See you tonight and tomorrow!

Good afternoon!
Good news - all lessons tonight and tomorrow are on!
Yay!

How big is the Show this weekend?

Not sure, but it seems that it is going to be a big show this week end. Waiting to know for sure tomorrow, and will post final decision about therapeutic riding lessons Friday and Saturday.
Stay in touch, please.

Support Spirit

Want to help out our program, but don't know how?
Why don't you do so by decorating your house with some beautiful photography? 
Perhaps by purchasing a present for your loved ones? 
A part of all proceeds from the photography sales HERE will now be donated to the Spirit Open Equestrian Program in order for us to better serve our users, volunteers, horses and the community.

Thank you!

Photos of your favorite horse at Spirit herd at

Spirit 2013

                            Code: S92013n         

25% discount for Friends of Spirit Open Equestrian Program

Valid 09/24/2013 → 12/10/2013 (79 days): S92013n

PJ day today, Ninja look tomorrow :)

PJ Day at Spirit went well
Tomorrow, Ninja - look Day !

Congratulation to Anna (and Emma, too) new Mentor volunteers at Spirit Team

Spirit horses gallery - purchase photo and donate to the Spirit -  check HERE

PJ day at Spirit

Volunteer training continues Monday-Thursday from 5-7pm this week. 

This Monday ONLY will be wear your PJs to Spirit Day! Participation purely optional! 

The next session begins Monday, September 30.

Friday evening

What an evening it was. Spirit Team, Diane, Emma, Anna, Rachel, Samantha, Jim, Barbara, Hon, Camryn, Conrad, and Laura, made it special for all our riders tonight.
Kevin, Joshua, Zayd, Kate, Jim and Sean had a great ride on Cecelia, Sky, Spirit and Infinity....
Just a perfect evening at the Frying Pan Farm Park riding ring. 
Thank you all and see you tomorrow morning 

Learn how to help horses in pain

Frying Pan Farm Park and Broad Run Veterinary Service, Inc. with
Dr. Kathy Broaddus and Dr. Lani Newcomb
invite you to an educational seminar on
Equine Pain Management
With Guest Speaker Dr. Hoyt Cheramie
Wednesday, October 2nd @ Noon
Location: Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center
2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon VA 20171
Lunch will be provided

Volunteers wanted, training time and Fall session

Wanted: More volunteers to help Spirit program 

with barn work AM/PM  hours

and lessons 5-8 week day evenings.

(Please, share with friends)

• Monday, Sept 30 starts new 8 weeks Fall Class.
• Volunteer training Mon-Thur, 5-7 PM until then.
• Friday/Sat regular scheduled lessons if weather permits.

Good morning, Spirit!

Good morning, Spirit!
For volunteers and Spirit People 
Tip of the day:
Horses do pick up on your emotions and recognize your body language, so think about all of those things before you approach your horse.

You don’t necessarily want to communicate to your horse the type of day that you may have had – and most importantly remember to always keep smiling: the horse recognises the energy of a smile as it does the energy of fear or anger.

And when you train, accept that sometimes things go in leaps and bounds and sometimes things go backwards.

If things go backwards, it is normal. Just go back to doing the things before you tried the new stuff, give it a bit of time and then try again again.

Always remember horses are an honest, steadfast, reliable and loyal breed. But first there is one fundamental thing we need to gain from the horse: trust. It doesn't come overnight, it is something learnt, earned and built upon over many years.

What’s more, if you watch a herd it is not just about alpha males or females. It is also about how they greet each other, respect and trust one another, look after one another, work as a team, alert one another to danger, groom each other and generally look out for each other.

There is also the passive leader, which in most cases is the one horses choose to follow. There is no bullying or aggression – they are just chosen. And that is what you want to be to your horse, the passive leader, chosen by your horse.

Rainy Monday

Sorry
No therapeutic lessons tonight.
Only mucking the field activity, some volunteer training, if weather permits.

EAT Demonstration for Parents, partners and therapists

EAT Demonstration...to see more, check HERE

When: Thursday, Oct 3, 2013

Time: 7pm

Where: Frying Pan Park Equestrian Facility

**in the outdoor ring to the right of the indoor arena (green building)

2709 West Ox Rd

Herndon, VA 20171

____________________________________________________

EAP is a short-term, solution-focused modality that often works when traditional talk therapy approaches do not and is the most powerful clinical work I have ever done.

By attending the demonstration you will gain a better understanding about what EAP is along with how and why works, including the collaborative approach between horses, mental health specialist, and the horse specialist. In addition, if you volunteer to participate in some of the demonstrations, you will gain added insight from the client's perspective, understanding how different exercises may provoke questions within the client or how this method may create growth opportunities.

Thank you!

Thank you to all who came today and make our lessons possible.
We managed, even missing almost 10 usual Saturday volunteers to have whole program going.
Thank you Sue, and all great people for all you are doing for Spirit :)

Volunteers wanted more than usual this weekend

There is a Palomino horses show at the Park this week end. 
So far, we shall be able to do lessons at the upper ring. 

We shall need all volunteers we can get this weekend, please, come and help Spirit keep on going with therapeutic and educational lessons ...Thank you!

No lessons tonight

Dear all, stay at home today. Be dry well and safe...
Those storms are not fun 
No lessons tonight

New project at Spirit field

We would like to build round pen! it will be used for training horses, volunteers, therapeutic sessions with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (program activities for veterans & families), and even therapeutic riding for specific students.... Several stubborn stumps are on our way to make it  Please, spread the word, we need help, good landscapers with equipment willing to donate their time and work, and/or financial help to cover cost of this project. Beside functional stump grinder, we need to order some crushed stone and blue stone for footing. Please, help us to make it before rain and mud...  Landscapers for stumps, stone delivery and bob cat needed !

Tomorrow - Saturday09/07/2013

Dear all,  I am so sorry, but we have to cancel lessons for this Saturday, 09/07/2013 -  There are two shows going on this week end at the Park, and trailers and traffic will not be good for even safe going to the trail ride... Volunteers - show is going on...mucking, horse, facility and equipment care day  Thank you for understanding, wish you a great weekend and looking forward to seeing you next week