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Beauty Bullies Beretta
At Barktoberfest 2017
Far from a wolf in sheep's clothing, a great dane in a therapy dog bandana didn't scare Beauty at the Barktoberfest event last Thursday. Beauty barely batted an eye at Beretta, the 125 pound sweetheart, though she did tell him off with some nasty ear pinning. Beretta was clearly more curious about Beauty than she was of him. Even the bulldog dressed as a shark and the mummy wrapped lab couldn't hold her interest like the lush grass around the playground. Her job as a therapy horse includes caring less about such oddities.
Barktoberfest was a fantastic showcase of the versatility of the new Sensory Playground and of area businesses which support our local love of animals. The highlight may have been the nearly 20 pets who circled the playground for the pet parade, followed up by Taco in the rear (appropriate to have a donkey in the back, don't you think!).
The photo above was taken by Al J. Marschke, whose other images of the event can be accessed at this link. Barktoberfest was sponsored by the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber, whose facebook page can be accessed here. We sincerely hope the event is hosted at Glade Run again in 2018 and that you'll join us for a fantastic evening of pet friendly fun! |
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Fall Farmer's Markets
Transitions Students head to Passavant
Once again this month, the Transition students and Beauty teamed up to deliver pumpkins, produce and smiles to our neighbors at Passavant Retirement. The sun was shining at their backs as the students headed across the street to practice clear communication skills, making change and customer service through providing recipes and bagging purchases. There is just no substitute for these real world experiences, and we are so glad our world includes a mini pony, mums, and vocational training! Next month, the students will be making small herbal gifts to sell for Christmas- only 56 shopping days left!
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Taco Gets a Smooch
Students Raise Money for Hurricane Victims
Do you remember
placing lost and found change in penny wars jars at school? It's a fun way to raise funds for a worthy cause. Students at St. Stephen's asked for Taco's help in raising funds for the Red Cross' support of hurricane victims
at the start of the month. He was more than happy to oblige and "winners" with the most change in their jars gave Taco a super smooch in front of the whole school! It was an everyone wins event from the $211.49 donated to the Red Cross, and the donkey kisses for winners, to the sense of community for students and the pre-kiss peppermints for Taco!
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Costumed Chickens
Emotional Intelligence Taught Via Poultry and Pumpkins!
Do your insides always match your outsides? It may seem like a strange question, but it's one that we ask our students frequently. Learning how to be in touch with what you are feeling allows you to more effectively communicate these emotions and get your needs met. Animals are always congruent in this way, which makes them easy to be around and easy to help when they need it.
As a part of Ms. Carey's October Emotional Intelligence lesson, students helped the chickens dress for Halloween by fashioning festive hats for the holiday. Ms. Carey says "Mulan" likes the extra adornment much more than the other chickens. She lets her know by eagerly participating and staying still where every other chicken in the flock runs and squirms. It's a good thing Mulan's insides match her outsides since her outsides are now
even more beautiful!
Ms. Joanie, also focusing on Emotional Intelligence in the Horticultural Therapy Program, had students draw their own emotions and the emotions of their friends on small pumpkins and gourds. Students then guessed how their pumpkin selves were feeling and what things might happen to change their moods. What a great way to process both the outside events that affect our mood as well as our internal ability to choose our own mood. And you thought they were just fun halloween decorations!
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October's EAL Amazing Story
In the Spirit of the Season, Equine Assisted Learning Helps Reveal What's Under the Mask
The stories that we see unfold during EAL
groups in Adventures keep us honored to be a part of these amazing experiences. Of course, the horses do most of the work simply by being themselves, which is to say that they respond to what's happening inside a person more than what's happening on the outside. A case in point occurred this week which deepened my understanding of just how intuitive horses really are.
A new participant, who we'll call Sally, came to us as a part of her efforts to recover from alcoholism
. The theme for Sally's group experience was
the "Journey of Challenges", which is a favorite of ours to facilitate because it always elicits something significant for each participant. Obstacles, predetermined by the group
to
represent specific challenges (such as the fear of the unknown, navigating relationships or dealing with past trauma)
are set up in the arena
. Each participant then leads their horse, whom they have chosen to represent their four-legged selves, through the obstacles. This week, the final group member to go through the journey, Sally,
started by saying that she was going to "cheat". When I asked what she meant she explained that she was changing what the bales of hay represented and wanted to turn the third bale from a drug of choice into a reward. So, the first two bales represented beer and liquor, which she obviously wanted to avoid, and the third was supposed to represent 24 hours sober. Sally wanted Hershey to be able to eat that bale. I clarified, "So the first two bales are objects and the third is time?". "Yes", confirmed Sally. She started the journey with Hershey, her four legged self, heading straight for the beer. Sally immediately grabbed some of the "reward" hay and tried to entice Hershey to follow her. Hershey didn't budge, continuing to consume. Sally appeared to be both stuck and frustrated and threatened to "give-up", though she eventually asked for help. A friend came over to help and offered her the halter and lead, which Sally identified as rehab and her support system. With rehab and her support system, Sally was able to navigate the course right up until it was time to go "home" (into the stall) where Hershey again froze. Sally,
again,
tried to entice Hershey go in with the "reward" incentive. I observed out loud that her incentive didn't seem to be working. Sally stopped short and looked straight at me. She asked if we trained the horses to "do this" which, of course, we can't and I wasn't even sure what she meant. She asked for more help from peers. Another friend came over and offered advice that he had learned from his journey, that she had to
really
want Hershey to go into wherever the stall represented, which in Sally's journey, represented home with her family. Sally struggled more as Hershey stood his ground and then, to my surprise, Sally removed the halter and lead and threw it on the ground, trying to force Hershey "home" without it; she grabbed his whole head and pulled. Hershey, outweighing Sally by well over a thousand pounds, took several steps backwards. Sally stopped and said, "This is the story of my life, I try the wrong things and fail". At the urging of her friends, Sally put the "rehab" halter back on Hershey, asked for "professional help" (an equine specialist) and was able to lead Hershey "home" into his stall.
That was an adventure, but what I learned from Sally during the group discussion explained Hershey's unusually noncompliant behaviors. Sally shared that her incentive, what she had told us was her desire to have 24 hrs. sober, was really, in her mind, a stashed bottle of vodka in the garage. She shared that when I observed that her incentive wasn't working that she realized why Hershey wouldn't go in; he knew it was a lie. Sally said that she realized she was just lying to herself. Her two legged self thought it would work, but her four legged self let her know it was another "wrong try".
How did Hershey know Sally wasn't ready to go home? I believe that Sally's insides told him, even when her outsides were lying.
EAL is a program open to any group looking to learn through experiences with horses. Get in touch to learn more and sign up your group for an amazing EAL experience.
We all have so much to learn from listening to what our horses are telling us that we are telling them.
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Our Obedient (to the best of his ability) Pumpkin Pup
Dude starts Obedience Classes
You know it's bad when you are asked to remove your dog from obedience class. Dude started his eight week journey towards obtaining Level 1 obedience certification through the Butler Dog Training Association (
BDTA) this month. It was a rocky start.
So, so, so very excited to see the other dogs, Dude needed to have extra white picket fencing placed around his designated area
by BDTA staff
. Then, he needed a curtain hung to limit his field of vision. Then, when the jumping and barking and flipping and tangling still didn't slow, he was asked to leave the room. Through these environmental changes I was reminded of how similar our classrooms operate for our children with an inability to control their own behaviors. I was instructed to provide Dude with a calm reassuring voice, to rub his ears with slow deep pressure and to provide appropriate licking and chewing activities as distractions. Of course, the ear rubbing might be substituted with a reassuring hand on the back and the licking and chewing activities may be substituted for other distractions such as coloring or playing with fidget toys, but the concepts are identical. Even time away in another room would be the same as helping students who need a walk or a calm space to breathe. Most importantly, the focus in either case is on understanding actions, supporting needs and praising positive behaviors. There may be those who feel affronted by the comparison between dog training and helping children to learn, but it was pretty clear to me, understanding and support is the same for those with either four legs or two.
I'm happy to report that class #2 went much better, as I had learned how to better support Dude. We showed up early to meet dogs in the grassy play area, I brought more tasty chewys, I invested in a more accessible treat bag that I had strapped to my hip, and I tied a lavender scented bandanna around his neck. My take away, I didn't have a dog with behavior problems, I was an owner who needed to learn how to best support my highly energetic, social, and super smart therapy pup in training. We can't wait to show you our certificate!
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You Can Make the Difference!
Do you need to feel wanted and appreciated even more than you already are? Maybe you are looking for a family activity to teach your children about the value of volunteering? Do you love animals or gardening? Do you have a work group looking for a volunteer project? If you answered yes to any of these questions, volunteering at Glade Run Adventures may be the just the thing for you! We are in particular need of volunteers to care for the animals through feedings and to assist in therapeutic riding lessons as side aids and leaders. If you'd like more information on volunteering, contact Carrie Moll at (724) 452-4453 ext. 1249 or
CMoll@gladerun. We can't wait to see you here!
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Annual Poinsettia Sale Dates are Set
Don't hate us for trying to be prepared. We know that Thanksgiving is the next holiday on the agenda, but while you are enjoying your turkey and family get togethers, perhaps you'd like to avoid the stress of holiday shopping by passing the Poinsettia Sale flyer around the table. Let Aunt Sue pick her own favorite color and knock out the gifts needed for teachers, coworkers and neighbors, all while enjoying that extra slice of pumpkin pie. You'd deserve it if you made the super smart choice to reduce your holiday stress while supporting an awesome program!
Orders will be due by Friday, December 1st for pick up after Monday, December 11th. Keep an eye out for the order form and for more information on our
website and contact
JWahlenmayer@gladerun.org with questions.
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