lydia Lercari celebrate with Robin Rappaport (holding cake) after passing her NARHA exam.
Strides student instructor, Robin Rappaport, passed the NARHA Instructor Certification Exam with flying colors on June 15, 2008 and Joan Blank did the same on June 30, 2008. Robin and Joan have been taking the Strides Instructor's Course for the last 10 weeks, including doing their student teaching at Strides. Robin is an experienced rider who goes to Ireland each year to practice her jumping skills. Joan is a Western rider who is taking Equine courses at Pierce College. We are proud of their accomplishments, and know they will be a great asset to our program. Anyone interested in taking the Strides Instructor's Course should contact us at (818) 341-4737. Applicants must have taken riding lessons, English or Western, and be 18 years old or older.
Strides/Sin Limites Honored by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
On May 16, 2008 Strides/Sin Limites received an award from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, which reads:
"As Mayor of the City of Los Angeles and on behalf of its residents, it is a great pleasure for me to extend my sincere appreciation to Strides Therapeutic Riding Center for their outstanding services to disabled children. Your program has really touched the lives of many children with disabilties and I congratulate you on your continuous services. Your dedication has been of great beneift to the community. Best wishes for continued success!"
Strides Executive Director and Sin Limites Program Director Teach the First Therapeutic Riding Instructor's Class in Pachuca, Mexico
Nora teaching vaulting positions Lydia instructs a future instructor in positioning a rider
The University of Pachuca in Hidalgo, Mexico, has a well-established therapeutic riding center funded by the University. In an effort to improve their program and make it NARHA compiant, they hired Strides Executive Director, Nora Fischbach, and Sin Limites Program Director, Lydia Lercari to teach a week-long course in therapeutic riding instruction. Representative of therapeutic riding centers from all over Mexico attended the course as well. This is the first course of its kind taught in Mexico, and we were honored to be a part of teaching and demonstrating the safest and most effective methods of providing therapeutic riding.
8 Strides Riders Participate and Win at the annual CALNET Horse Show.
This year 8 riders were selected to participate in the annual CALNET Horse Show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on April 20, 2008. Ellen, an adult with quadruplegia, participated in Para Equestrian Dressage riding Padu and took 1st place! She also rode in the Obstacle Course and took 2nd place. Kaarya, who is 5 years old rode in Pole Bending (a race) on Mimi and took 1st place as well, and in Obstacle Course she took 6th place. Chloe, who is 15 and one of our volunteers, rode in two Dressage Classes and took 1st place in both of them! It was Harrison's (10 years old) first time at the horse show. He took 2nd place in Dressage on Beau, and 2nd place in Obstacle Course. His sister, Elizabeth, who is 8, also showed for the first time. She took 4th place in Dressage on Mimi and 6th place in Obstacle Course. Barbara, an adult born without legs, showed for the first time after only taking 5 riding lessons and only 3 short lessons in Dressage. She took 3rd place in Dressage on Beau, 3rd place in Pole Bending on Mimi, and 3rd place in Obstacle Course on Beau. Laura, 15, rode Padu to a 3rd place in Obstacle Course and 6th in Pole Bending.
This was a very large horse show, bringing riders from all over California. Our riders, horses, and volunteers were amazing, and we are proud of them all.
Strides Riders Win Big at the Tri-Valley Horse Show! On September 30, 2007, twelve of our Strides Riders and 4 of our horses participated in the annual Tri-Valley Horse Show, held this year at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. Last year, only 35 riders in total participated, so it was easy for our riders to win. This year, the numbers were up to almost 150! Despite the greatly increased competition, our riders took home ribbons galore, including better than a dozen 1st place ribbons!
Below is a slide show of some of the participating riders:
Strides Executive Director Honored as a Judge at the Venezuelan International Paralympic Horse Show
Strides' Executive Director, Nora Fischbach, was invited Venezuela to judge at the International Paralympics and Special Olympics Horse Show in January, 2008. The show was divided into two parts, Special Olympics in the mornings and Para Equestrian in the afternoons. Special Olympics is specifically for riders with mental delays, while Para Equestrian riders must have a physical disability. The 3 day show took place in the city of Valencia in Venezuela. Nora was housed at the Olympic Village along with the disabled athletes participating in the show and their trainers.
Three countries participated in the show, bringing athletes from Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela. Although the United States was not represented in the show, the American flag was displayed along with the others to honor the judge from the USA. Riders were not allowed to bring their own horses, but were required to ride the horses provided by the hosting therapeutic riding center and surrounding equestrian facilities. This provided a level playing field for all riders, as they had equal access to the same quality of horses. The riders and their trainers chose the appropriate horses in advance of the show, and riders had 2 days to practice on those horses before the actual horse show began.
"It was amazing to see the courage these riders displayed", said Nora. "It's scary to ride any horse you don't know, but to see these riders with disabilities ride a horse they don't know in a horse show, in a strange arena and in a strange country is really awe-inspiring!"