Personal Narrative-Summary And Analysis

The lake glistened before me as my mom and I pulled into Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp just outside Twin Lakes Michigan. I had been accepted into the International Youth Symphony Orchestra program where after spending a week at the camp the entire orchestra would be heading off on a six week European Tour to share our musical talents and American culture with another part of the world. I knew traveling to a different continent would give me further insight as to who I was a person, but did not imagine the people I would meet would impact me as much as they did.

I have met some very stubborn horses that years down the road I discovered had actually taught me so much more than any other horse ever would. That is what influenced me to take on the opportunity of buying and training a three-year-old unbroken arabian. He has come to teach me not only things about riding but also life-lessons. I have gained patience, trust and understanding from him. He is now six years old and despite the fact that some days I felt as if we would never get anywhere in our training he is now an excellent horse. Taking an animal that has never had a person on it before and making it completely calm and even excited to work with a person on it’s back is an incredible thing and I am happy to have been able to experience this.

There is a trail down the road in Delaware where I enjoy taking my dog for a walk. It is a beautiful, five-mile loop traversing cornfields, thick patches of forest, steep hills and flowing streams; a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the suburban lifestyle and spend some time amongst the peacefulness of nature. It is not a complete escape, however, for I am not the only person that knows of the trail- it seems to also be a favorite of horseback riders. Often times I will encounter a rider or two at some point during my walk and, without fail, I will be in awe of the size and majesty of the horse. What an incredible, gentle beast it is. Standing next to a horse, you cannot help but gawk at the bulging, toned muscles and long, agile legs. It is truly an athlete with a rare combination of strength and speed. Yet, they are gentle and kind and have therefore been joined at the hip with humans; today, nearly all horses have been domesticated. So I find myself

I have been tossing up two ideas for my main focus. They are, teaching the readers about horses and showing the bond my sister has created with her horse. I am leaning more towards showing the bond, because it is a beautiful thing. I hope to provide readers with a first person look into this experience. I will provide this with dialogue between my sister and I, and through my own interactions with the horses.

I found myself on the ground tasting dirt within minutes of getting on a horse for the first time. Having apprenticed as a stable hand for the first few weeks of equestrian training, I knew I had grown to love the sport. Fortunately, dignity bruises much easily than the body and though shaken, I wouldn’t be deterred. The sheer joy I felt during those short minutes was unparalleled, and I wanted more. Mastering this discipline I realized, demanded a commitment to extensive study and practice. Four months, three falls and a broken wrist later, I qualified for my first equestrian championship.

Welcome to my senior project portfolio. I was to learn about natural horsemanship skills and horse care by Mary Tyler, a volunteer coordinator at Sunrise Horse Rescue, who has dedicated about 11 years of her life to working with horses. It was easy asking Mary to be my mentor because I had volunteered at this rescue twice throughout high school. She would be mentoring me through the “Horsemanship and horse care world” accompanied by the horses that were sanctioned at Sunrise. Mary, having had plenty of horse work experience, took me under her wing and promised to show me as much basic knowledge that I needed to make this project successful.

Learning to master the horse increases the rider's self-esteem and confidence. Interacting with and controlling the horse enhances focus, decision-making skills, and effective verbal and nonverbal communication ("Why the Horse?"). Riders may become very satisfied and self-confident after successfully completing a task set by the instructor of the hippotherapy session. This feeling of confidence improves the rider's overall mood and makes them enjoy horseback riding even more.

The use of educational Equine therapy may improve the patient's attention and concentration. When working with horses Patients need to pay attention to what the horses are doing, and their attitude. Patients can learn the importance of goal setting, in the beginning of any physical therapy the patient is asked where they want to be at the end of your session. This is teaching patients the importance of setting an end goal, and to be looking at the importance of the future. More ways you are able to benefit is with conflict resolution, setting boundaries, self-regulation and self-correction (“The Soulful Benefits of Healing…”). One specific type of Equine therapy is Equine-assisted learning or EAL. Path International explains EAL as a type of therapy that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals. EAL also teaches other skills such as trust, respect, honesty and communication. When working with horses you need to have all of these. The patient must trust and respect the horse in order for the horse to trust and respect the patient back. They also need to be honest about how they are feeling, if they are scared the horse is going to react a different way then when they are calm. Communicating these feeling will help the patient gain the trust and respect of the

Delano then pulled a gun from his ankle holster and places it on the table top. --

It is an eight-session program that is two hours long. The first session they have the horse choose them and they have to choose the horse back. That helps form a bond with that horse. The clients will be asked to pick out a horse that they believe represents them. Then they will be asked choose that particular horse. Normally the reason that they give the instructor is how they see themselves. Next, they will be asked what horse they want to see themselves as in the future and

For the past few years, I have been volunteering at a nearby lesson barn. My tasks usually consist of removing manure from the pens, refilling water tanks, cleaning out the barn, and checking the fence line for repairs. When there is time left, however, I help train a pony that will, one day, be used for lessons. During these training sessions, my instructor teaches me the basics of liberty work so that the pony learns to both relax around people and how to interact with them. These lessons create a memorable outdoor experience for me because, in addition to helping my instructor, I am helping a pony become less fearful of people that interact with him on a regular basis. The skills I have gained from the liberty work lessons has also encouraged me to continue my education of liberty work and to share my findings with others so that they may understand their horses on a deeper level.

Client reported decrease in appetite starting three years ago around the same time she started seeing a therapist for her traumatic experience. Client reported that she has an "interesting relationship" with her ex-husband. She reported that she feels overwhelmed, angry, irritated, and annoyed by her ex-husband. She mentioned experiences of insomnia due to her ex-husband (she would keep thinking about how to deal him). Client reported that this has been an ongoing situation since their divorce. Client reported prior Hx of SI.

Learning from others is a good way to learn yourself. You can watch their mistakes and learn how you can fix them yourself Riding a horse is more than just sitting there, its connecting with your horse through your aids. Aids are the most important for connecting with your horse. You have to communicate in a way that the horse understands. Most horses are trained to respond to aids like your leg, your hands, the reins, and your voice.

When I stepped into my cart at the 2017 Eastern Regional Championship Show for my first class, I instantly knew that it was going to be the most fantastic show I’d get to experience in my few years of showing the Miniature Horse. The spiritual connection between me and my horse, Red, was indescribable and an astonishing feeling that I’ve never felt with any animal at such a level. His legs were soaring through the air as he was strutting like he owned the place, and he naturally had his head tucked with such light pressure on the reins. That was probably the first class I’ve ever smiled in because I could feel the connection we had, and I knew he looked elegant as he floated above the ground with his sweeping trot. We did get Grands and Reserves

“The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears” (Arabian Proverb). The exhilarating feel of mane in my hands, four beats moving gracefully under me, and the breathtaking wind that soon rushes by prove the great and true wisdom captured in this aphorism. Horses are as much a part of my identity as my own name. No feeling in the world approaches the euphoria I feel when I am one with the horse, appreciating the rhythmic movement of such a powerful animal as we soar over a jump. I am never so at peace as when I am with the horse, feeling its soft nose on my shoulder or its dynamic motion under me. Horses occupy my everyday daydreams and my greatest aspirations. However, I completely suppressed the acknowledgement of this passion