#equineassistedtherapy

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July 18th 2020: Shane and I are back in action after 4 months off because of COVID!Riding again felt amazing! It was a pretty great ride all things considered! I’ve lost some of my core and I started leaning back in the saddle because of fatigue again. I’m a little frustrated because of it but I know I’m going to work back up to where I was. We just focused on transitioning from walk to halt and getting him to walk with intention, and then went on a short trail ride around property. Shane was a good boy even though getting him to walk on in the heat took a lot of my energy. I’m really proud of Shaners for listening so well and I gave him lots of pats. ♥️😊🐴. . #horse #horses #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #paradressagerider #therapeuticriding #equineassistedtherapy #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #usef #adultamateur #adultammy #teamcaf #grade1paraequestrian #shane #goodboy #americanpainthorse #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #workinghard #chasingdreams #strongereveryday #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally #breakingbarriers (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCyoihiHblr/?igshid=1fm09ngu9jfrs

[macdonaldforge]

Healing Horses: This is Sam. I am Sam's Human. #blacksmith #healing #ptsd #equineassistedtherapy #emdr #sensorimotorpsychotherapy #internalfamilysystems #complimentarymedicine #survivors #artist #psychotherapist #parellinaturalhorsemanship #naturallifemanship #metoo #relationship #respect #horses #bravehearts #neverstoplearning #maker (at Gerton Helipad)

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March 3rd, 2021: “My goal with the horse is not to beat someone; it’s to win within myself. To do the best job I can do and then tomorrow try to do better.” - Ray Hunt . Cappy and I had a fantastic lesson today! My body felt amazing and I am settling into the proper seat faster and feel much more relaxed when riding in general. I always grew up watching riders with the most perfect elastic flowing movement, following their horse. My body is finally starting to do this too and it’s amazing to see. I never thought I would be able to achieve this because of my disability. I also got to practice using the reins with Cappy again today and I’m getting better with it all the time! Cappy was such a good boy and I’m so proud of both of us today! 😊🇺🇸❤️🐴. . In other fun news Cappy and I are going to be entering in the @littlebit_trc Spring 2021 Virtual Dressage show! I’m really looking forward to it and this is going to be a great stepping stone while Shane and I continue to perfect FEI Novice Test A together. I also hope to re-enter in the USEF virtual judging program later this year! . March is #cpawarenessmonth and I wanted to take a moment to express how much horses have changed my life as at first a late adolescent and now a young adult living with Cerebral Palsy. This disability is prominently characterized by an inability to relax the muscles due to high tone as a result brain damage. Horses have drastically improved the way my body functions and have allowed me to feel more comfortable in it. I remember before I started riding I would spend some days feeling like my body was completely locked and tense. The natural input from the horses movement is an instant muscle relaxer. This is one of many reasons why #equineassistedtherapy is so important for people with disabilities. I will speak more on other benefits horses have provided me in later posts this month. If you made it this far in the post, thank you, I appreciate you ❤️ I hope you are doing well and I’m sending hugs. . #cpawareness #cpawarenessmonth #cpstrong #cpwarrior #progressnotperfection #jointhejoy #enjoythejourney #trusttheprocess #explorepage #photooftheday #horses #horse #equestrian (at Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL-RIChnjkv/?igshid=191citw65o7wl

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Oct 10th 2020: Griffin did a great job practicing the dressage test I’ve been working on today. Mrs Edie said he licked and chewed every time we halted on centerline which I think is just adorable. I didn’t get any video of us riding the test but there’s a short video me taking him back to the ramp to dismount. This was only my second time riding him and I’m so happy with how we are working together! I still have some things to work on with my seat and hands but I feel like I’m getting better all the time 😊❤️🐴 . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equne #equines #equestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #therapeuticriding #equineassistedtherapy #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #griffin #quarterhorsecross #goodboy #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #strongereveryday #strongertogether #aspiringparalympian #cp #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGK9KnUHHqX/?igshid=150ovk8zesouj

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November 13th 2020: Last Friday Shane and I began practicing Novice Test A which we will film for the USEF/USPEA virtual judging program! Ashley had the leader stay clipped on so that he could help me keep Shane moving while i was focused on learning the test for the first time. Shaners tried his heart out like always and I’m proud of him and myself for a good first run through. If we keep going I’m sure we will get a great score! 😊♥️🐴🇺🇸 . #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #dressagetest #dressageteam #horses #horsesofinstagram #equineassistedtherapy #therapeuticriding #thefutureisbright #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #shane #americanpainthorse #goodboy #usef #adultamateur #adultammy #teamcaf #oyes #oyesequestrian #kerritseq #myariat #troxelhelmets #cp #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHtZcisHFQV/?igshid=169yfhhlyrby1

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Sept 26, 2020: I had lots of exciting things happen today! My friend Alyssa, @alcequine, is visiting Florida and she came to watch my lesson! She’s a Grade 3 para rider and amputee who is currently leasing an Arabian named Andy. He’s super cute and they look so good together! I hope you had fun Alyssa, it was great having you! We should definitely catch up more! Also, I got to ride a new pony today! His name is Griffin and he loves to go! He was a little hunter boy before coming to Quantum 😊I had such an easy time riding him and he was happy and ready to go the whole time! I did a simple dressage test with him and he did great! Can’t wait to try him out again! Good boy buddy! . #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #paradressage #dressage #paradressagerider #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #equineassistedtherapy #griffin #goodboy #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #friends #friend #friendship #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #chasingdreams #strongereveryday #breakingbarriers #disabledbutnotreally #cp #cerebralpalsy #aspiringparalympian https://www.instagram.com/p/CFm1sBkHsU-/?igshid=zbhk5ltht5a7

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July 24th 2020: “You are half of our gifts. I the other. Together we make a whole. Together we are much more powerful.”- Joss Stirling. These are professional photos from my lesson last Friday. I was going to work on a dressage test but my usual instructor, Ashley, couldn’t come so Shane and I just had another relaxing lesson. Jane, the instructor that owns Emmaline, the mare I was thinking about leasing, came to watch me ride! Shane was so distracted by the camera and kept stopping whenever he saw it 😂 He still did really well though, and I’m happy with what we did that day. Love you Shaners 😊❤️🐴. . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #equineassistedtherapy #therapeuticriding #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #shane #americanpainthorse #goodboy #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #thefutureisbright #strongereveryday #aspiringparalympian #breakingbarriers #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDROxh1nog6/?igshid=fbi53u4ds2y5

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Sept 4 2020: Shaners and I had a great lesson on Friday in a freshly dragged arena with no obstacles 😊 We had a shorter lesson because of the heat and we practiced circles and diagonals again, and I think I’m getting better at eyeballing 20 meter circles. I did my very best to keep Shane moving by tapping him and kissing at him, but getting him to keep a steady pace is still difficult for me as it takes a lot of energy. I also need to remember to keep thinking about my hands because if I lift them too high he thinks I want him to stop. Also, at the end of our lesson we did something VERY exciting! I got to try ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH THE BIT THROUGH MY HANDS for the first time! Scroll to the last video to see! I was on the lead as Ashley wanted me to adjust to holding the correct position with a greater amount of weight in my hands. I think I did great for my first time and I looked and felt fancy as heck! I’m so proud of everything Shaners and I are able to do in spite of our struggles. Thank you for always giving as much as you can buddy! ❤️😊🐴 . #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equine #equines #equestrian #paraequestrian #dressage #paradressage #usef #adultamateur #teamcaf #equineassistedtherapy #therapeuticriding #therapyhorse #therapyhorses #shane #goodboy #americanpainthorse #thefutureisbright #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #progressnotperfection #strongereveryday #chasingdreams #breakingbarriers #cerebralpalsy #disabledbutnotreally #aspiringparalympian (at Quantum Leap Farm, Inc.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEzBQNRHhEE/?igshid=1gkgtw8842hm2