In Honor

I can’t tell you his name or show you a photograph; his identity a secret guarded by the Navy.  I don’t have videos of his weekly progress; highlight reels set to carefully timed tracks, the music building until he takes his first steps without help.  What I have is a story.

He showed up a few months ago, baseball cap covering the long scar left by a bullet last Christmas.  Twenty-six and walking with the help of a VA therapist, he came looking for a way back.  Back to being able to hold his son, back to running, back to a life undefined.

Twice a week he makes his way up the mounting block where he stands, arms out, while his physical therapist fastens a gait belt about his waist.  His horse waits nearby in the blocks, head lowered and eyes half lidded.  He closes the distance in two wavering steps, hands reaching to steady himself upon the saddle horn.  He pauses, counting under his breathe, “one, two, three,” and swings his leg over.

Anger, and sadness, and frustration are chipped away by the steady beat of his horse’s hooves.  The day comes when he earns a pair of reins.  No longer a passenger but a rider capable of choice; left or right, walk or whoa.  We head out the double gate and towards the ramp, pausing while he works his feet out of the stirrups.  “Maybe it’s the man in me, but having reins was nice.  I liked that.”  A simple declaration.

He’ll get stronger and begin to ride without a gait belt.  He’ll learn to trot and enjoy his first lap of independent riding.  His physical gains will be measurable, boxes ticked off on his daily patient chart.  On that day we didn’t give him reps.  He’s a veteran, and on that day we gave him joy.

Making Connections and Changing Lives

Another year’s gala is behind us and we again return to the daily “housekeeping” that’s been neglected in favor of catering orders and sound checks.    Like family gathering on the porch, Monday found NCEFT staff making their way to the viewing deck with lunches in hand, swapping stories of the night as they walked.

We talk about the gala as a single event.  A night that starts at 5:30 with cocktails and ends at 11:00pm with the band playing us out as we walk to our cars exhausted but full.  However, what we accomplish during those few hours knows no timeline, no start and finish.   The gala isn’t one night; it’s a semi-colon in the middle of one very long sentence.  Unlike a period, which marks the end of a thought, a semicolon serves to connect.

The gala connects the work we do with the work we hope to do.  It connects those who have helped, to those who are helping, to those who will help.   We all walk away feeling more strongly connected to the family that is NCEFT; patients, staff, volunteers, and donors.  It’s our hope these newly forged bonds will continue to support the work we do within the community and beyond.

The funds raised on that night allow us to continue pursuing new opportunities to help an ever-widening group of patients and sustain our therapeutic programs.  Gala guests built the scholarships that help those who cannot help themselves, sponsored the programs serving our wounded servicemen, and backed the research that alters the lives of so many.

Words can’t express the amount of positive change accomplished during the gala, changes that will resonate for years to come.  Thanks to everyone’s help we are able to continue pushing forward, and with your continued support we will make the unimaginable possible.

You’ve Got the Love

As hard as it is for us to acccept, next week will be the final lesson of our first Heroes and Horsemanship Program. Having started in January, riders in this program spent the past seven weeks learning horsemanship at our Woodside facility.  We speak for all involved in saying we never realized just how quickly we’d all form new bonds.  From the men and women who quickly came to love their horses, to the sidewalkers and leaders who became invested in their veteran’s progress, we grew more attached to the weekly lessons than any of us could have imagined.

Though next week will be bittersweet, we can spend this week just soaking up the good.  The plum trees are blooming, the horses’ sleek summer coats are coming in, and life’s never looked so good from the back of a horse.

Video- Heroes and Horsemanship: Week 7 

You can give a voice to the nonverbal

Voting for the TechSoup Digital Storytelling Challenge is live!  NCEFT has entered a video, Heroes and Horsemanship, and is elligible for the Audience Choice Award.  The one-minute video showcases the progress of one of the veterans in our 8 week adaptive horsemanship program.  With its innovative storyboard apps that give nonverbal patients the opportunity to communicate, the contest’s prize of a new iPad would be a life-changing opportunity for some of our families.

Finding the video can be a challenge, but look for the one submitted by our social media specialist, Shayna F.  You may be able to find it more easily by chosing the “Popular” button where it says “Order by” at the top of the page.  Thanks to our fantastic support network we’re currently near the top!

http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/p/tsdigs-2012-entervideo.aspx

Heroes and Horsemanship: Day 5

The much anticipated video is here!  Considering taking a look at the video of Day 1 for comparison.  Can you believe how far these riders have come over the past couple of weeks?

VIDEO- Heroes and Horsemanship: Day 5

Heroes and Horsemanship: Day Three

Whether it’s carriage driving, competitive riding, or just a hobby, a life with horses is a social one.  Though it’s not clear if horseback riding attracts talkative people or instead creates them, the result is the same, a group of people intent on carrying on a conversation until days pass and seasons change.  Like twins separated at birth, we manage to find each other at crowded parties and expansive companies, and upon finding each other refuse to let go, madly quizzing each other on the price of hay, or the best winter blanket.  Ever noticed how our Horse Handlers say each equine’s name before issuing instructions (“Sebastian, walk on”)?  It’s to let the horse know the conversation is no longer aimed at the sidewalker, therapist, or patient, but at them.

For veterans returning from war, depression and anxiety can leave servicemen and women feeling isolated, starting a terrible cycle of social withdrawal.  We often talk about the physical benefits of equine-facilitated therapy, and even the mental benefits, but the emotional ones are just as important.  Our adaptive horsemanship program not only joins together veterans as peers, but brings into the conversation their significant others, children, and friends.  It creates and nutures relationships that are essential to their recovery.  Our arena is such a wonderful place to be, and within its walls are a group of people intent on helping each other become the best possible version of themselves.  We hope you too can feel that sense of friendship as you watch this week’s video, and be sure to stick around until the very end for what must be one of the most inspiring shots of a young veteran and his growing family.

Video: Heroes and Horsemanship: Day Three

The Journey to Sun Valley

Early next Wednesday morning, NCEFT will play host to a group of veterans taking their first steps towards riding on the open range of Sun Valley, Idaho.  Recovering from trauma such as brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder, these veterans and their significant others will begin their journey at NCEFT, where they’ll spend 8 weeks learning the basics of horsemanship and riding.  From grooming and saddling to staying balanced and in control of their horses, participants will learn the skills they’ll need during their upcoming camping trip.

 This trip is the result of a collaboration between five non-profit organizations working to provide a once in a lifetime experience for injured veterans.    NCEFT, The Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped, Sun Valley Adaptive Sports, and Lava Lakes Ranch, are all teaming up in the endeavor, each playing a vital role in what is an enormous process.  The goal of the program is twofold; provide veterans with an activity that creates self-confidence, fulfillment, and excitement, while simultaneously improving strength, range of motion, and flexibility.  The resulting combination is a person who’s both physically and emotionally stronger.

 After completing the eight-week program at NCEFT, the group will embark on a camping trip that begins and ends at Lava Lakes Ranch.  Located in Idaho, the ranch is home to a pair of sheep ranchers dedicated to responsible use of grazing land and conservation of the Pioneer Mountain area.  

 After spending some time at Lava Lakes Ranch, the group will head over to Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped (SETCH).  With a mission similar to NCEFT, SETCH has worked since 1991 to provide equine-facilitated therapy for those in need.  In addition to programs such as Interactive Vaulting and Youth Horsemanship Courses, SETCH provides horseback riding for special interest groups like Sun Valley Adaptive Sports (SVAS).  SVAS offers a variety of programs aimed at providing recreational activities for people with disabilities.  One of their programs, Higher Ground, works to combine recreation and rehabilitation for veterans and their families.    The group will team with SETCH and SVAS, putting the horsemanship skills acquired at NCEFT to use, and mounting up for several days of riding and camping.

 The complete trip is offered at no cost to participants, with financial aid provided by generous donors. With up to 12 participants each week, the program will add up to nearly 200 hours of adaptive horsemanship over its 8-week span. Normally at a cost of $50 a lesson, the program requires roughly $10,000 in funding for each session.  It will take the combined efforts of our donors and some serious fundraising to continue to offer this adventure in the months and years to come. Check in next week and find out how participants managed on Day 1 of the program!

A Year in Review

We never seem to become accustomed to the speed at which a year goes by, and as always, find ourselves wondering how January has come again so soon.  This past year at NCEFT has been monumental, including a host of improvements to the facility and continued expansion of our therapeutic programs.

January 2011 saw the completion of our stall renovation project.  Funded by our 2010 Heroes and Horses Gala, stalls were outfitted with state of the art flooring by Equine Comfort Systems.  The new system has allowed us to cut down on our use of wood shavings and has noticeably improved the lives of our older horses.

Ben enjoys one of the stalls outfitted with new flooring

“Bits and Pieces” opened its doors for the first time in mid-February, selling gently used donated tack at reduced prices.  Housed in a refurbished outbuilding, the small store has raised roughly $5,000 in support of NCEFT.

The newly rennovated "Bits and Pieces" tack store

NCEFT jumped on the social media bandwagon in early June, launching this very blog in hopes of bringing awareness to equine-facilitated therapy and our facility.  NCEFTspeaks now has over 400 followers, reaching hundreds of people every day.

The equine community was hit hard in May and June as the EHV-1 virus ran its course throughout the Western United States.  In an effort to keep local horses as safe as possible, NCEFT made the difficult decision to turn our annual Poker Ride into a Poker Walk.  In a huge show of support, nearly all of the entries turned down their refunds and opted to continue on foot. 

EHV-1 didn't stop people from hitting the trails in support of NCEFT

In July we took down the pop-up covers that had long provided protection in the crossties from the sun and rain, installing a beautiful shade sail by Home-Teck.  Donated by a pair of volunteers, the awning was a much needed contribution.

The pop-ups come down and a new shade sail goes up

Our herd increased by three in August with the additions of Honey, Buddy, and Janie.  All three horses are doing fantastic and working their way into our therapy programs.

Honey gets groomed before a morning workout

Janie poses for a conformation photo

Buddy shows off his beautiful coloring

September was a busy month with two large events benefitting NCEFT.  The Wounded Warriors Polo Benefit once again chose us as one of their beneficiaries.  Friends, family, and staff all turned out on a beautiful Sunday to watch the ponies and help raise money in support of veterans.  Two weeks later we hosted our yearly Heroes and Horses Gala.  A record setting number of guests and wonderful fund-a-need auction allowed us to raise nearly $190,000.

Chase and Mom, Tish, take the stage at this year's gala

We kicked off the party season with our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in November.  The party was a welcome opportunity to reconnect with friends and get to know fellow volunteers and staff. 

From left: Elaine, Sarah, Marie, and Elizabeth

Our Holiday Party for NCEFT Families was the final event of the year, and the one most looked forward to by our younger patients.  From carriage rides, to fire trucks, and even a visit from the Santa, there was no shortage of activities (or food!). 

Santa and Sebastian take a moment to greet guests

As 2011 drew to a close we made one last improvement, replacing the roof over the barn stalls.  The project was funded by this year’s Gala, and comes just in time for the winter rainy season.

Installation begins on the new roof

On the horizon for this year is the introduction of a new veteran’s program aimed at preparing small groups of injured vets for a ranch experience in Idaho.  NCEFT will be the first stop for the group, teaching basic horsemanship and helping to develop their strength and riding skills.  At the end of the 8 week program we’ll hand the group over to the ranch where they’ll hit the open trails.  The addition of these 10 students each week highlights the continued growth of our therapeutic programs.  Now operating six days a week, NCEFT is excited to be seeing more patients than ever.  With the new year stretching brightly before us, and personal resolutions yet to be broken (exercise more, eat healthier…), NCEFT would like to wish everyone a very happy new year and all the best in 2012.

Wounded Warriors Polo Benefit

NCEFT is thrilled at being selected once again as beneficiaries of the Wounded Warriors Polo Benefit.  Hosted by the St. Francis Commandery, Order of Saint John, Knights Hospitaller, the Benefit acts to raise funds for Bay Area programs that support veterans wounded while deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.  This year’s event will be held Sunday, September 11 at the Menlo Circus Club.  Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.woundedwarriorspolobenefit.org/