VICTORIA ACRES EQUINE

FACILITY, INC. Dedicated to making a difference in our community one individual at a time.

The mission of Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc. is to empower children and adults with or without physical, developmental and mental health challenges through the use of Equine Assisted Activities. Victoria Acres Equine Facility provides programs that offer a complex and exciting means of therapy, which produces tangible physical, psychological, cognitive, social and educational benefits to our clients.

Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

3771 Western Turnpike Altamont, NY 12009

Telephone: (518) 813-8805 Email: info@VictoriaAcresEquineFacility.com Visit our website: www.VictoriaAcresEquineFacility.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc. Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc. offers a unique environment of unconditional support and opportunities for skills building and personal achievement to individuals who face an array of daily challenges, for example: a young adult dealing with mental illness, children challenged by physical disability, a troubled teen who has been moved from foster home to foster home, a student held back by cognitive disabilities, a young lady dealing with self-esteem issues, to our military and many veterans who are being deployed or have returned home and are on their journey to mental wellbeing. For a child with disabilities, often ostracized and frequently bullied, the environment of unconditional acceptance provided at Victoria Acres can have a life altering effect. With our herd of gentle giants, Victoria Acres delivers a service that cannot be replicated in an office or hospital setting. Our programs are designed to foster independence and self-confidence, teach life skills, and provide challenging individualized activities to a population with limited resources. The challenges our participants face can include autism, Down Syndrome, visual, speech and hearing impairments as well as emotional and social behavioral disorders including PTSD.

Testimony: “The staff and volunteers were both knowledgeable and helpful…my son was excited to go each week…He developed a special bond with the horse Barnaby…It gave him such a great feeling of pride and accomplishment…tears were in both my husband’s and my eyes.”

PATH International Therapeutic Riding Program Horse Sense Program

Horses4Heroes - Back in the Saddle

Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc. Path International Therapeutic Riding Program Path was established in 1969 in Virginia as NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association). PATH advocates for equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) and provides standards for safe and ethical equine interaction, through education, communication, standards and support of research for people with and without disabilities. Therapeutic riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional and social wellbeing of people with disabilities. A disability does not have to limit a person from riding horses. Experiencing the motion of a horse can be very therapeutic because horseback riding rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. Why Riding? The benefits of Therapeutic Riding are evident in many areas. Physically, it is the horse’s movement which has a dynamic effect on the rider’s body. The horse stimulates the rider’s pelvis and trunk in a manner that closely resembles the normal gait of a human. This movement can be used to produce specific physical changes in the rider. Sensorially, the movement of the horse can help with a variety of Sensory Integration issues. A smooth-gaited, consistently paced horse can provide needed input to help a rider establish rhythm, etc. A rough-gaited horse may be able to provide a rider with stimulation to help organize and integrate sensory input. Movement exploration while on the horse can help improve overall body awareness. Emotionally, the success of overcoming fear and anxiety can help a rider realize self-worth and increase self-esteem. The ability to achieve a riding skill will also have a positive effect on a rider’s self-perception. Cognitively, the horse provides many riders with the motivation to learn many new things. Educational goals such as letter recognition and sequencing can be incorporated into riding activities. Socially, therapeutic riding enables individuals to interact with their peers in a group activity. Riding and the related activities are both fun and challenging. PATH Certifications and Accreditation Certifications: 3 Levels of riding instructor certifications 2 Levels of driving certifications 1 Level of interactive vaulting Certification This ensures instructors have the skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective services. Accreditation: PATH encourages member centers to strive for the highest level of safety and proficiency.

Who is served by PATH services? Participants of all ages with a range of physical, emotional, behavioral and cognitive challenges. ADD or other Hyperactivity Disorder Amputation At Risk-Youth Autism Cerebral Palsy Developmental Delay Down Syndrome Emotional, Behavioral Difficulties Family Counselling Grief Counselling Learning Disabilities Muscular Dystrophy

Multiple Sclerosis Paralysis Reactive Attachment Disorder Spina Bifida Spinal Cord Injury Strokes Substance Addiction and Abuse Terminal Illness Traumatic Brain Injuries Visual and Auditory Impairment Weight Control Disorders

Benefits of Therapeutic Riding (PATH) ADD/ADHA – taught sequential steps for learning to control the horse and becoming more independent. Autism – improved sensory integration and directed attention. Improves listening behaviors, verbal and

nonverbal communication. Brain Injury – develop skills to help with direction to direct the equine through tasks and skills. Cerebral Palsy – helps improve posture, coordination and balance. Has shown improvement with trunk and

head control. Deafness – improved self-esteem and sense of

independence and empowerment by becoming an independent equestrian.

Down Syndrome – changes in posture control, improvement in gross motor behavior.

Learning Disabilities – learning through visual, auditory and kinesthetic methods while learning to ride. The horse’s response to the aids given by the rider is natural positive reinforcement and helps participant build skills.

Multiple Sclerosis – helps to stay limber and active through hippotheraphy has shown significant improvement in balance.

Spina Bifida – allows someone with limited mobility to experience a greater freedom on the back of a horse.

Spinal Cord Injuries – participating in driving and unmounted activities for those with severe cases. Some can participate in equine assisted therapy riding and helps with trunk control and coping with their injury. After hippotheraphy shown improvements in mental wellbeing.

Visual Impairment – driving and/or vaulting with the use of intercom systems with their instructors, learning to count steps/strides, or auditory markers in the arena helps make them feel independent.

Programs are run by our PATH certified instructor, a PT and/or OT professional, in addition to volunteers who will be side walkers and horse leaders.

Testimony: “the staff and volunteers were extremely responsive to the unique needs of the participants. Emily was especially challenging. She has a form of Autism that is considered “low-functioning” …essentially non-verbal and has a lot of behavioral issues. However, this did not stop the wonderful folks at Victoria Acres from working with her.”

Sessions are conducted with a person who leads the horse and two side walkers who are accompanied by our PATH certified instructor.

3771 Western Turnpike Altamont, NY 12009

Telephone: (518) 813-8805 Email: info@VictoriaAcresEquineFacility.com

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Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc. Horse Sense Program

Equestrian therapy requires the participants to address issues such as communication, trust, honesty, accountability, responsibility, patients, relationships, self-respect, respect for others, self-confidence, anger and social skills. Our unique Horse Sense Program offers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities a program that teaches them:

▪ General Horse Care ▪ Horse Safety ▪ Respect and Responsibility of working with and around horses ▪ Natural Horsemanship ▪ Western or English Riding ▪ Barn and Stable Maintenance

Horses are large and can very intimidating. Interacting with a horse challenges issues of fear and aids in increasing self-confidence. Horses are non-judgmental and teach empathy and patience. Each program is designed to meet the needs of each participant.

Program Specifics A typical Horse Sense program runs for eight (8) weeks and includes three (3) individuals per program session. They meet once a week for two (2) hours. The group will participate in 2 to 3 activities working with the horses, our instructors and volunteers. After participants have learned horse safety, basics of riding and how to handle a horse during the first two weeks, then the riding portion will be added to the lesson plan. Participants are provided with handouts of what they are learning in addition to some arts and crafts projects that are performed during the program. Riding will be done on an individual basis, one participant at a time. Each participant will have a full half-hour of riding per night. We build upon their riding confidence and in many instances participants work their way towards riding independently as they feel comfortable. Who is served by Horse Sense Programs?

• Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. • Individuals dealing with mental illness. • Teens • Military children

We will work with any group to set up and provide a Horse Sense program as needed. We currently work with the Schenectady County ARC and the American Red Cross of Northeastern NY.

Horse Care Safety Respect and Responsibility Natural Horsemanship Riding Barn and Stable Maintenance

Lesson Portion Facilitators Each program consists of two Victoria Acres instructors who teach the various program lessons. Volunteers are also available to assist the instructors and the individual participants as needed. Riding Portion Facilitators The riding portion is facilitated by an Equine Instructor, two volunteers who are side walkers, and at least one volunteer person, who leads the horse.

Benefits of the Horse Sense Program Personal Achievement

Life/Social Skills Building

Independence

Self Confidence/Self Respect

Improved Communication

Testimony: “I am an employee at Vanderheyden…they incorporated so many different variables into their

program. I cannot begin to explain how much this program affected the residents…feeling of accomplishment

was so present in their expressions. The staff…from management down to the volunteers were so caring and

patient. Not only did the participants have passion, but the staff did as well. It was heartwarming to see such

people come together and teach these young adults…It was a chance of a lifetime. The kids not only gained

knowledge of the horses but gained friends as well. I know when they said “stay in touch” they meant it.”

3771 Western Turnpike Altamont, NY 12009

Telephone: (518) 813-8805 Email: info@VictoriaAcresEquineFacility.com

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Victoria Acres Equine Facility, Inc.

Horses4Heroes’ - Back in the Saddle is a Life Skills workshop. The main goal of equine facilitated work is to teach life skills through guided horse interaction. These skills include: Connection, Trust, Self Confidence, Communication, Energy, Respect, Motivation, and Problem Solving. Why Horses? Since the Revolutionary War, the American Military has used horses in battle, to carry soldiers in and take the wounded out, to pull supply wagons and munitions. They were even used on 9/11 and are used in mounted patrols still. Today, however, they are helping fight an even more important battle: the battle on the home front to re-integrate our soldiers into their families, help win the war against PTSD and suicide, comfort grieving families and heal our injured service members. Participants will work with horses in various situations, all “in-hand”, which means horses are guided with a lead rope (not riding!). In the later sessions you may do the exercises “under saddle”. The initial workshop is conducted in four (4) sessions lasting two (2) hours per day each week conducted over a four (4) week period. Those interested in continuing with EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) can sign up for additional workshops. The Back in the Saddle Program is a great beginning program which can transition nicely into an individualized Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Program, should the participant wish to continue. In addition to learning or being introduced to important life skills, you will learn about safe handling of horses which includes the proper way to introduce yourself to a horse, how to halter and lead, groom and saddle.

Activities are taken or adopted from “Equine Assisted Ground Activities and Tools”, produced by Horsework Education and used with their permission. Sessions will be conducted with our Equine Instructor who will be accompanied by a licensed social worker along with volunteers as needed to assist the instructor and helping participants perform the activities and interactions with the horses. The Back in the Saddle program at Victoria Acres will serve five (5) participants in a group session that will run for four (4) weeks, two (2) hours a night.

Horses4Heroe’s four core values emphasize:

Responsibility, Independence, Dedication, and Empathy.

Working with and caring for horses teaches many important life skills and reinforces these core values that horses build character and will guide you to become empathetic, empowered adults. Most importantly they believe that horses teach self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-confidence, and boost your overall self-esteem and convince yourself and others that YES, YOU CAN!

Testimony: “Stephen learned from a very adept Meghan, the horse trainer at Victoria Acres…learned importance of proper posture, including head control…created a sense of confidence and seems to have carried through at home/school as he tended to hold his head down. Stephen has become a more confident person.”

Victoria Acres Equine Facilities “Back in the Saddle” program for the military, veterans and their families is dedicated to the memory of Adan J. Olid, USMC, GWOT.

3771 Western Turnpike Altamont, NY 12009

Telephone: (518) 813-8805 Email: info@VictoriaAcresEquineFacility.com

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