An Afternoon at Pleasant Heights Farm
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 21, Number 13 Thursday, April 7, 2005 An Afternoon at Pleasant Heights Farm by Paula McHugh Take 100 rolling in charge of showing acres in the quiet the others how to countryside of LaPorte groom the horses and County and add a how to apply the tack. class of urban youth “I’m doing this whose familiar land- because I’m willing scape is concrete and to learn. And I like steel. Add some gen- riding a lot,” Ra’ tle horses along with Shawn said. trainer Laurie Reese. With Ra’Shawn Watch the amazing and Laurie guiding progress of under- them, each student privileged teens as would be learning they learn skills and how to clean a horse’s life lessons they might shoes, how to keep likely never have been the stall clean, how to exposed to before. brush, apply the bri- Welcome to dle and harness, and Pleasant Heights how to properly sad- Farm, where the facil- dle up one of three ity’s activities include Pleasant Heights Farm sits upon 100 rolling acres of serene countryside. horses before lead- more than clients ing it into the ring boarding their horses or participating in equestrian for riding lessons. For Alvie and Marquell, it would lessons and shows. Facility trainer/manager Laurie be their first time on a horse. Reese and staff, partnering with the Department of Marquell admitted that he was just “a little bit ner- Workforce Development in Gary, have been spon- vous” about getting up on the horse. The Gary- soring an 18-session educational program for inner- Roosevelt student watched with studied concentra- city teens for the past two years. The half classroom, tion while Ra’Shawn demonstrated the art of attaching half equine program tutors these teens-at-risk to the harness. Gary-West Side students Asia and Alvie improve reading skills, solve problems and resolve con- took turns adjusting the bridle and saddle straps. flicts, take and carry out instructions, and master a Pleasant Heights Farm Continued on Page 2 number of assorted job readiness skills. Once a teen completes the program and is awarded a Certificate of Achievement, he or she becomes eligible for 3-day- a-week paid employment at Pleasant Heights. On a recent Saturday, The Beacher visited an after- noon session with Laurie and five of her class of cur- rent students: Ra’Shawn, Asia, Ashley, Alvie and Marquell. The students already had completed their morning classroom session and were in the midst of a hands-on experience with their assigned horses. Ra’shawn, a graduate of last year’s pilot program, was THE Page 2 April 7, 2005 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $28 6 months $16 3 months $10 1 month $5 Pleasant Heights Farm Continued from Page 1 Calumet high school student Ashley showed con- fidence that she could follow what Ra’Shawn had demonstrated. All of the students had completed a classroom pre- proficiency exam to prepare them for the hands-on ses- sions. Laurie had the students practice how to make a loose knot for securing a horse, and she quizzed them about the names of grooming utensils. Just after Ashley and Asia are ready to ride. Facility trainer/manager Laurie Reese and staff, partnering with the Department of Workforce Development in Gary, has been sponsoring an 18-session educational program for inner-city teens for the past two years Ra’Shawn, who earned his certificate of achievement in the equine pro- gram during Alvie and Marquell pose before entering the ring. Both said they were a last year’s pilot wee bit nervous about getting up on a horse, a new experience for them. program, now helps teach the new students in Alvie and Marquell finished their tasks, their horse the program. Ra’Shawn likes gave them an unwelcome new assignment requiring wearing his shovels, if you know what we mean. own “cool” “Keeping the stable clean is part of the process,” safety head- gear, rather Laurie reminded them. And the two teens carried out than the the task without complaint. By this time, the students helmets had become well-acquainted with the horses they provided. would be riding, and any anxiety the teens may have had at least lessened. “Get the students comfortable with the horse on the ground, and they will be comfortable when they are THE April 7, 2005 Page 3 Open ‘til 6 p.m. Evenings www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the Fashion Conscious Woman [email protected] Women’s Apparel March Madness Buy One Piece, Laurie stands by to make sure that Ra’Shawn keeps the straps straight. Get Second Piece 1/2 Price Ra’Shawn demonstrates the proper way to bridle the horse. (Of Equal or Lesser Value) Finely ribbed tropical weight sweater in Pendleton's refined new knit that combines sleekness and body. Fully fashioned. Three-quarter sleeve cardigan has placed floral design that is printed, embroidered and accented with beadwork and organza overlays. 63% Rayon/37% Nylon. 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Leading 409409 Alexander StreetStreet, LaPorte, IN 326-8602 the way, Ra’Shawn reminded Alvie and Asia to heed On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway protocol by saying “coming in” before entering the ring. TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander Monday-FridayMonday - Friday10 am 9:30to 6 pmto 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to5 5 pm Pleasant Heights Farm Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 April 7, 2005 Asia may look nervous here, Ra’Shawn finds “Boomer” a little stubborn this particular day. Boomer wants to stop rather than be walked. But Ra’Shawn has the most experience of the five. The equine and classroom lessons teach students to have confidence in themselves, and Ra’Shawn knows how to handle the situation. but once she is in the saddle she is all smiles. Students walk their horses around the barn before they ride. Asia will be While three students practiced guiding their hors- riding for only the second time since the program began. “Get the es within a narrow “box”, the others returned to the students comfortable with the horse on the ground, and they will be stable area to learn lessons about stable management. comfortable when they are on the horse,” Laurie said. “They learn (among other things) how to take a horse’s Pleasant Heights Farm Continued from Page 3 temperature, for example,” Laurie explained, adding One at a time, Laurie helped Ra’Shawn, Asia, and that the teens are not thrilled when they find out how Alvie to mount their horses after each had walked his it’s done. The curriculum, however, is quite extensive. horse around the perimeter of the barn. While “Another part of their stable management lessons Ra’Shawn already had a year’s worth of riding prac- is learning what other kinds of industries are relat- tice, Asia had only one other lesson, and Alvie, like ed to the horse industry,” Laurie said. They learn about Marquell, was experiencing his first riding lesson. With the veterinarians and medicines, feed sources, sports Laurie and assistant Doreen Francis watching close- massage, tack equipment, and much more. ly, the students guided their horses around the ring. Laurie gave us a look at the equine pre-proficien- “Toes up, heels down,” Laurie instructed Alvie. “If cy exam that the students must master before they you dig you legs into the horse, he will think you want receive their certificates. For example, they must be to trot.” Alvie got the message, and kept smiling as able to name four methods of administering medicine his horse slowed once again. The students were to a horse; know what percentage of water makes up reminded to “use their brains and their legs to make a horse’s weight; know how a horse’s hydration level the horse go one way or the other” through the “box” is tested; know how many teeth a male and a female exercise. All performed well, and were instructed to horse have, and how much hay an adult horse should continue riding the perimeter of the ring while prac- consume daily. And that is just a sampling of the ticing up/down leg movements–or, as Laurie put it, 24-question exam.