Vaulting on horses was the subject and learning experience for students of Perfect Ponies Learning Center (PPLC) of Van Buren, Aroostook Horse and Pony Associates (AHPA) in Monticello and Pony Patch of Presque Isle. AHPA hosted the event/clinic.
Part One took place in Shelley Taylor’s garage in Monticello on the practice vaulting barrel. Sara Wotton and Taylor coached as everyone participated, even adults! Activities included mounting, several exercises and poses on the barrel including “around the world moves.”
Contributed photograph
BALANCING — Trying the pyramid are, from left, front, Myrna Bean and Sara Wotton; on barrel, Skylie Bartlett, McKenzie Joslyn, Lexi Bartlett and Dakota Beaulieu; and back, Shelley Taylor.
For Part Two, the groups moved to the barn to meet the horses and ponies, gawk at “Whinnie the Poo,” a very pregnant golden Shetland pony. Weather permitted, so “Cowboy” was suited up by Nancy Pytlak, with pad and surcincle for her Pony Patch students to demonstrate some mounted gymnastic skills they started in 2012.
The event was a result of three barns cooperating through Manes and Tails, which networks and fundraises to support therapeutic horse programs to increase and improve county-wide. All three barns service special needs and regular students, with PPLC adding programs for veterans and families this year.
The impact was a lot of fun and learning for all.
Pony Patch got to use the practice barrel for the first time, APHA got to see mounted gymnastics as a possibility to include with their interactive vaulting program, and PPLC students, who had no vaulting experience before, couldn’t stop talking about the barrel all the way home and figured how to put the draft horse “Aisha” in Van Buren to work two days later. Everyone, being vaulting beginners, were encouraged by others they’d just met.
For more information on APHA, call Shelley Taylor 538-9376; Pony Patch, Nancy Pytlak 764-5342 and PPLC/Manes and Tails, Nancy Dumond Violette 868-5324.
The Manes and Tails organization may also be found at manesandtailsaroostook.webs .com and on Facebook.
Current/ongoing Manes and Tails fundraiser is bottle driving, give Perfect Ponies Learning Center (PPLC) of Van Buren a call if you would like bottles to be picked up. Every five cents counts.
The next Manes and Tails meeting is at Pony Patch Farm on Chapman Road, Presque Isle on Saturday, May 4, 7-8:30 p.m.. Anyone interested in horses helping humans is invited.
