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> Reins of Life comes to MC, Thanks to a very generous donation
JHeath
post Jul 18 2007, 11:07 AM
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Couple Donates Equestrian Center To Be Used For Therapeutic Purposes

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=48870.85

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

Wednesday, July 18, 2007


Barn manager Jennifer Jones leads Riley into his stall Monday at Royal Acres Equestrian Center. Anthony Lambré/The News-Dispatch
COOLSPRING TOWNSHIP - Royal Acres Equestrian Center, 9375 W. County Road 300 North, has joined with Reins of Life Inc. to provide area children and adults with a therapeutic horseback riding program.

Todd and Janice Much, former owners of Royal Acres, donated their 46-acre property to the South Bend-based nonprofit organization in June. Sharon Burnside, executive director of Reins of Life, said the couple has a home in Michiana Shores and built the equestrian center for the family's use. When they heard about Reins of Life from a friend in LaPorte, they visited the South Bend facility and decided to donate their center now that their children are adults.

Jennifer Jones of Michigan City is the barn manager for Royal Acres and will stay on to work with Reins of Life. She said the center has 16 inside stalls and two outside stalls, an indoor and an outdoor arena, a house and pastures.

Burnside said she hopes to have Reins of Life at Royal Acres operating this fall. She said a dozen riders from LaPorte County attend the South Bend Reins of Life, so she knows there is a place for the program here.

"We're planning a fall program, but we need to get donations of horses, equipment and volunteers," Burnside said. "We're wanting to start small to make sure it's at the same level of quality of our program here."

Reins of Life needs donated horses that are physically and mentally sound, very gentle and, Burnside said, "bomb proof," meaning they don't spook easily.

The operating budget for the South Bend program is $200,000 a year and she expects the cost to be similar at Royal Acres. Some expenses can be offset by fees from boarding horses in the 15 available stalls.

Reins of Life works with children as young as 2 years and adults of all ages. The program serves the full gamut of physical, mental and emotional disabilities, said Burnside. Riders experience improvements in posture, balance and coordination, as well as confidence and self-worth. Participants pay a fee of $15 per lesson and most classes run for eight weeks.

Volunteer instructors must be trained and certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Non-certified volunteers without experience can also serve as side walkers and horse leaders, Burnside said.

Reins of Life was established in South Bend in 1978, and is fully accredited by the NARHA. In 1991, the Reins of Life Therapeutic Riding Center was created with the gift of 20 acres from Nancy and Lloyd Taylor.



Contact reporter Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.
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Southsider2k12
post Jul 18 2007, 11:09 AM
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What a great story. Hopefully they get lots of support.
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Max Main
post Jul 18 2007, 02:07 PM
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If they don't, they can be a way-station to Belgium!
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JHeath
post Aug 7 2007, 09:55 AM
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http://heraldargus.com/hanews/archives/ha/...y.php?id=383105

QUOTE

Reins of Life open house, volunteer orientation scheduled
Posted Online: 8-7-2007

MICHIGAN CITY -- Reins of Life, an equine-based therapeutic service for those with physical, mental and emotional learning disabilities, will hold an open house at its new facility in Michigan City on Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition to dressage lessons by instructor Elizabeth Grainger, the open house will feature refreshments and tours of the facility.

The facility will also be conducting volunteer orientation and training at the Royal Acres site on Aug. 21 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in anticipation of the facilities fall opening.

Volunteers will learn to be sidewalkers and horse leaders, as well as how to assist children and adults with special needs during therapeutic horseback riding lessons. Experience with horses is not required, though all applicants must be at least 13 years old.

Reins of Life is located in Michigan City at 9375W CR-300N.

To pre-register for the open house or to volunteer, call 574-251-9694.

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Roger Kaputnik
post Aug 8 2007, 12:27 PM
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cool idea


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JHeath
post Feb 21 2008, 10:58 AM
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http://www.heraldargus.com/main.asp?FromHo...SubSectionID=11

QUOTE
2/21/2008 10:38:00 AM
'Horses do miracles'
Reins of Life participants see real progress at volunteer-staffed stable
Sandra Provan

1-866-362-2167 Ext. 13856

sprovan@heraldargus.com

MICHIGAN CITY - "We have a child who walks!" a delighted Randy Hansen told staff and fellow volunteers at Reins of Life Monday evening.

The child in question was 4-year-old Lilly Petrella, daughter of Deanna and Bob Petrella of Valparaiso. Lilly, who has cerebral palsy, took her first steps in January.

Her mother credits Reins of Life, on CR-300N off U.S. 421 south of the Michigan City Holiday Inn, and one particular animal, Peaches, with making her daughter mobile.

The Petrellas saw a newspaper article last fall about an open house at Michigan City Reins of Life, which provides therapeutic horseback riding to adults and children with disabilities.

"We stopped by and they signed Lilly up immediately," Deanna said.

Lilly is starting her third session at the facility since it opened last September.

"Lilly has tightness in her hamstrings," Deanna said. "We noticed results would carry over (after a session) after she'd been here a few weeks. Peaches and Lilly were made for each other. It was as if they glided."

Sarah Meyer, instructor at the facility, "really paid attention to what Lilly needed and found a horse that fit her - it was truly amazing," Deanna said.

At a session just before Thanksgiving, Deanna said she kissed Peaches and thanked her for what she was doing for her daughter.

"That night, Peaches passed away," Deanna said.

Peaches died of a rare lung infection contracted from birds.

"There was a bond between Lilly and Peaches," Deanna said. "She knew what Lilly needed and she gave it. I don't know if Lilly will find that with another horse or pony."

But the news of Lilly's success was hard to contain.

"I couldn't wait to tell everyone here that Lilly is walking," Deanna said. "I'm getting emotional, but we haven't been here since before Christmas because of the weather, and she started walking in January. Sarah is a wonderful instructor; she makes the therapy fun - Lilly doesn't think it's therapy."

The other rider at Reins of Life Monday was Nicholas Blaney, the 5-year-old son of Tracy Vern Blaney of La Porte. Nicholas and his brother Connor and sister Sierra are triplets; Nicholas is autistic.

"Riding has helped him," Tracy said. "He was real rigid before, and now he's more agile and more focused. It's helped with his social skills. He loves the horses; he relates more to them than to his brother and sister."

While Connor and Sierra know that riding is something special for Nicky, they also love going to Reins of Life.

"They love to clean out the stalls," said Tracy. "They don't want to pick up their toys, but they love cleaning up poop!"

Other volunteers there to help the riders Monday were Dave Henderson, Kirstyn Barrell, Sandy Einstein and 15-year-old Rachael Osborn, who have been volunteering at Reins of Life once a week since last September.

"I like working with the horses and seeing the riders having fun," Rachael said.

Another volunteer, 15-year-old Lauren Anderson, noted the differences she could see in some of the riders.

"Nicholas seems to be focusing more," Lauren said.

"The volunteers are wonderful," said Deanna. "The facility is only as good as the volunteers, and because they have such diverse backgrounds, our children pick something up from each one."

Randy Hansen, of La Porte, is a retired teacher who read about Reins of Life needing volunteers.

"Now I'm here four hours a day," he said, holding Lilly after her session. "When this little one first came, she couldn't touch her toes or lean forward - to see her walking is amazing. Horses do miracles."

"One hour here is better than months of physical therapy," Deanna said.

------------------------------------
Grab life by the reins
FOR MORE INFORMATION about volunteering at Reins of Life, call 574-232-0853, 219-232-0853 or visit www.reinsoflife.org


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