Our new job!

They say one should strive to do what you love.  It's our good fortune Terry happened to find a flyer for the New Mexico Therapeutic Riding Center, "volunteers needed, will train."  Hmmm... should we, could we? Both Terry and I have a healthy love, and fear, of horses.  It didn't take long for us to say "let's try" and we contacted the Center. A few calls and a 6 page application later, we were invited to visit the NMTRC and observe what they do.  This is the view as we approached the center on Goose Farms Road...

The road to NMTRC...not bad!

The Center is a wonderful non-profit organization with an amazing and dedicated instructor, Ashley, that works to pair horses and folks with disabilities, and to teach volunteers how to help in the process.  The clients, to the degree they are able, learn how to take care and to clean their horse before their riding lesson.  We volunteers learn a lot as well.  We now have the confidence to approach the horse in the stall, put it's halter on and walk it out of the stall, and tie it up for the client.  

We've learned how patient and intuitive these special "therapy horses" are.  This is Terry helping one client, Thomas, riding Tosca, who patiently allows instructor Ashley to add more Halloween decorations that Thomas has chosen for Tosca.  Terry has a Masters degree in Special Ed, so it's a joy for me seeing him really enjoy his work with these clients.  It's all part of a carefully planned learning exercise for Thomas that Ashley has created for Thomas's special needs.  Ashley will tell you it's her life working with the disabled. We've seen how much joy and confidence the clients gain on horseback.    

Terry and I go home feeling we get much more than we give.  Speaking of giving, it was pretty cool to learn that Tosca was given to the NMCTR by the actor, Val Kilmer's daughter.  

Halloween at NMTRC, Instructor Ashley dressing Tosca, therapy horse 

As we were given a tour of the farm, we saw an incredible menagerie of animals, feathered and four footed. But, I was most touched when we saw this wild young colt, Mr. Bill and heard he was discovered in the wilds, standing all alone at the side of his dead mother. Lucky for him, they were able to rescue him, but he remains very wary of people.  He doesn't let anyone get near him, and he'll turn his back to you when you try.  

Mr. Bill

Well, as you can see, we really enjoy our time at the farm in New Mexico.