07.17.07
horse and horselover in therapeutic riding
I want to introduce you Nora, my friend and a NAHRA certified instructor (North American Riding for the Handicapped Assoc., Inc. www.narha.org) who I met through TEC (Therapeutic Equestrian Center) where I volunteer. She is such a caring person and you can see it in her interactions with the riders. Her love and passion for horses is endless.
[THANKS to Nora for sharing pix of herself and Buttercup!! THANKS to HorseGal for the rest of the pix!]
Obviously a horse lover, Nora with Buttercup, her draft cross and therapeutic riding horse.
Nora is currently a NAHRA instructor at two local barns, one of which is TEC. She actually started out at TEC when she was just 10 years old! Prior to that, she hadn’t done any kind of work with horses but once she started, she was hooked for life… not only on horses, but also hooked on helping people with disabilities. Nora pretty much grew up at TEC spending as much time there as possible, usually 4 days a week helping with lessons and then an additional 2 days a week helping the barn manager care for the horses. Meanwhile, she was also taking riding lessons at another local barn. Talk about falling in love with the horse experience!!
Later on, Nora leased a 15 year old paint horse named Flash that she would trail ride for hours on end. She and Flash also competed in several gymkhanas. In 2003 Nora got her first horse as a Christmas present from her parents. Her name is Susie and she’s a wonderful 13 year old Morgan. Nora says Susie makes her laugh every day and that she has a heart of gold and has proven to be an excellent lesson and therapy horse.
Nora enjoying Buttercup on the beach
Then Buttercup came into Nora’s life. She’s a 23 year old draft cross who came to TEC as a lesson horse and it was love at first sight! When TEC closed down for a while, Buttercup (or Cup as she is lovingly called by Nora) became Nora’s horse. Nora, who’s been doing 13 years of therapeutic instructing, says that Cup is the best she has ever known, and she’s seen and known a lot of therapy horses in those 13 years!
Guess who? [HorseGal pic]
Buttercup follows Nora around like… a puppy!!! I can’t get over it!!! If Nora runs, Cup runs; If Nora, stops, Cup stops. If Nora jumps over a ground pole, Buttercup does too. It is so much fun to watch them!!! Buttercup and Nora have the strongest bond– they’re soul mates that were meant to be together and best of all, Buttercup is all hers!
Sure looks like true love…
Buttercup and Susie live at the other barn that Nora works at. All of the animals there have free run of the property. I was in their barn the other day when Buttercup came roaming in… her stall door happened to be open and apparently, she decided that is where she wanted to be at that moment, so in she went!
All the animals are free roaming, including the horses, at the barn where Nora works! This is Duke and Passion. [HorseGal pic]
Buttercup grazing [HorseGal pic]
Along with Susie and Buttercup at the barn, there are two goats, a mule (also used for lessons,) 5-6 other horses, and one of my favorites, Duke, who is a miniature donkey.
And Duke - well, isn’t he just too cute?!! He is so friendly and sweet and soft! He’s a miniature donkey who lives at this other barn Nora works at long with a couple of goats and 5 or 6 horses (which include, of course, Cup and Susie.) [HorseGal pic]
Buttercup takes Nora for a ride
When TEC reopened in 2005, they hired Nora as barn manager and she LOVES it!! She works 365 days a year taking care of the TEC horses and wouldn’t change it for a thing. In 2005 Nora got her Massachusetts instructors’ license and her NARHA certification in 2006. Everything she does at TEC, she also does at the farm where where her beloved Buttercup and Susie live. Nora is also involved in a local after-school project where the kids come for two hours. The first hour some of the kids will ride while the others will do homework or craft projects; then they all switch for the next hour.
Tacking up Susie.. [HorseGal pic]
This little girl isn’t a disabled rider… Nora also instructs for able bodied kids and this little girl is one her able bodied riders on Nora’s other horse, Susie. [HorseGal pic]
It was this little girl’s 2nd or 3rd lesson, so she’s just starting out. [HorseGal pic]
Thanks to Nora and Buttercup for all you do for others!!!
I’ve already learned a lot from Nora and she, like Connie, doesn’t seem to mind my endless questions and chatter about horses!! In addition to my volunteering during Nora’s therapy classes at TEC, I’m also now volunteering in Nora’s classes at the other barn. More horses for me to be around¦ woo hoo!!!. (Here’s yet one more place I want to bring Connie when she’s in the area again some time!!)
Nora’s brother Michael, who has Down’s Syndrome, rides also. He rides both Buttercup and Susie and has done some gymkhanas! Stay tuned because I’ll be introducing you to Michael next!!! Happy Nickers!!!
