Back-riding

A Beautiful Day

A beautiful day today. Barbara rode Frisona at the walk, bareback as always, and afterwards we both lunged her for a while. Barbara's riding helps slow down the progress of her disease, clears the toxins out of her kidneys and helps keep her heart out of arrhythmia. Regular riding helps give Barbara a feeling of well-being and - as I learn to control the lunge-line - she will be able to perform her exercises which are so vital to her progress. The horse does the work and the rider gets the benefit.
Lenox

The Cost of a Horse

Here in Almería, it costs around 1,500 euros a year to feed a horse plus another 500 euros for vet, blacksmith, insurance etc. This price does not include things like tack or installations. The financial costs are about the same depending on whether the horse is for pleasure, competition or therapy. Tack can be fairly cheap, depending on your needs (I ride bareback). The installations? How much do you want to spend?
Much depends on where you live as to the price of feed. I found that in the Cadiz area alfalfa sells for around one euro a bail, here in Almería it is around six euros a bail and in Barcelona it can cost anything up to fifteen.
The largest cost comes in time spent. The amount of time depends on the type of installations you have. If the horses are outside and free then there is considerably less work involved than if they are in stalls. Stalls need daily mucking and the horses have to be taken out and exercised plus clean water must be available at all times. There is no day off when it comes to animal care, no holidays; no Sundays. Then you have the training and care of the horses depending on the type of discipline they participate in. For competition, a tremendous amount of practice hours are required, the same goes for therapy horses since, even though it is not as physically demanding, they must still be prepared for every eventuality. They also need free recreational time. The job of a therapy horse is usually very boring: standing for long periods, walking around in circles, sometimes for hours and all sorts of strange exercises besides, so it is vital that therapy horses have a good work-out or run before sessions so that they are not bored and impatient.

When people come to ride once a week, they never consider the amount of work that has gone in to keep the horse in condition to ride, regardless of the discipline. If a horse gets colic, is in foal or founders, you may have to spend days and nights caring for them and still continue with your daily routine.

Horses and centres have to have insurance and to pass inspections. If you board your horse at a stable then there is the DIY system, where a place is provided for a fee, and all of the care of the horse is your responsibility, the usual boarding arrangement is that your horse is bedded and fed for a fee and you are responsible for its exercise. If the horse is to be trained or exercised it is for an added fee. The best system is where a horse may go in and out at its desire and a daily turn out or exercise is not mandatory but this takes lots of space.

Owning a horse is a luxury but one well worth the investment if you can afford it. Riding lessons or just plain horse-rental are both good alternatives but can also be very costly and, it goes without saying that the horses will have been ridden by numerous people of all different abilities sometimes leading to unmanageable or naughty animals.

Cookie (Not Pattie)

This is a picture of Cookie, a Hispano Breton mare, used as a brood mare in the Pyrenees to breed foals for the equivalent of veal horse meat. When they get older and are unable to breed they are used – as often as not – for dog food. This fabulous horse was bought and saved by the Center for Equine Therapy Cadí Moixeró for the modest price of one euro a kilo. Beth and Trini of Cadí Moixeró have been so convinced of the incredible therapeutic value of these horses that they gave one to me for both my therapy and that of many others and to promote the use of these fine animals for therapy instead of meat. Horse meat is very popular in France and many other countries and these cold blooded horses have the most meat on their bones which also makes them the perfect therapy horse. Because of their size, strength and good nature they are suitable for just about any type of therapeutic riding. Cookie has finished her training and is now helping children with severe Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and a host of other special needs. They can carry a tremendous weight yet they are not so tall as to prohibit the use of side walkers and back riders which are so important when dealing with wheelchair-bound people, who tend to be heavy and need assistance in order to participate in hippotherapy. Their loving, gentle nature makes them ideal for people who are afraid of horses, those who may have psychological problems and for activities to stimulate eye/hand coordination and other sensorial activities.

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We have now resumed Animo and are looking – as charities do – for your support. Become a member of Animo for 20 euros a year and receive an Animo Card and regular updates, photos and news of our activities.

Write to animoalbero@hotmail.es or brbrnapier@yahoo.com

The Wisdom of the Ancients

"Once I am in the saddle I never willingly dismount, for, whether well or ill, I feel better in that position. Plato recommends it as good for your health, and Pliny says it is good for your stomach and your joints." Montaigne.

Animo Meeting

Barbara gave a talk today about animal assisted therapy to a group from the Club Taurino de Mojácar at the Bar La Finca.
Her talk touched on two different points - her own experiences and medical problems together with her remedies plus the larger subject of what Animo is now doing.
Animo, as Animo-Albero, currently meets every Sunday in Almería at the Centro Ecuestre Albero where a group of professionals help disabled children with hippotherapy using techniques pioneered in Spain by Barbara over twenty five years ago.
Today's talk was aimed at informing the local Mojácar public about the activities of the national association as well as offering membership in Animo and - as always with charities - collecting much-needed funds.

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We have now resumed Animo and are looking – as charities do – for your support. Become a member of Animo for 20 euros a year and receive an Animo Card and regular updates, photos and news of our activities.

Write to animoalbero@hotmail.es or brbrnapier@yahoo.com

Only a Mother Could Love

Here is Cariño enjoying some lunch. Horses are beautiful creatures and always take a good picture. Well, almost always.

For the Love of Animals

Loli from the Centro Ecuestre Albero in Almería, the new centre for Animo, relaxing with her friends Naza and Smoking ('Esmokin') the Lamb.

Frisona Has Arrived!

D. Diego Mañas Romera from the Yeguada Valdesol, based in Sorbas, breeders of fine Pura Raza Española horses, today donated a Friesian mare to Barbara in her capacity as the outgoing president of Ánimo. Our grateful thanks to him and his associates.

Frisona

Sad and lonely after losing her foal in November. Now she will come live with me for love and attention. Frisona will be in tiptop shape in no time and so will I. We both need each other.
Here's a fine video of Frisona: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-1S3q_6BqY&feature=related

Cookie

Horses in My Garden

Over a several year period, starting about eight years ago, when I had to spend a lot of time in the hospital, I had to find good, loving homes for all of my horses and other animals. All of my animals played a big part in ANIMO, as well as playing a large part in my life and that of my children. The loss of my animals was almost as hard as or harder than learning to live with a terrible disfigurement and a terminal disease. Since I started riding again over two years ago, thanks to the kindness of Loli Berenguel in Almería, my health has improved considerably and so has my life. After a lot of investigation, Loli and I have been able to develop a therapy that removes the side effects of medication and seems to slow down the progression of the illness. The only drawback for me was that I had to travel almost an hour each way to get to my therapy. Now thanks to my friends at Cadi Moxeroi and another participant in our therapy investigation who started out as a volunteer to take me to my riding therapy, I now have two horses at home. Now I am able to ride every day which has improved my blood analysis drastically plus my mental and physical state. Just spending time with the horses has improved my whole outlook on life and the way I live it. If it hadn’t of been for the encouragement of my husband, children and a few special friends, I probably wouldn’t have been here today to write this. Now I have so much to look forward to every day and I am living every day as fully as possibly.
The photograph was taken a few days ago, just before Christmas, in my garden.

Graduate students from Gallaudet University, Washington DC, come to ANIMO to learn about therapeutic riding and other animal assisted therapies

During the summer we had four students from Gallaudet, all graduate students in Education or Mental Health. We all had a fantastic time as they learned everything from being a groom and riding lessons to helping train horses for therapy. We also went over the benefits of therapeutic riding and the different special needs it can benefit. It was a great opportunity for me to learn ASL (American Sign Language) and practice it. It has been proven that in many learning disabilities, if they can have visual and auditory stimulus, they are able to take in and understand more so the sign language was a big help for me in my work at ANIMO. The students all worked or were studying in different fields of Mental Health within the deaf community and felt that therapeutic riding would be very useful for everything from abused children and women to autism. Megan had a one month intensive course for which she earned a certificate and became a valuable member of out team and family.

P.S. Megan—I’m still waiting for your essay on your time here and what you learned and liked about Spain and AAT. We want you to come back soon. We miss you.

Megan and I developed a special relationship and shared so many laughs and experiences including a very funny last supper. Now we have horses at home and are starting a new project on therapeutic riding and infantile cancer for a presentation in May of next year to the National Child Cancer Association Congress. I could use your organization skills and a big hug. Mima

(Heh! I was just able to sign this last paragraph)

The Friesian

This is a 4 year old Friesian stallion we saw in Seville this week. Out of the ten available, we chose this one. He has a magic quality and a character that goes with his looks. Gorgeous isn't he?

The Animo Course in Almería

We have written up our Animo course, held this past weekend in Almería at the Centro Ecuestre Albero, over on our sister blog Animo AAT. The course dealt with the basics of therapeutic riding, since little is known about the international norms here in Spain and we also learned how to work and communicate together in a multidisciplinary team. The course was a big success (and our thanks to the Red Cross for their special demonstrations) and we plan further courses in the future.
This was Animo's first course to be offered in its new headquarters, the Centro Ecuestre Albero.
Barbara Napier
Loli Berenguel
Beatriz Prevosto
== You can contact us at: animoalbero@hotmail.es

Cookie with the Children

A short piece with Cookie and her friends On YouTube.

Raven the Poster Dog

All this rubbish about taking a mongrel dog home from the pound. Here's Raven, a Briard. They say these are the most beautiful dogs of all - and in this candid picture, you won't help but agree!

Arturo the Donkey

One year, we went to the feria de bestia in Albox. Sheep, horses, pigs and, look, a little donkey. We called him Arturo and brought him home in the Nissan.

Curso básico de Equitación Terapéutica

INTRODUCCIÓN

Bajo la coordinación de la Vocalía de Paraecuestre de la Federación Andaluza de Hípica se CONVOCA el Curso básico de Equitación Terapéutica.

CONDICIONES DE LA CONVOCATORIA

Requisitos:

Los solicitantes deberán poseer la Licencia Deportiva Territorial en vigor, expedida por la FAH antes del comienzo del curso.

Fecha:

12 Y 13 DE NOVIEMBRE 2011

Horario:

9:00-19:00

Lugar:

Centro Ecuestre Albero, Los Partidores, La Cañada, Almería

Ponentes:

Bárbara Napier.

Dolores Berenguel

Cruz Roja

Coordinadora:

Vocal de Paraecuestre: Alma Narbona.

Plazas:

Limitado a dieciséis. (16)

Inscripciones e Información :

Vía email a brbrnapier@yahoo.com y alberocentroecuestre@hotmail.com

Fecha límite: 10 de noviembre 2011 .

Contactos:

Bárbara Napier: 649471219

Matricula: 100€

Visiting a Neighbour's Ranch

We went to see some horses yesterday, at a large lettuce farm between Cuevas and Pulpí. I know the owner from years back and he has - besides any number of thousands of hectares of lettuce - around a dozen Pura Raza Española horses (and a donkey). Here I am riding a nine year old mare. Riding this kind of horse is like floating through the air. A real pleasure.

Back in Mojácar, we now have the stables in good shape and one horse staying with us, Cuki, a Hispano Bretón which came here from Catalonia and our friends at Cadi Moixero.