Sneaky Petes News

L a Da w n T h e ra p e u t ic R i d i n g C e n te r

Summer 2011

Inside this Issue

Cost of our Program 2 Maintaining our Horses Showing off About Bob
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Horse in Focus: Shakona

Shakona is an American Mustang. She was foaled in 1989 and gathered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) off the Black Rock Range East in Nevada and introduced to captivity in February 17, 1992. She was originally adopted out of Decorah, Iowa before finding her forever home at LaDawn on March 14th, 2004! One of the ways you can identify Shakona as a mustang is by the white freeze brand on the left side of her neck (under her mane). The BLM freeze brands all captured mustangs with symbols that show that she is from the United States, the year she was born, and a 6 symbol registration number. Domestication has been challenging for Shakona as she has many food and environmental allergies. Her grain is mixed by hand twice a day and includes oats, beet pulp, rice bran, olive oil and a special blend of herbs. Additionally, she can only eat oat hay which is not available locally. Our most recent shipment was imported from Wisconsin at a price of $250.00 per 900 pound bale. Adrieanne Johnson of Johnson Ridge Farm Herbs, an animal herbalist treats Shakona with an individually designed herbal blend made from various organic and locally grown herbs to reduce inflammation that occurs in response to her allergies. Those challenges aside Shakona is an extremely talented therapy horse. She is strong, patient, loving and has the uncanny ability to predict seizure activity in her riderbefore visible signs are apparent. When she senses something amiss she comes to a soft stop and waits for the rider to get assistance and wont move until she is directed to do so by her handler. Shakonas many talents have also been recognized in the show ring, She was named a Mousam Saddle and Harness Club Top Ten Horse in 2010.

Making a Difference 3 Events and Fundraisers About LaDawn TRC

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About Us
LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to offering the local community the opportunity to engage in a program that offers therapeutic horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities. The benefits of therapeutic riding are now being recognized as more than a recreational activity. The therapeutic intervention offered at LaDawn positively impacts the quality of life for those with cognitive, behavioral, social, emotional, and physical impairments. We have a 100% handicapped accessible facility which includes a wheelchair accessible ramp for the students to get on the horse during a session. LaDawn is operated by volunteers and its income goes directly to support therapeutic lesson students and the therapy horses needed to run our program.

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Summer 2011

Cost of the Program

The average student sessions for one year costs $1,820.00 which includes one weekly one hour session for an entire year. This amounts to $35.00 per lesson far below the average charged by other therapeutic riding centers in the area. Many of our clients are unable to spend more than the $150.00.

Cost of Maintaining Our Staff of Therapy Horses

LaDawn has a staff of six horses working in the program. Each horse costs $7,950.00 to maintain for a year. These equine superstars make our program possible. We are currently searching for partial or full sponsors for our therapy horses. Partial sponsorships start at $1,200.00 per year. If you know of a school group, co-worker group or individual that is interested in sponsoring one of the team please contact Donna Lariviere at 499-0080 or by email at ladawn2@myfairpoint.net. Each sponsor gets a plaque on their horses stall, liberal visitation, pictures and email updates on their sponsoree.

If you would like to receive our newsletter via email, please send an email to us at ladawn@myfairpoint.net and put e-newsletter in the subject line. Well get you started right away!

Were on the Web www. LaDawnTherapeuticRidingCenter.org

Coming Soon
Follow your favorite therapy horse on Facebook. Beginning in August Zippy, Shakona, Pete, Sassy, Dan and JT will have their own facebook page with updates on their sponsors, successes and maybe an opinion or two. Sensory Trail: Our Executive Director, Donna Lariviere, has begun the process of designing a sensory trail on the LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center property. A sensory trail is a wonderful and challenging outdoor experience for all riders. In addition to the sensory stimulation provided by the outdoor environment the trail will provide additional tactile, visual and auditory input via changes in the grade of the trail, water and wildlife features and interactive stations that could include reaching for and ringing a bell, hula hoop toss, and checking the mail box. All from the back of a horse! Planning and fundraising will begin shortly. We will keep everyone posted on the progress of this terrific project. Sincerely Yours, Donna Lariviere LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center 207-499-0080

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Showing off
Our amazing horses and students have been out and about. Zippy, Shakona, Dan, Sassy and even JT have all been to horse shows this year at Mousam Saddle and Harness Club. Each horse has won at least one first! (Except JT who is still in training and only going to shows for visits.)

Theres Something About Bob!

Jennie Possion and Michele Sayward hanging out with JT.

This month we have received generous donations from Bobs Clam Hut in Kittery and Bobs Discount Furniture. Bobs Clam Hut made a $250.00 donation to go toward funding our scholarship program. On August 5th LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center received a check from Bobs Discount Furniture at an event held at the South Portland Store. Zippy and Baby Gem were present to accept the donation and spread a little goodwill. The $1,000.00 donation from Bobs Discount Furniture has been applied toward the cost of the new lift were buying to assist special needs clients with mounting and dismounting. During the check presentation gathering on August 5 th Bobs Discount Furniture Director of Public Relation, Cathy Poulin (the blonde woman in the Bobs commercials) spontaneously decided to sponsor Zippy for a year! What a phenomenal act of kindness and generosity! Please help us thank these wonderful sponsors by visiting and supporting their businesses.

Together We Can Make a Difference

Im sure many of you have seen the water bottle in the viewing room, that used to collect spare change to help pay for Shakonas medical expenses. Over the course of 12 months all those pennies, nickels and dimes added up to $1,362.57!! LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center is grateful to everyone who donated their change to help Shakona..

Events and Fundraisers

Starting in August, we are recycling returnable bottles and cans through the Hannaford Community Cash Program powered by CLYNK. If you are interested in donating your returnables to LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center just pick up a green CLYNK bag, with our pre-printed bar code sticker, the next time youre at the barn. Once your bag is full you can return it directly to Hannaford or, if thats not convenient, bring it back to the barn and well take care of the rest! In September we will be having another Yankee Candle Fundraiser with candle delivery in time for the holidays. As you know these high quality products are welcome gifts at any time of year. Catalogs and order sheets will be available in the viewing room after September 1 st for yourself and to share with family and friends. Sunday, September 25th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm LaDawns will be hosting a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ to celebrate our volunteers and their efforts for our program!

L a D a w n Th er a p eut i c R i d i ng Ce nt er
Contact Information Donna Lariviere Physical Address 995 Goodwin's Mills Road Dayton, ME Mailing Address LaDawn Quarter Horses Therapeutic Riding Center P.O. BOX 558 West Kennebunk, ME. 04094 Phone Number (207) 499-0080 Fax Number (207) 499-2597 E-Mail Address ladawn2@myfairpoint.net LaDawn is on Facebook. Please become a friend and check out our latest photos and posts.

Were on the Web www. ladawntherapeuticridingcenter.com

Our mission To serve Maines population with disabilities by fostering horse and human interaction through therapy that will improve our patients physical, mental and emotional lives. Our vision To provide Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Horseback Riding to ALL York County people in need, regardless of their affliction or financial/insurance status. Our program Since 2002, LaDawn Therapeutic Riding Center has provided equine assisted therapy that has helped hundreds of patients better cope with their emotions, relationships, and physical environments. Overseen by a Maine-licensed Occupational Therapist & Licensed Therapeutic Riding Instructor, our indoor and outdoor arena program applies goal achievement timelines that are geared toward reaching each patients maximum potential. The additional coaching that we provide to parents, caregivers, and/or support structure staff seeks to facilitate and further the use of new skills, which in turn improves the quality of life for not only our patients, but also for their families, their clinical workers, and their peers.

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

LaDawn TRC Board is looking for a highly motivated and energetic volunteer to help identify and develop corporate and individual funding opportunities. Please contact us for more information about this special volunteer position.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Whether you are interested in a hands-on, experience with the horses, have data entry, newsletter or cleaning skills to share, or are interested in working with our therapy students, we have a volunteer job that will fit your schedule and interests. Please contact the barn at 499-0080. Every little bit helps us to better care for our students and horses! A resounding THANK YOU! to everyone who lends a hand a LaDawn! (You know who you are.) Without the support of our volunteers, parents and families we would be lost. To each of you who gives from the heart to make LaDawn TRC a program of excellence, Thank you. Your efforts are seen and appreciated.

We on the Board of LaDawns TRC are interested in your ideas and feedback. Please feel free to contact us at the email addresses below: Crystal Lariviere, President: beausfaith@me.com Kelly Canning, Vice President: kcconverters@gmail.com Heidi Piknick, Treasurer: piknih@mmc.org Kim Sayward, Secretary: kmsayward@yahoo.com Mike Campbell: mike@kasprzakinsurance.com Newsletter Staff: Donna Lariviere, Janet Goba, Monique Downs

THE OUTSIDE OF A HORSE IS GOOD FOR THE INSIDE OF A PERSON