Wishing all of you the very best Holiday Season. There never seems to be enough thank you’s, but please, please know my heart is fill with deep appreciation. Know that…”I could not have done it without you.”
Here in the autumn of 1777, American forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender. This crucial American victory in the Battle of Saratoga renewed patriots’ hopes for independence, secured essential foreign recognition and support, and forever changed the face of the world. Saratoga National Historical Park is located 40 miles north of Albany, the state capital, and approximately 15 miles southeast of Saratoga Springs.
Kristi and Julia drove me down to Saratoga, for a day of snow shoeing and history lesson Joe Craig “a walking encyclopedia” gave us further details of the battle
The girls and I have settled comfortably into Eastern New York. Snow arrived last week with a burst of energy but has now disappeared under warm sunny skies. Essie and Spirit have prepared for a cold winter like we have in Montana but I doubt they will need the thick coats they are sporting. We shall see.
what we left behind in April of this year, the eastern front of Montana Rocky Mountains magnificent country Belligerent winds were at our backs
Greetings from the Lamando residence. Snow this morning, wet, rainy, snowy, slushy day with a heavy mist peering through naked leafless trees. Mystical. I rarely follow a route I have ridden, generally I am doing huge circles. This portion of my route from Fort Edward, New York to Wells, Maine is like rediscovering friends I had met on the westward trek to Maine and I must say it has been great fun. I met the Lamandos while having dinner at the Fort Edward Diner in September. They heard me talking about Granville – the next town I was to ride thru. Cathy and David came over, introduced themselves, and as so many times happens invited me and my girls in for the night. Now here I am once again retracing the same route back to Fort Edward and the Lamando’s have been kind enough to take “the girls in.” Essie and Spirit have comfortable dry stalls with all the fixings.
In my years of equestrian travel I have come across several riding therapy programs and I thought this would be a good opportunity to share these remarkable programs with those who follow my rides.
Cathy owns NIPPER KNOLLS – Therapeutic Riding Program – Hippotherapy Services HPCS (certified clinical specialists there are only 108 registered in the United States) – nipperknolls.com
Cathy Lamando (in blue) encouraging a new student
Cathy Lamando has a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy MSPT and is a PATH Intl. registered Instructor. ( Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) this is from her website page…
… Our program emphasizes the abilities not disabilities of each participant. In a safe and friendly environment, we encourage people to strive towards their individual goals, whether it’s to increase confidence, socialization, muscular coordination and strength or to become an independent rider.
“yes, you can do it”
PATHInternational www.pathintl.org came together in 1969 and was formally called North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. “ensuring excellence and changing lives through equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) which promotes health, fitness and socialization for people with special needs.
priceless
When I asked Cathy “How do horses help those with physical disabilities, developmental challenges or mental health disorders?” She replied, “The multidimensional movement of the horse is widely recognized by physical and occupational therapist to aid postural control and motor skills. The predictability of the horses rhythm promotes self organization which may lead to normalized patterns of moment. Participants learn to trust through a large gentle animal and builds confidence which carries over into everyday life. The horse gives the experience of walking to a person who is non ambulatory. I have seen amazing changes on children who have found success no where else. The intimate one on one interaction between horse and rider can work miracles.”
Folks coming to the Windsor talk…the presentation will take place at the “WELCOME CENTER”
Coming from Rt. 5 North into Windsor, turn left off of Rt. 5/Main St. onto Depot St. directly before the soldier statue. Straight ahead of you will see the Windsor Station Restaurant. Bear right in front of restaurant. At this point you’ll be in a parking lot. Park anywhere. The WC (WELCOME CENTER) is tucked in the far right corner of this lot, approx. 100 ft. from the restaurant. It’s a light colored clapboard building and will be well lit. The address is 3 Railroad Row. The restaurant address is 27 Depot Ave.
If you come from the Rt. 5 South into town, go through both stop lights and turn RIGHT onto Depot St. after the second light and next to the soldier statue.
