SPEED DATING WITH COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 10, 2019

2019 DRIVING SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Tina Bennett: Progression for our Drivers (Level 1-5) Jen Donahue: At-Risk Youth Lauren Fitzgerald : Seniors CHAIR: Major George Paffendorf: Working with Veterans Anita Sepko: Drill Team Michelle LaFleur : Training your horse to Drive Teresa : Ground Driving

Progression for our Drivers (Level 1-5) Tina Bennett Level 2 Level 1 Approach the horse and prepare to mount safely and confidently Approach the horse and prepare to mount safely and confidently • Hold properly • Know basic Driving position at halt and walk • Be able to enter and exit correctly in a manner designated by the instructor and/or physical therapist

Be able to make horse (with minimum amount of assistance from ABW) Be able to make horse (with minimum amount of assistance from ABW) • Halt, Walk on, Turn and Reverse • Show improvement in his or her basic driving position at the halt & walk Exercises (at Halt) • Be able to increase the pace of the walk • Arm overhead, • Halt, Walk on, circle, Turn and Reverse • Arm out to side, • Drive a slow trot the width of the arena • Arm circles forward/backward, • Hands on hips, knees, shoulders, Exercises (at Walk) • Toes up, Toes down, • Twist to right and left • Arm overhead, Arm out to side, Arm circles forward/backward, Hands on hips, knees, shoulders, Toes up, Toes down,

Horse and Management: Horse and Stable Management: • Groom horse (curry, brush, hoof pick) • Put on in stall (with assistance) Identify & know what they are used for: Identify & know what they are used for: • Reins, Breast Collar, Traces • , , curry, brush, hoof pick Identify the following pieces of stable equipment: Identify parts of horse: • Feed bucket, water bucket, broom, shovel, pitchfork, wheelbarrow • ears, nose, mane, tail, legs, back Recognize the following areas of the stable: • Arena, Tack room, Wash rack, Box stall, Hay area Know safety precautions to be used around horses • When entering stall and haltering horse Know safety precautions to be used around horses • Assist with putting on harness • When grooming the horse • Assist with putting to (cart) • Assist with unhitching

Progression for our Drivers (Level 1-5) Level 3 Tina Bennett Select own helmet & put on Approach the horse and prepare to mount safely and confidently Level 4

Demonstrate continued improvement: Select own helmet & put on Driving positions Approach the horse and prepare to mount safely and confidently Driving skills • Demonstrate continued improvement in driving position and balance Complete a 3 part obstacle course • Complete a 5 part obstacle course

Be able to guide horse (with minimum amount of assistance from ABW) Be able to guide horse (with minimum amount of assistance from ABW) • Through Dressage pattern, • Able to perform Figure eight, circles, and serpentine • Emphasis on proper feet position and quiet hands • Practice safety rules of driving in the arena with regard to other drivers at all times without being reminded to do so Exercises (without assistance from ABW) • Be able to make the horse move backwards three to five steps • Elementary exercises to be performed at the walk. • Advanced exercises to be performed at the halt. Exercises (to be performed at the walk) • Be able to perform all exercises approved for the individual driver by Horse and Stable Management: the physical therapist with the horse controlled by a ABW

Identify & know what they are used for: Horse and Stable Management: • , , , Overgirth, Holdback Identify & know what they are used for: Identify parts of horse: • Throat latch, , Tugs, Saddle , Traces • Crest, Shoulders, Hip, Hoof, Identify parts of horse: Know safety precautions to be used around horses • Poll, Withers, Croup, Back, Hock and Knee • Enter stall and halter horse Be able to distinguish three gaits of the horse • Know the proper way to a horse from the stable area to the arena. • Walk, Trot, Working Trot,

• Know how to tie the horse’s lead shank to the fence Know safety precautions to be used around horses • Put on 3 pieces of harness (no assistance) • Put on 4 pieces of harness (no assistance) • Assist in putting to and unhitching • Put to and unhitch with minimum assistance

Progression for our Drivers (Level 1-5) Tina Bennett Level 5 Be able to guide horse (with no assistance from ABW) • Drive a slow and working trot with good position and balance. • Be able to guide the horse through dressage pattern using poles or other markers at a trot with no assistance in guiding. • Participate in games at a trot. • Perform more difficult driving school movements at a walk. • Demonstrate an independent seat at a walk, slow and working trot, with good transitions. • Change diagonals when trotting

Exercises (to be performed at the walk & trot) • All basic exercises approved for the individual driver by the physical therapist with the horse controlled by ABW.

Horse and Stable Management: • Know how to enter a stall and put halter on horse • Know how to groom a horse properly. • Know how to harness and unharness a horse. • Know how to put to and unhitch • Identify & learn to clean a stall and stable. Any question contact: Tina Bennett • Identify & learn how to feed and water a horse. • Identify & learn how to cool out and blanket a horse. at : [email protected] • Identify & learn how to clean and care for tack. • Recognize a loose or poorly fitted .

Therapeutic Driving: Using EAL focus Programing for participants in the At-Risk Populations

• Jen Donahue MST , PATH Intl. Advanced Riding Instructor, Driving Level III Instructor, Mentor, ESMHL Therapeutic Driving EAL Supporting Participants At- Risk

• Builds self-confidence • Develops functional skills • Improve socialization • Improves life skills • Vocational Exploration • Aids in Finding Self-Centered Focus • Develops foundation for Relationships • Creates Systems for self- empowerment EAL DRIVING & Individuals at-Risk Goals

 Individual and Group Success

 Equine Connecting

 Basic Horsemanship skills

 Self-reliance

 Trust based system

 Improved Social skills

Equine Assisted Learning & Driving encourages Socialization  Develops self awareness in emotional communication due to the equine sensitivity to energy in both positive and negative feedback of non-verbal communication  Increase environmental awareness and interactive skills  Those at-risk are often lonely and seek out any attention  Driving requires good communication skills with both humans and equines  TEAM structure for driving supports positive social structure

8 Therapeutic Driving The at-Risk Population AND THE path Intl. Center

 Provides a safe, effective, and fun environment for learning  Provides learning in the Equine workplace by credentialed staff  Connecting with the horse Improves motivation to start and complete a task

 Provides opportunities for ownership of accomplishments by tracking outcomes  Team approach to reaching goals and completing learning objectives  Provides opportunity to develop horse/human bond

Expanded Participation Benefits Psycho-social Psycho-educational Goals

Expands esteem and self- discipline Influences daily living skills Increased positive socialization & participation at work, school, and home

ADD on Positive Benefits through Driving  Improves posture Balance, muscle control & strength Provides cardiovascular benefits

 Teaches empathy and responsibility  Human Animal Bonding

The power of Equine CONNECTING Equine Connecting- HOW IT WORKS

• Helps participants understand how non-verbal communication can impact others

• Teaches participants to be aware by being observant and present in our bodies

• Offers participants positive learning experiences that supports self-growth and self-awareness

• Provides a powerful human- animal bond

THE HUMAN ANIMAL BOND hands on

Therapeutic Driving and Equine Assisted Learning: AT RISK

 Grooming, Leading training, and Herd Observation

 Equine Connecting: TEAM Grooming horses encourages interaction with a living animal, develops relationship, supports life skills training

 Leading Training provides the foundations for relationship building on the ground between Participant and Equine which transitions into the driving experience

 Herd Observation provides the opportunity for the development of understanding personal space and body language-Human & Equine

It is Fun! Class Format Day / Semester / School Year

Equine Connecting Groundwork Ground Driving Equine Language Haltering Board/ Team development Herd observation Leading Team building with Develop Observation Grooming harness prep skills Moving horses in and out of Challenge ground driving Equine Non- Verbal stall patterns (Increase Communication complexity as skills Navigating horse to cross progress Human Non-Verbal ties Communication Skills test for Harnessing/Harness Reinsmanship History of and Human Navigating harnessed horse relationships Skills Test for Team to arena performance

Class Format Day / Semester / School Year cont.

Driving Driving Vehicles Driving Team Terminology Therapeutic Driving Credentialed Driving Team building with Vehicles Instructor grooming tools Competition Vehicles AB Team building with Header harness and harness Marathon Vehicles parts Spotter Pleasure Vehicles Team building with Equine Non- Verbal Ground Volunteers putting to Communication Participant/s Team development with driving cones course History of Equine and Driving Equine Human relationships In Team development with Harnessing/Harness Team Driving dressage pattern

20 Empowerment: Providing the tools to succeed

Skill mastery 

Accomplishment 

Confidence 

Self-esteem 

Future Challenges

Driving TEAM for EAL Programing

• PATH Intl. Credentialed Driving • Agency Representatives trained Staff with all paperwork signed and • PATH Intl. Center approved approved driving horses • Participants with all paperwork • PATH Intl. Center trained driving signed and approved Volunteers • Agency Support staff with all • PATH Intl. Center trained driving paperwork signed and approved Interns THANK YOU for your time!!!

“The horse is the real teacher and therapist. We humans merely facilitate the process.”

- Margaret, Equest Parent Driving for Older Participants Lauren Fitzgerald Why Driving?

• Change in physical abilities • Change in cognitive abilities • Limited mobility • Delayed processing time • Decreased strength • Increased confusion • Decreased endurance • Decreased retention • Limited range-of-motion • Delayed reaction time • Decreased motor function

Benefits of Driving

• Encourage independence • Encourages building a relationship with the horse • Encourages building relationships with volunteers • Positive recreational experience • Allows for access to areas that are typically restricted due to mobility issues • Provides a topic of discussion for caregivers and family members • Can help individual recall instances from other parts of their life

Type of Horse Needed

• Patient horse who stands for prolonged periods of time • Smooth gaits • Interacts with people • Responds to gentle aids/soft voice

Considerations for /Vehicle

• Smooth ride (driving surface, wheels, type of carriage) • Good suspension • Easy entry/exit • Soft/well padded seats • Sufficient back support • Easy to see

Volunteer Considerations

• Audible • Consistent attendance to facilitate familiarity • Strong to provide sufficient physical support • Patient • Additional volunteers may b needed as spotters or to help participants enter/exit the vehicle. • Wear name badges to help with challenges with information recall

Psychological Benefits

• Increased memory • Practices sequencing • Repetitive activities • Prevents isolation • Increases socialization • Can spark memories for previous life experiences Questions?? Contact: Lauren Fitzgerald [email protected] Working with Veterans Major George Paffendorf

• Veterans have unparalleled team and leadership experience and expectations for training

General Tips

• Start the enrollment and medical clearance process as early as possible • Schedule an initial interview • Give Veterans a tour of the facility and have them meet the horses • Go over the rules, very early on • Have a Veteran on staff or as a Volunteer

Volunteers

• Use experienced Volunteers • Provide Specialty Training; use PATH, Intl resources • Recognize essential role of Volunteer • Explain possible triggers • Explain the importance of confidentiality Lesson Planning and Instruction

• Develop a realistic curriculum and use detailed Lesson Plans • Build a sound foundation • Show progression • Use Task Analysis • Train to an objective standard, not timed • Teach to all learning modalities

Veterans

• Be consistent in all that you do • Give clear concise directions • Review each lesson beforehand and review/debrief afterward • Ask Veterans and Volunteers for feedback • Always send out reminders and follow up • Allow time for socialization

Have Fun!! Drill Team Anita Sepko Looking for a new activity for Your driving students? Why not consider having them work together On a driven drill routine? Just drill work helps riding students with sequencing, memory and precision, it also helps your driving students. And as an added bonus, It is fun! Drill Team Anita Sepko

1) Select appropriate music. 2) Choreography is usually the most difficult part 3) Train your turnouts to drive closely to each other 4) Costumes are a fun addition

Training a Horse to Drive Michelle LaFleur

Because we are not already crazy enough riding them For the love of all that is good, and to protect your sanity:

Hire a Professional!!!!!! ! But if you insist on DIY: STEP 1……..desensitize, desensitize, desensitize!!!! Step 2: Teach them to stand………a lot!!! Step 3: Long-lining and Ground Driving for hours

-Everywhere you can take them. Especially outside the arena. -First with support at head; then alone Step 4: Now comes the fun parts

Add “Weight”

Shaft intro In conclusion……seriously, we’ve only just begun

• You can not spend enough time with the basics.

• Can’t give you a time line

• So much depends on horse’s temperament

• How much daily time do you have to spend

• What is your expertise

▪ Did I mention working with a professional??????

▪ Be Safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Discovering the Benefits of Ground Driving Ground Driving  Ground Drive as a lesson

Lesson Ground Driving vs Long Lining

Teresa Bron

Ground driving benefits for participants

• Great exercise for participant • Learn to ‘plan your route’ cognitive skills can be developed • Develop a ‘feel’ for the horses mouth through the lines • Visually watching the horses movement and gait • Another way to incorporate games, drive through obstacles, maneuver through cones….use your imagination.

• Ground Driving vs Long Lining • Arena school figures Skill • Developing inside rein/outside rein development • Direct rein for • Changing rein Participants • Contact to the bit • Horsemanship • Ground driving and Long Lining can be easily worked into a program lesson plan, it can be utilized with almost any horse that has been trained for it, and can possibly help avoid burnout for the horses and participants. • and long lines are not expensive, but they must fit the horse so if you have several horses with big size differences you may need a couple different sizes. • For safety sake the lesson should be private (one in the arena at a time) and volunteers are still very necessary. I utilize a horse leader, and often one spotter, and I love to have an ABW help me as well. • Keep in mind the participants disability and how long they are able to walk, what your footing is like (too deep=difficult to walk in). Take care not to overdo it!

Thank you! Drive on!

For more information or if you have questions contact me at

Teresa @thefriesianwell.com