The objective of The Root Farm’s driving program is to teach and reinforce new capabilities in special needs individuals. Participants experience pride, courage and a sense of control over their environment as they guide a large animal over the ground. Teens learn about care-giving and non-verbal communication, often discovering a reciprocal affection with another living being as they learn to groom and handle an equine. Enhanced self-esteem and newfound skills of goal setting, attention to task, safety awareness and problem solving can be carried over into the daily lives of these special adolescents.
Participants at "Harness Up" learn the basics of harnessing a horse, hitching the animal to a cart, and driving in an indoor arena and on an outdoor training track.
Some sessions require that a participant be physically able to work around a large animal in the barn and outdoors, to handle a driving harness, and to climb in and out of a cart. The process demands focus and attention to task, ability to follow intricate instructions, and the self-confidence to work closely with a large, heavy equine.
Other sessions are modified to accommodate persons with greater needs, and arrangements are made for assistance on the ground and in the cart. Wheelchair accessible carriages are part of the plan.
At The Root Farm
and at the Race Track
With Chase Lord and Market Street Kash
With Alice and Stella
A young harness horse owner based at Vernon Downs is looking to share his love of working with Standardbreds with disabled children. Chase Lord, who lives in Corfu, N.Y., is currently traveling throughout New York State to introduce people to his Mossy Creek Foundation, a program he is developing which will allow children with disabilities to work therapeutically with harness horses.
Chase Lord and Maket Stret Kash has been spreading their gospel this summer
Lord and several trainers at Vernon Downs will be hosting an open house for children and parents, at which they can get up close and personal with harness horses at Vernon Downs on Thursday, July 13 and Thursday, July 20. Children will be able to learn about the Standardbred horse, see how a horse is harnessed and hitched to a sulky, and talk to drivers and trainers in the sport.
Lord and the horse Market Street Kash, owned by Bruce Curtis and George Deak, Jr., have already appeared at several county fairs in New York during the racing programs to lead the post parades. The pair will continue to do so during the summer in order to raise awareness about the new program and answer questions.
Lord, who is 21-years-old and has cerebral palsy, is creating this program in cooperation with the Root Farm in Vernon, N.Y., which has offered therapeutic riding since 1999 and wanted to develop a program with harness horses. Lord is currently working under the auspices of the Root Farm and is seeking not-for-profit status for the foundation.
"I'm in the same position as the kids are," Lord explained. He uses canes and sometimes a wheelchair to get around. "There are a couple kids around here who have disabilities and I'm working with the farm to see how we need to adapt and modify for individual kids and their abilities."
from: "Chase Lord Working to Help the Afflicted"Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - by M. Kelly Young, executive assistant, the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State
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Driving
