NARHA Interactive Vaulting Workshop

It was dreary Seattle weather for the NARHA Vaulting Workshop last March, but there was laughter and learning going on with the 16+ students in the comfort of the covered arena provided by Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, WA.
"What IS interactive vaulting, anyway???" you may wonder. Interactive Vaulting is a specialty area of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. To quote Marci Bender of Little Bit TR Center, "It is a process that engages participants in horsemanship activities and movements around, on, and off the horse or barrel, as well as gymnastic positions on the back of the moving horse." Emphasis is on interactive.... students interact with each other and with the horse.
The activities benefit students with physical, emotional, social, cognitive or learning challenges by providing social interaction and balance and coordination exercises. It is a fun and challenging way for students to develop skills from their own level of ability in an energetic atmosphere.
The Center for Adaptive Riding, an affiliate of Horses for the Spirit, will be developing an Interactive Vaulting Program over the next several months. Equipment needs to be acquired (vaulting barrel(s), gym mats, small exercise trampoline, vaulting surcingle, vaulting pads, etc), and more importantly, a horse that can accomodate the activities of vaulting needs to be found. The serach is ON!!
If you, or anyone you know, is able to help with any of the above acquisitions, please contact Barbara at: adaptive.riding@yahoo.com or barbara@horsesforthespirit.org
-- submitted by Barbara Chastain, NARHA Certified Instructor and Volunteer Coordinator for Horses for the Spirit

"Inspiring Fascination, Presence, Wholeness & Fun
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