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Personal Ponies Activities during 2011 Personal Ponies of New York had an active 2011. Here is a summary of the past year's activities: May found NYS Director, Marcia Knapp attending the Personal Ponies National conference held at PPL National Director Denise Chasin's farm in Barnesville, MD This was a great opportunity to meet and share information with representatives of our program from 15 different states across the US and Canada. Topics presented included equine nutrition, fundraising, the UK Shetland breeding program and a demonstration of T-Touch. Paper work and record keeping for state directors and ways to improve compliance of yearly health reports were discussed by a panel of State Directors. A special highlight was a recorded message from PPL founder Marianne Alexander to all the participants of the conference. The end of
August is NYS Fair time and PPL was invited to present our program and share one
of our ponies in the NYS Veterinary Hall. Susan Gatley, her daughter
Caitlin, Marcia Knapp and her husband Pat and PPL Maggie Rose enjoyed a full day
of meeting many children and their families while spreading the word about our
unique program. Maggie was brushed to an amazing shine by all the kids! We
have been asked to return in 2012. Wolf Oak Acres Farm in Oneida provided a picturesque country setting to participate in the Special Needs Resource Fair and Family Fun Weekend. Numerous outdoor activities and games were available for families on this special farm as well as vendors with information about resources available to help families with special needs children. PPL Maggie Rose greeted children of all ages and received lots of petting and kisses! This event will be held September 22-23 in 2012. Bring your children for lots of outdoor fun. A pilot program with Job Connections from Rome and Ginger's Wish Farm started in late August and ran through mid December. Four people joined us weekly to learn about pony care-taking and how to groom and lead ponies. Volunteers Gayle Pulizzi, Jill Pavlot and Abbey Googel, a student at Hamilton College, helped to make this a successful start. We plan on resuming the program in the Spring. If you would like to volunteer to help with this program, please contact Marcia at 315-737-9376. Three PPL ponies were placed in New York this past year:
Zoe (Gallaway Zoe Leighan) will be companion to PPL Ness in Wilmington, after Ness and her human, Rarilee, lost their long time special companion, PPL Kiwi this past summer.
PPL of NY also welcomed two foals born on our two breeding farms in 2010. These newcomers are: Starlane Caprice born on Mary Flinn's farm in Lansing and Reflection Blue Berry, born on Carolyn Crowley's farm in Salem. If you are experienced with training "young ones", we are looking for volunteers to foster young ponies to further their training for future placement with families. We are looking forward to a busy 2012. More trips with the ponies out into the community are planned and we are looking for volunteers with horse handling experience who would be available during the weekday.
A Little History Personal Ponies Ltd is a non profit, 501c3 organization that provides small UK Shetland ponies to children that are differently able. Our program is 100% volunteer based, not a single person is paid a penny, and there is never any charge for our services
Our ponies have helped many children learn about empathy, outward focus, nurturing, acceptance, socialization, mental stimulation, physical contact, trust and many other physiological benefits as well. There are currently over 1,000 ponies throughout the USA. Our Mission A special magic is created when kids and ponies come together. Smiles abound! Personal Ponies’ mission is to bring together UK Shetland Ponies and children with special needs (including those differently-abled or with illness). New York State, the original home of Personal Ponies, is working to fulfill that mission. Our goal is to spread the word that these wonderful ponies (UK Shetlands) are available, free of charge, to place with families.
An article that appeared recently regarding Therapy Ponies in the Norwich Bulletin is called "Therapists on hooves: Little horses have a big job"
Last updated on 02/08/2012 © Personal Ponies Ltd. All rights reserved. Content and
Design.
National website:
www.personalponies.org U.K.Shetlands | From our Director | Volunteer | Ponies Bring Smiles |
Caddy
(Cadillac Man) joined the Mayes family in Mechanicville, NY. He will be a
companion to their Granddaughter Faith, and their neighbor's little boy,
Matthew, who has begun riding Caddy. Matthew's physical therapist works
with him to help lengthen and strengthen his muscles. Riding will also
help Matthew improve his walking as the gait of the pony closely mimics a
person's gait. Faith loves to give Caddy treats and will soon begin to
ride also.
Lilly (Schuman's Spring Lilly) will be a special addition
to the Equistar Therapeutic Riding Center in Burt, NY where children will
learn how to groom her. The Center plans to take Lilly into the
community to promote their program as well as the Personal Ponies Program.
Personal
Ponies began in 1986 and is now represented in every state in the US. Personal
Ponies reaches out to any child who may be differently able, whether that
condition is emotional or physical, caused by disease, birth defect, accident or
circumstance. 