Stretching One's Legs (Good Therapy)

We know that this is a blog about animals and animal assisted therapy, rather than just a repository for funny pictures, but we couldn't resist this snap of an early-morning run with Raven... and that's the thing: he's too fast for the camera!

In Training

Here I am riding my lovely Frisona being helped by Rebecka, a student from Sweden who is in Spain with the Erasmus program. Frisona is being trained to help me with my ANIMO-ALBERO therapy which is an ongoing investigation into how the horse can help people suffering from terminal disease and toxic medication treatments. Frisona was given to me by Diego Mañas Romera, from the Yeguada Valdesol in Sorbas, Almeria. Frisona and I are doing really well and getting better all of the time.

Sunday in Almería

Barbara rides on Cookie, with Rebecka leading. Rebecka is from Sweden and is staying with us for a while as part of the Erasmus Program (European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students).

 Barbara back-rides today at the Centro Ecuestre Albero. The rider is Adela and that's Alberto lower right (he looks just like his mother, Loli, the director of the centre). Today, we had just three children come to visit.

Animo Smiles

The Smile
This is a video with some pictures taken at a recent Animo session in Almería. Animo is a centre for hippotherapy and therapeutic riding based in Southern Spain started in 1986.

Horses and Mosquitoes

I see letters from people all of the time asking for help with skin problems and insects bites in their animals. You can only spray them so many times with insecticide and it is never as good as it claims. Antihistamines and steroids are not very good for them and should only be used in extreme cases. My new Friesian, Frisona, came from a dry, arid, inland area and moved here to Mojácar where even though it is desert, it is lush and green this time of year and near a dry river bed that still has pools of stagnant water. I consulted the vet and many sources and it seems you just have to let them get bitten and to get used to it. I was wondering why the mosquitoes were worse on Frisona than they were on Cariño, the other horse here. It turns out that Cariño came from a place nearby that had very similar conditions so her body is used to it and the mosquitoes, though bad, don’t seem to bite her as much. Last night I almost called the vet because I thought that Frisona was going crazy. She was very impatient, wanted to stay dangerously close to me and couldn’t even eat. She kept throwing her head and dunking it in the bath tub. Even I was being bitten very badly while I was trying to confirm the reason for her strange behaviour. This year we have been plagued with at least four types of mosquitoes, it is the worst year ever. The town halls have been notified and have said that they would spray but – thanks to modern practices and the influence of the environmentalists – only for the larvae. One of the new types of mosquito is out all day, so we don’t even get a break from them, making it almost impossible to ride because the horses are so distracted and uncomfortable. Anyone that lives in the campo, with greenery around it, is having the same problem.

After fretting all night about the problem and Googling everything I could think of, the only answers I got were to move the animal to a different area or let their body get used to it and just let them get bitten. It will be better next year they all say.

I remembered that when we were little and fell in poison oak or got the chicken pox, my mother would put us in a cool bath with bicarbonate of soda and it took away the itch and had a very soothing effect for a few hours. This morning I went to the stable to feed and see how my poor Frisona was doing, she was still going crazy but at least came in to eat. I gave her a sponge bath with cold water and a lot of baking soda and I had a very relieved and grateful horse that was able to relax enough to enjoy her breakfast. I will have to do it several times a day but at least it works. Distilled or white vinegar in water is another good remedy for itchy skin and bites.

These remedies work on all of the animals and on people too.

Briards Everywhere

Hello, my name is Raven. I am a black Briard puppy. That is some type of French Sheep Dog, although I don’t know what a sheep is. I am a year and a half old and not as big as I should be and I don’t have really long silky hair, like I see in the poster of my dad that hangs in the computer room, but I am about as cute as they come. I haven’t learned French yet but I understand English and Spanish and have learned how to put my lips together just right to get that great French sound EEEUUUUOOOOOOW.

I live on a big farm in Spain with my adopted family with lots of room to run and animals to play with but my garden scares me just a little so I like to take my teddy out with me so I feel safe. I think some of the big trees follow me around and move when I’m not looking, like triffids do and I know that there are ghosts in the garden and others in the house. Charlie, my teacher and friend, tells me to ignore them but I can’t. My best friend is called Lasso. Lasso is always waiting for me, hanging from a tree outside the bedroom door and never gets tired of playing tug of war with me. I have a toy-box full of my favorite things and I know the names of each one and can find it when I am asked. My best one is called pretty ball; mom and dad got it for me from a Chinaman on the beach. It is a ball full of water with a light that glows and sparkles when I drop it. I actually have three because I need to have spares for when I can’t remember where I left one of them. There’s another one I like, only not to touch my mouth if you know what I mean: it’s a light-up squidgy toy.

I am a little hyperactive and scared to be alone so I like daddy to come outside with me when I have to pee, especially if it is dark outside. He just says “whizz” and I am there waiting at the door.

Lately, I have found some other Briards trying to sneak into my house. There is one upstairs on the shiny closet door and he barks at me and growls when I do, another is downstairs in the bathroom. I see him when I brush my teeth or try and get a drink of water. When I look away, I see birds and when I look back there he is again, looking at the birds in the aviary behind me in the window. Then, there is the one that looks down on me in the pig’s bathroom, I can only see the tip of his nose but he is there every time I look. We have been cleaning around the pool the last few weeks; I do hope they fill that big water hole this year; it looks like so much fun; anyway, while we were cleaning I found lots of Briards in the pool house, looking out through the windows at me. They aren’t quite as pretty as the ones inside of the house; they are sort of dirty and grey, a little blurry even.

I have to admit that I am a little bit too rough on the cats and the chicken but they don’t seem to mind, it is just that mama brought two new animals up to the stables; one looks just like me with long black hair on its feet and tail, although it’s a girl and she is huge. I love to go to the stables because I play -run round-round- then I run into a stall and jump on these new animals but they don’t seem to want to play with me and it makes mama yell at me. They just eat grass which, as anyone knows, you only eat when you want to be sick.

I know a few things, other than all my toys and a whizz, and they are called “OUT OF THE KITCHEN”, Daniel taught me that by picking me up and removing me. I will never forget that, the other is called “it is Titus’ turn”. Titus is Daniel’s dog, a big Mastín Leones. He isn’t as big as the animals at the stables but he is BIG. When I was little he would let me play with him but now that I am almost grown up he doesn’t seem to like me anymore, so every time mama says “Titus’ turn” I go and lie down in a corner and wait for her to come back.

I think when I’m not listening, daddy calls me Raving and I know the Spanish call me Ray Ban.

One day, somebody’ll bring me a sheep.

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.

::::: :::::

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.

Therapeutic riding: Hispano Bretón

The therapeutic riding cooperative Cadí Moixeró brought two beautiful examples of Hispano Bretones to ANIMO for us to try. They meet all of the requirements you could ask for in a therapeutic horse. They are calm, willing, friendly, strong and have a body build and gait that is ideal for bareback riding and all types of therapeutic riding. Sadly, these beautiful horses are generally bred for meat because of their large build. Due to their kind and easy-going nature and broad sofa-like back they are perfect for everything from early stimulation in babies to back-riding for every type of disability. We will be doing demonstrations and courses hoping to promote the animal as a beneficial therapeutic animal. Here are a few pictures of their first day here. After a fourteen hour trailer ride all the way from the Catalonian highlands, and in a new place with people they didn't know, they performed perfectly.

There's a short piece on YouTube, prepared by Ken.

Finding the Mid-line

Step number one in any therapeutic riding is to help your student find their mid-line or center. Until they have an idea of what their center feels like they cannot move on to other exercises like reaching from one side to the other. They need to find their mid-line in order to walk, bring a cup to their mouth or get the feel of what it is like to walk and be in balance for those that are wheelchair bound or have an awkward gait. This is something most children learn from birth, slowly learning to bring things together to their mouth. If your student can already do this then you can move on to other activities.

The first step is to get them to relax and be in a good position; ankle, hip, shoulder and ear in line. This is done with a back rider who supports the feet, keeping them in line to achieve the most benefit; while holding lightly on to their wrists and stretching out, in front, up and across the chest, ending by touching the nose with both hands.
This is very difficult for some children especially with Cerebral Palsy. Never force the movement. If they go rigid or limp, start again by crossing the arms over the chest until they relax and continue the series over again.
You may not be able to accomplish this in one or two classes. Once they have achieved the goal, praise them and do something like a short trail ride or something for fun. When they are able to do this on their own they are ready to start games and exercises where they cross the body to retrieve or place objects. The back rider must lean slightly back so that the child's head is supported. If the head drops, ask them to try and lift it themselves, if they can't give a little help.
The goal is to get both hands together to the nose by themselves or with the minimum of help.
This is a riding therapy demonstration on Nora at Centro Albero, with Loli Berenguel Gálvez as the instructor, Marla as the student and me as the back rider.

From My Book

This is a piece from the final chapter of my work-in-progress Riding for my Life.

I have had my last operation, which was on my eyes. The membrane around my eyes and under my eye lids were replaced with placenta but unfortunately after a month the new membrane is dissolving leaving my eyes uncovered and open to any food or drink that I have. I am now too high of a risk to operate any more. I have been off all medication since September 2010, and have been in better shape than I have been in years. I do not recommend that anyone stop their medication without their doctor’s approval, but anyway, I did. The reason I stopped is because for over three years I was taking so much medication for so many different things and none of them were stopping the problems: but they were killing me. Doctors and friends are shocked when they see me now because I am in so much better condition, both mentally and physically. I have more energy, less pain and am more productive. My insomnia has been gone for over a year and I have no visible signs of vasculitis. I have a post-cancer patient who is also participating in this study, who has different problems yet many of the same symptoms as I do. He also has suffered from depression and Short Fibre Neuropathy, for which there is no medication. For the first time in fifteen years he is pain free and has his depression under control. The side effects of the cancer treatment are disappearing and his general quality of life has improved to the point that he wants to get his own horse so that he can ride more often. This is far from the end of the investigation or my practice of the ANIMO-ALBERO therapeutic riding program. That is just really beginning. Every day we are finding so many ways in which the horse can help people suffering from circulatory problems or the side effects of medical treatments, to reduce pain, to prolong a better quality of life and to help people deal with their fear when suffering with a terminal disease. We have now found that with a few months of continuous therapy the effects are long term and not short term as we had originally thought. I know that this program does not eradicate the disease and I don’t want to give anyone false hopes, but by just practicing this therapy twice a week, I have improved my quality of life and am living almost pain free; allowing me to be a wife, mother, grandmother and friend once again. This is something that was stripped away from me by Rhodatarula, Wegener’s disease plus a series of misdiagnoses; also by the ten years that were taken away from me by the more than thirty operations that left me so physically disfigured that I suffered severe depression and wouldn’t socialize for over three years. One trip to visit our daughter, Jessica, and grandchildren in Oklahoma; a trip that I thought would be my last, changed my life around 180 degrees. A little pinto gelding, by the name of Pronto owned by Patsi Smith, was the beginning of my new life and the investigation into the ANIMO-ALBERO program. I hadn’t ridden in over eight years and was coaxed into going riding with my children. I found that not only did I feel more energetic and happier but I somehow found a hidden strength inside of myself. This strength and self confidence made me start to go out with the family - not worrying about what people thought - and I found to my surprise that everyone was so nice to me and that my scars and bandages didn’t seem to make a bit of difference to them.
It is my dream, that one day the medical profession will take note of the work that we are doing and that thousands of people may benefit from what we have discovered and that the investigation continues for years to come.
Note: It is vital that family, friends and caregivers encourage their patients to go to therapy, no matter what kind it is. Usually the patient is too tired or doesn’t feel up to it but I can tell you from experience, that once you go you feel much better. I learned this way back when a volunteer, Sarah, that took me to my riding therapy, told me that even though I didn’t feel like riding, we would go and if I didn’t want to ride we could come back home again. It is a lesson I have never forgotten and am forever grateful to her.

This is me riding a beautiful Friesian mare called Frisona, who comes from the Yeguada Valdesol in Sorbas, Almería.

How a Horse Helps Against Depression

I have decided to post this picture alone instead of including photos of the other animals that have helped me deal with my illness. I will post them on another day because they are important too. This photograph shows the emotion and joy that I get when I am around the animals and I think it has more impact, standing on its own. This is a Friesian mare called ‘Frisona’, who happens to be carrying the foal of the horse of my dreams, ‘Ero’, who is on another posting below. I have fallen in love with ‘Frisona’. The first time I rode her, it brought me to tears: it was such an emotional experience for me. She has such a wonderful disposition and it feels like you are floating when you ride her. She has a different gait from other horses, which gives more benefit in ten minutes than most horses manage in half an hour. She is very affectionate and follows you everywhere.

But, let’s go to the photograph. Animals have no prejudice and love you as you are; they take away any feeling of depression and they seem to understand when you are feeling down or have a problem and react accordingly. That’s why I can share this picture with you.