A VALENTINE TO OUR LITTLE BIT SUPPORTERS: Celeste’s Story
A close family member was diagnosed with autism, so Wendy closely monitored her babies. She learned that, if they showed possible signs of autism, early intervention would be critical. Then the typical baby smiles didn’t happen. At 10 months, Wendy and her husband asked doctors for help, and at one year, they attempted their own early intervention.
Our story focuses on one of the babies—Celeste. After a year and a half, Celeste still was not making eye contact and would not turn her head when her name was called. “She was hyper-focused on something else, as if she was in a different world,” said Wendy.
Wendy insisted that both of her kids be tested, and both were diagnosed with autism. Celeste had delays in speech, body language, and understanding. Wendy wanted Celeste to be able to grow her vocabulary and use more words to communicate her thoughts, feelings, and ideas consistently—and be understood. She reached out to Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center before her children were two years old.
Little Bit’s Speech-Language Pathologist, Devin, began working with Celeste at two years of age. Their weekly time together is focused on three goals: improving speech sounds, expanding vocabulary and length of speech, and developing pretend play. During treatments, Celeste and Devin partner with Little Bit’s mini horse, Pete, and volunteer, Meg. To help Celeste work towards her therapy goals, Devin uses a play-based, child-directed approach involving natural interactions like grooming and leading Pete. In Little Bit’s unique therapy setting, there are limitless opportunities for natural interactions.
At home, Celeste was once “stuck” in using gestures or single syllables like “bah” for bottle or “Pe” for Pete, and she didn’t speak at all with people she did not know. At Little Bit, some of Devin’s treatment tools include picture cards, verbally emphasizing the ending of words and using hand motions or gestures, and the vaulting barrel, where Celeste can sit at Devin’s eye level. Throughout their treatment session, Devin continuously models speaking, taking Celeste’s sounds and repeating them back as a full word or phrase. She verbally prompts Celeste to take part in procedures, like buckling and unbuckling Pete’s blanket.
Pretend play is an important part of any child’s development. Initially, Celeste didn’t engage in any pretend play; she would roll a ball or watch someone else play, but she kept to herself. At Little Bit, she is constantly encouraged to pretend play, such as riding a green foam pool noodle like a horse. Devin shared, “Celeste is now naturally engaging with objects around the barn, like brushes and hoof picks, in Celeste’s favorite color pink, and imitating those same actions and sequences outside the barn. All of this pretend play supports Celeste’s social skills, critical thinking, emotional control, and relationship building.”
Wendy shared, “Now that Celeste has joined Little Bit, she can tell you all about Pete and Devin, but she has yet to say, ‘I love you.’ She calls our Little Bit day, ‘neigh neigh’ day. Now, Celeste refers to ALL horses as ‘Pete’ instead of ‘neigh neigh’.”
When asked how Celeste might be different today without Little Bit’s services, Wendy shared, “I am so thankful for the eye contact. She’s more social. She is playful with other little girls. She likes grooming herself and other people now. These are the ways she expresses her love. She can also identify the feelings of another child. Those are huge milestones.”
Wendy continued, “Since being at Little Bit, Celeste will take toy horses and put a little person on top of the horses and try to get them to ride. It’s a big deal—this is the start of pretend play.”
Wendy believes that the “burst” in language development that she and Celeste’s other therapists are noticing is due in part to her treatments at Little Bit. “Her language growth has been extreme. Hire more speech therapists—this is amazing!” Wendy continued, “At Little Bit, there is this performance and reward scenario; you’re with the horse and your words create magic. If I say something to the horse, the horse does something because I spoke.”
“My husband and I knew that Little Bit was so important. Little Bit was something I was going to fight for, for my kids. If it wasn’t for people making donations to keep our cost low, I wouldn’t be able to help my child. I have two autistic children. They need it in their early development. We have to be there right now when they are little. I wish there was more funding. I wish more kids could get into it. I wish we could come more often.”
Thank you, Wendy and Celeste, for sharing your Little Bit story with all of us! Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center shares your wishes.
♥ Thank you to Wendy and Celeste, for sharing their story with all of us.
Thank you to Celeste’s Little Bit Team.
Thank you to Steve Birds Photography.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
MAGNUS’ LITTLE BIT STORY
New parents have many changes to adjust to, often while sleeping less. Imagine being a new parent whose baby is having seizures, and you have no idea why or how to help them. Exhausted, frustrated, and worried, you eventually learn that your baby, Magnus, has Dravet Syndrome caused by a gene mutation that affects brain cell function.
The seizures could happen anytime, anywhere. Magnus even had a seizure during his first day of preschool. The color red and bright or flashing lights often triggered a seizure, so for many years, visiting Santa was out of the question. His longest seizure lasted two heart-wrenching hours. Now 16 years old, Magnus still requires a nurse to stay with him at school and someone to sleep in the same room with him.
“When something like this happens, you see a lot more kids with disabilities than I had noticed before,” said Magnus’ mom, Mayra.
Their family has endured endless doctor appointments, constant trial and error with medications, diets, and feeding methods—and countless ambulance rides to the ER. Mayra shared, “We live post-traumatic stress every day. Magnus lives on borrowed time.”
“Whatever life he has, I want it to be the best life we can give him,” said Mayra. “Whatever is in our power to keep him mobile, we will do,” she continued.
Magnus has fewer opportunities than a typically developing child. He occasionally loses balance, has challenges paying attention, and is unable to regulate his own body temperature—he doesn’t sweat. Steve and Mayra looked for a program that would help keep Magnus mobile by increasing his balance, strength, endurance, and concentration—without causing him to overheat. They found Little Bit when Magnus was one year old, he started Occupational Therapy at Little Bit when he was two, and 14 years later, Magnus began Adaptive Riding.
When Magnus first began Little Bit therapy treatments with his occupational therapist Sarah, in addition to climbing on and off his horse, sessions included a lot of time climbing on and off the tractor, a unique opportunity found at Little Bit. The tractor motivated him to work on his balance and coordination. While on his horse, a favorite activity was holding a round object and rotating his body while looking in the direction he wanted to go—pretending to steer his horse. Today, in Adaptive Riding with his Instructor Devon, he holds the reins throughout his lesson, learning to actually steer his horse.
“He can’t do jogging or soccer. The horse is a really good form of exercise for him. His core [strength] is better than it would have been. He’s so exhausted afterwards that he almost needs a nap. I never really thought riding horses would be a workout,” said Magnus’ dad, Steve. He continued, “I think Little Bit helps him with his walking and running. If it weren’t for Little Bit, he wouldn’t be doing too much except around the house.”
Today, in Adaptive Riding, he works on his two-point, in other words, briefly raising his body up off the saddle while standing in the stirrups. This is a big challenge for Magnus, and just like his therapy sessions, he fully participates. His class and his horse Molly’s movement were intentionally chosen for Magnus, providing the best opportunities for him to work towards his goals. Some of his goals are interacting with classmates, improving his posture, and increasing his awareness of his body position.
There’s also an emotional side to Magnus’ Little Bit experience. His obvious happiness—the smiles, hugs, fist bumps, and “hi” greetings that Magnus is known for—is a testament to his remarkable resilience. It’s impossible not to smile when you are around him. Steve explains, “Little Bit is good because it’s a controlled, stress-free environment. It’s a home.”
Mayra added, “Magnus feels like he belongs there.”
“If it wasn’t for donors, we could not afford it. We’re lucky that we live here, that Little Bit is close to us, and that we have Little Bit’s commitment to support the community that needs them,” said Mayra.
When asked what they would like you to know about Magnus, Mayra shared, “To see him as the person that he is and that he has so much to give.”
Steve added, “I’d like them to see him as an individual, not his disabilities.”
Thank you to Magnus, Mayra, and Steve for sharing their family’s story with all of us. Thank you to Magnus’ Little Bit Team.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Juliana's Story
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Juliana in the tranquil garden of her home in East Bellevue. We were surrounded by flowers, trees, and the sound of a rippling stream coming from a lovely water feature. I could see why she found solace here as it was a place to sit, reflect, and regain strength after a very busy day.
In 1989, Juliana came to America from Indonesia. She was 15 years old at the time and the oldest of three girls. Her family lived and worked in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital and at that time home to over nine million people. Her grandparents were immigrants from China and were considered a minority in the predominantly Islamic country. Life in the underdeveloped and turbulent country was hard. Perhaps it was because Juliana was the oldest daughter, or perhaps it was in her DNA, but she was determined to pursue a better life for herself and her family. So, when she was 13 and saw an ad in a local paper about a foreign exchange program, she told her mother that she was going to America!
Two years later and at the age of 15, Juliana stepped off an airplane and arrived in the small town of St. Anthony, ID. Located in the southeastern corner of Idaho, St. Anthony is north of Rexburg, ID, and was home to just over 3,000 people. South Fremont High School, home to the Cougars, had roughly 300 students in the four grades and would become Juliana’s school for the year.
It was here in St. Anthony, where she lived with her host family, The Sessions, that Juliana was introduced to her first and thereafter favorite horse, and she felt an immediate connection and love for these animals. The school hosted several exchange students that year, and Betty Fisher, the regional representative from the exchange program, wanted to create a real American experience for these students, and so planned a visit to the local rodeo grounds to meet the horses. The local newspaper captured the outing, and Juliana saved a clipping from the newspaper and placed it into her photo album along with many photos capturing her stay in the States. After the outing, Juliana and several of the other exchange students returned to the barn and negotiated mucking stalls in return for additional time in the saddle. The night before leaving St. Anthony, she went back to the barn one last time to say “goodbye” to her favorite horse and remembers tears streaming down both of their cheeks.
Fast forward to 2021, Juliana now lives in Bellevue and works for Microsoft. She attended Knox College in Illinois, received her masters from American University in Washington D.C., and worked as a consultant before landing a position with Microsoft. Her family is here. She has two children of her own and throughout this time, horses were her refuge. She included them in her vacation plans and looked for opportunities to ride (western) whenever she could. She still does. She fulfilled her dream to pursue a better life here in America, through determination and hard work, but with that came additional challenges that took a toll on her personally. She sought out a therapist and during one of her sessions, she heard about equine-facilitated psychotherapy. This led her to Little Bit. She started treatments during the COVID pandemic, so her time at Little Bit was limited, but within minutes of meeting Little Bit’s Princess, there was a connection. Princess sensed Juliana needed support and provided much-needed attention.
This past Little Bit Auction, Juliana bid on and won the naming of the outdoor arena for one year. She had been thinking about her connection to Little Bit, the horses and how it began, and pulled out her old photo album from her exchange year. She found the newspaper clipping that she saved as an exchange student, and on the top of the clipping she had written the name of her favorite horse shown in the photo: “Little Bit!” She cried. I cried.
Life has a way of coming full circle, providing opportunities that in the moment you don’t really understand. For Juliana, her early relationship with Little Bit the horse was meant to happen and paved the way, 30 plus years later, to Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. And for that, she is grateful, and so are we!
Written by Sanda Anderson
Meet Our Herd: Magic
Known for his “sparkle” and energy, Magic is a 16-year-old Haflinger gelding standing at 14.2 hands high. He joined us in 2018 with a background in competitive cart driving and now specializes as a full-time therapy horse. Described as being a people horse, Magic can be very communicative about his needs during a therapy session and in turn prompts the patient to communicate back with him.
Magic is eager to work and enjoys working multiple times a day for mental stimulation. He often comes to his gate when a session is about to start, letting the staff know that he’s ready to go. He puts all his energy into creating a good experience for the patient, and has high quality, symmetrical movement that’s perfectly suited to therapy sessions. Challenging the patient to activate their muscles to stay balanced, his powerful walk sends plenty of feedback with each step. It’s the sensory input that he provides that lets patients gain stronger control over their bodies, sometimes up to days after therapy sessions.
As a therapy horse, Magic brings a lot of excitement and can draw many positive reactions from patients. According to one of our therapists, Sarah, a lot of nonverbal patients end up making more happy noises while riding Magic than compared to when they’re not riding him. Meg, the mother of Therapy patient Claire, describes the relationship between Claire and Magic as one where they “both feed each other” and their desires to go fast and be outside. The movement and speed of Magic’s stride tends to be something Claire enjoys, and Meg thinks it makes her look “kind of free” when she rides Magic because of her joy and the wind in her face.
Due to his intellect and connection with his patient’s emotions and success, Magic’s an incredibly rewarding horse to work with. He always gives all his effort during sessions, giving staff, volunteers, and the patient a more productive session. In therapy, he’s often able to meet any goals that are set for him without needing to have the goal adjusted or lowered. He works especially well with younger boys because of their often shared curious and playful natures.
Even outside of work, Magic has plenty of energy that he expresses in his playful personality. When he’s in his outdoor paddock, he plays with his neighbors and has been known to conspire with other horses to take their fly masks off and throw them into the air, and he even finds ways to entertain himself by letting crows into his shed while he hides, eventually coming out to chase them, or by playing with the toys that the staff add to his paddock.
Magic, like any other horse or person, can get nervous about working with things he’s scared of. For example, Magic might avoid a prop or toy during a session if he doesn’t like it. To overcome these fears, Magic is currently being clicker trained to help him be comfortable with props he might not like. Much like classical conditioning with dogs, his trainers use a clicker and treats to associate touching props with the reward of a treat. By doing so, Magic can become more and more comfortable with touching them.
Magic’s care routine is one of the more complex ones here at Little Bit. However, because our amazing Equine Department figured out exactly what Magic needs, he’s been at his healthiest for over 18 months and is incredibly consistent in his work. Because of how similar his body is to that of a sport horse, he requires maintenance for his joints, and gets regular chiropractic and acupuncture care. He also has custom shoes, which support the shape and movement of his body best, and the most expensive supplements of all the Little Bit horses to ensure his excellent health and ability to work safely.
Making sure our horses are in the best health and condition possible is of the utmost importance to Little Bit. As such, we rely partly on sponsors and donations to take care of our approximately 30 horses. Magic’s care is currently 0 percent sponsored, and if you’d like to help sponsor him or any other horse, your donation would be greatly appreciated. Learn more at www.littlebit.org/sponsor-a-horse.
Written by Andrew Pai
Editor’s Note:
We're thrilled to announce that Magic, our 17-year-old Haflinger gelding, has been named the 2024 American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Therapy Horse of the Year!
Nominated by our dedicated therapists, Magic's win is a testament to his unwavering dedication and the profound impact he has had on clients' lives. Magic's quality of movement provides a superior standard of therapy utilizing equine movement. In 2023 alone, Magic participated in over 200 hours of therapy sessions, offering stability, balance, and joy to countless individuals. We're immensely grateful to the entire Little Bit team for their commitment to Magic's well-being and training, which has shaped him into an exceptional therapy horse. Congratulations, Magic!
To learn more about Magic and the AHA award, visit littlebit.org/magic.
Knowledge, Passion, and an Eye for Safety – What it Means to Be a Little Bit Instructor
Zoe is one of ten Little Bit instructors certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International. Previously a classroom teacher, Zoe always knew she wanted to work with kids, horses, and people with disabilities, she explains, she just didn’t know this job existed. After interning at Little Bit, Zoe became a full-time instructor in 2021. “I cannot speak highly enough about how [my internship] prepared me to be an instructor,” she says.
PATH International outlines the process of becoming a certified instructor on their website at pathintl.org. There is a curriculum that all potential instructors must follow and will be tested on before receiving their certification. Anyone interested in becoming an instructor will also need to gain hours in equine management and working with people with disabilities. Little Bit instructors regularly attend PATH conferences and training to continue their education and to make sure they are up to date on best practices. As a national and regional leader in equine-assisted services, Little Bit often hosts and/or facilitates training for both continuing education for our instructors and professionals from other centers seeking their certifications.
Little Bit provides safe, quality lessons that help people representing over 100 different diagnoses to feel seen and heard, and ensure that their physical, emotional, and cognitive needs are met, thanks to instructors who are informed and knowledgeable about the situations their students are coming from. Zoe describes her job as facilitating the connection between people and horses.
What’s the difference between a regular riding instructor and one certified by PATH International? Zoe explains that Little Bit instructors are “qualified to facilitate interactions between people and horses with an eye for safety.” Little Bit instructors make sure the arena is clear and quiet, find horses and tack that are the best fit for the riders’ needs, based on their abilities, and help determine short- and long-term goals for riders. The goals, both in their riding skills and in their everyday lives, are determined by assessing what needs they have in and out of the arena and determining how riding lessons can support those needs. In some cases, unlike typical riding lessons, riders’ goals may be to maintain instead of improve their conditions.
Instructors come up with creative ways to keep people engaged and have the benefit of a facility, community, and knowledgeable team of staff and volunteers to help overcome challenges. Instructors adapt to the needs of their riders to provide a recreational opportunity for people who otherwise may not have access to horses or horseback riding, or in some cases any physical, outdoor activities. Little Bit arenas are outfitted with mounting blocks, ramps, and hoists, allowing instructors to utilize different methods of mounting and dismounting. An instructor’s main goal is to provide safe and effective lessons ̶ with FUN!
Zoe describes her greatest joy as an instructor as seeing the joy, warmth, and love the riders and volunteers have for the horses and each other, and watching them build relationships.
What does a typical day in the life of an instructor look like? There’s no such thing! Aside from teaching lessons, you may find Little Bit instructors setting up the arenas, schooling horses, helping in other Adaptive Riding classes or Therapy sessions, leading volunteer trainings, or taking notes on any changes in riders and their conditions to ensure their needs are being met. As a mentor (another PATH designation), Zoe sets aside time every month to work with Little Bit’s interns.
Little Bit’s internship program helps bring people into this type of work. It trains interns specifically in the Little Bit way so that once they become instructors, they can teach at the same level and with the same quality provided by all Little Bit instructors, and provide the same quality of care for our horses and riders. The time commitment of the internship varies depending on the intern’s availability but can generally be completed in one year. It includes goal setting, volunteering in Little Bit programs and on the Barn Team, incorporating areas of interest to the intern, lesson planning, completing an intern project, and an evaluation. Little Bit staff members have mentored dozens of interns and helped them learn the “what,” “why,” and “how,” of adaptive riding and how to teach those elements, which is what distinguishes a PATH certified instructor.
So, why choose to become an instructor at Little Bit? Little Bit has been serving families in the greater Seattle area since 1976 and has built a communal knowledge that is ingrained in our staff. Little Bit is one of the largest therapeutic riding centers in the country, providing equine-assisted services to over 500 children, adults, and seniors annually. It is the only therapeutic riding center accredited by PATH in King County, and one of only five Premier (highest level) centers in Washington state. Also, “We have the best horses,” says Zoe, “they are highly trained and specialized for this work.”
Zoe explains that having more highly qualified instructors would allow us to continue providing this life-impacting activity and provide services to more people. If you are interested in this type of work, she suggests checking out our website at www.littlebit.org/internship-opportunities and giving her a call. Little Bit looks for the following traits in instructor interns:
· A passion for horses and people.
· Riding experience and knowledge about horses.
· The desire to teach and to work with people with disabilities.
· The ability to be accepting and inclusive with a drive for equity.
“Watching students, volunteers, and instructors love these horses and work so hard everyday to make sure they can reach the best of their ability is really magical,” says Zoe.
Written by Callie Hall
Photos by Kimberly Lind Photography
Schooling plays a vital role in the wellbeing of Little Bit horses
Schooling Coordinator, Katrina, working with Magic
Little Bit horses are essential partners in providing equine-assisted services to hundreds of children and adults with disabilities. Being a working horse at Little Bit comes with unique challenges, and these horses are specially selected and trained to make sure this is the right job for them and that they remain healthy and happy. As part of their comprehensive care, each horse has a personalized training plan based on their age, fitness level, temperament, health, history, work ethic, ability, and other factors. Training plans are in place for the entirety of a horse’s career at Little Bit and are regularly adjusted by the Equine Department to make sure every horse’s individual needs are being met.
Training plans for the horses may include groundwork, mock work to acquaint them with what they could encounter in Little Bit programs, and mounted work. Training plans are developed by the Equine Director with input from staff, including from instructors and/or therapists on how the horse has been performing in classes and/or treatments, plus any medical concerns, behavioral concerns, and other factors that may impact a horse’s ability to perform at their best.
Equine Director, Jenny, schooling Rhuna
Schooling is an essential piece of training. Every Little Bit horse is schooled by an experienced rider two or three times per week depending on their needs. The purpose of schooling is to make sure that horses are performing to the best of their ability by getting enough exercise, utilizing all their muscles to ensure they maintain strength and balance, working through any behavioral issues, and maintaining their confidence and variety of work.
You may see schoolers in the arena utilizing lots of circles and figures to work on bending and balance, trotting over ground poles to keep the horses engaged, riding around the track or walking throughout the property to help horses become comfortable with new sights, or climbing hills to strengthen the horses’ muscles.
Every horse has different schooling needs, and their schoolers will follow a training plan to ensure that they are preparing the horse to feel their best and be able to work in their classes and treatments. A younger or more sensitive horse may need a more robust schooling to exercise their mind and body, whereas an older horse may need a more relaxed ride with fewer or larger turns to work through any stiffness or other concerns.
Instructor Zoe schooling Loki
Horses are schooled regularly throughout Little Bit sessions. If a horse has been out of work due to an injury, or unable to be turned out in their paddock due to inclement weather, or we have been on break from programs, they will always be schooled before returning to our programs. Horses can build up extra energy when they cannot exercise or need to stand in a stall over periods of time, and schooling prior to returning to classes helps Little Bit ensure the safety of our horses, patients, riders, volunteers, and staff.
Schooling is an essential part of the high-quality, comprehensive care that is provided for all Little Bit horses and is vital to their long-term health, training, and wellbeing. A horse that is happy and healthy is better able and more willing to perform the important job of providing equine-assisted services to Little Bit’s patients and riders.
Learn more about Little Bit’s horses and how to become a horse sponsor who helps provide for their care at www.littlebit.org/horses.
Written by Callie Hall
Photography by Kimberly Lind Photography
A VALENTINE TO OUR LITTLE BIT SUPPORTERS: Mari’s Story
Some disabilities are easily recognized. Some, like anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalculia, mixed receptive-expressive language impairment, and ADHD, take a while to be seen by others, if at all. Where can a 14-year-old like Mari, with disabilities that are often not easily recognized, be understood, and feel safe to learn the skills they need to reach their full potential?
The nurturing environment, emphasis on safety, and focus on riders’ abilities and strengths drew Mari and her family to Little Bit. Mom Julie shared, “I think sometimes for the kids where disabilities are masked, there can be that emotional impact of struggling and not having it acknowledged or understood. The emotional benefit from Little Bit is that Mari feels understood. . . The people at Little Bit have been as important to her as the horses.” She continued, “To be able to match horses to the kids, not only skill-wise but personality-wise, has been really beneficial. It makes Little Bit unique.”
Horseback riding lessons involve the rider processing information from sights and sounds, understanding cause and effect, following timelines, and asking questions—all skills that are required at home and at school. Instructor Zoe took the time to learn about Mari’s needs and has adapted her riding lessons to meet those needs, such as providing plenty of information at the beginning of a lesson, repeating explanations, and pausing in the middle of the lesson to check in with Mari. According to Zoe, “Being 14 is so cool!” and that perspective is one reason Zoe and Mari work so well together.
In 2021, Mari started riding with the support of Little Bit volunteers, and today she is riding independently, fully dedicated to reaching her next goal of cantering with her horse Liberty. Mari shared that before cantering, she’s “trying to bond with Liberty so that we can get the perfect trot.” Zoe is committed to helping Mari reach her goals while at the same time helping her be more flexible with her expectations, be willing to experience and work through any outcome, and to not compare herself to others. Together, they balance Mari’s strong work ethic and competitive nature with Zoe’s belief that, “It’s about experiencing, learning, and growing—not success and failure.”
Mari didn’t expect to learn about loss at Little Bit. She felt safe talking with Zoe about her sadness over the death of a beloved Little Bit horse and about her horse retiring, learning from Zoe that she already held the skills and abilities to build a relationship with a new horse. For Julie, “To have her learn huge life lessons at Little Bit has been incredible.”
When asked to describe her best Little Bit moment ever, Mari said it was earning a first-place ribbon in the Margo O’Callaghan Memorial Dressage Show, her second year participating, with her family watching and Zoe encouraging her.
Mari sees a connection between her Little Bit experiences and those at home and school: “Little Bit has taught me to be persistent; I think that’s impacted me a lot at school. At Little Bit, I have to be aware of my classmates and the horses’ needs—and what’s too much to ask.”
The moment Mari turned 14 years old, she jumped on the opportunity to become a Little Bit volunteer, signing up for the first Little Bit volunteer orientation available! Then, she quickly moved on to the next two types of training, with some additional support from Zoe. As soon as she passed, she called her mom Julie, “shouting with glee—she was so proud of herself!” Mari looks forward to volunteering with “kids like me, or with greater needs, to form a bond.”
Julie shared, “I would like to say how appreciative we are for all the other community members past, present, and future who have helped sustain this magical place for children and adults so that our daughter could participate and grow and learn and heal here over the last few years. She has found a greater sense of belonging and purpose.”
Perhaps best of all, Mari shared, “When I ride, all my anxious feelings go away, and I feel free.”
Thank you, Mari and Julie, for sharing your Little Bit story!
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
FORD’S LITTLE BIT STORY
“Little Bit was one thing I wasn’t going to let go.” —Ford’s Mom Effie
“Failure to thrive” was the first diagnosis Effie and Casey heard while being consumed with worry—mentally, emotionally, and physically—searching for reasons why their newborn wouldn’t take nourishment, whether from Effie or a bottle. He was starving. Effie and Casey quickly learned the right questions to ask and continually pushed for answers. Despite Ford finally starting to gain weight, the challenges they hadn’t anticipated just weeks before still remained, leading to the discovery that Ford has a rare genetic syndrome.
Typically developing three-year-olds can talk, walk, sit up on their own, play with toys, use the toilet, and eat independently—all things that Ford could not do at that age. Everything he did, including feeding through a tube, required adult help. There weren’t any crackers, breakfast cereal, or swim lessons for Ford.
Casey and Effie brought Ford to Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center when he was three years old, simply hoping for any kind of progress. They were looking for a different kind of therapy environment with exposure to animals and the outdoors, and more importantly, a type of therapy he would enjoy and look forward to—a place where patients can pick blackberries, brush horses, and wave to birds.
Ford’s Little Bit team includes occupational therapist Christina, a Little Bit horse, a staff horse handler, and two dedicated volunteers whom he looks forward to interacting with each week. When he arrived at Little Bit, he had little core strength, was unable to sit up independently whether in a chair or on a horse, let alone stand, and had limited use of his hands. Just getting Ford into a car seat, carrying him, and changing diapers were daily challenges, partly because his leg muscles were so tight and painful.
First Gigi, who is still pictured above Ford’s bed today, and now Zorro, were chosen as his partners based on Ford’s abilities and treatment goals at the time. Gigi’s smooth and gentle movement was perfect for Ford until he soon built up enough core strength and stretching ability to move on to Zorro. Zorro’s width provides just enough stretch for Ford’s tight legs but not too much, and Zorro’s body heat on Ford’s legs helps, too. Effie shared, “Nothing opens up his legs the way sitting on a horse does. . . he’s visibly more comfortable . . . he’s in less pain.”
Today Ford uses small stirrups that he can push up on to sit straighter. While Zorro stands still, Ford works on shifting his weight forward to reach for a toy, slightly standing up in the stirrups. Therapist Christina mentions, “For kids who are not standing and walking regularly, it’s important to put weight into their legs for their long-term bone health.” Perhaps some day Ford will be able to safely stand in the stirrups while Zorro is moving. For now, Christina focuses on Ford’s large and refined movements and the transitions between them.
When asked about the gains Ford has made due to Little Bit therapy, Effie shared, “Core strength is definitely number one.” His gains in core strength make it easier for his parents to pick him up and transfer him. A stronger core allows him to adjust his sitting position on his own—no more sinking down onto his back while in a chair! Today, he has excellent control of his wheelchair, and Casey and Effie joke, “Perhaps a bit more than we would like because he is a daredevil.”
Second, Effie shared, “Ford has had severe fear and anxiety at other medical appointments until last year. Perhaps Little Bit is a factor due to the positivity there.” She recalled a time when, for a few months, they dropped all other services that weren’t working well for Ford. “Little Bit was one thing I wasn’t going to let go.”
Early intervention is so important, since childhood is the time when our brain makes a greater number of new pathways. Ford’s brain didn’t sense what normal movement felt like until he first partnered with Gigi. His therapist, Christina, adds, “The movement, steps, and speed of the horse mimic the human walk. When our spine is straight, our brain can process a lot more information. His brain is getting a lot of information about what a normal human walk feels like.”
This movement, like normal human walking, combined with the stretching and strengthening that are part of therapy on horseback, make Little Bit therapy unique. Ford’s most important therapy needs are naturally combined into one type of therapy at one location.
To Ford, Little Bit therapy doesn’t seem like work. “Little Bit gets him the therapy he needs in a way that is enjoyable for him. It’s something he looks forward to. Finding different ways to incorporate therapy, and staying happy, is so important to making progress,” Effie said. In those especially challenging moments when Ford needs to take a break, he uses the sign Christina taught him, communicating clearly and avoiding deep frustration.
Today, Ford is six years old, but of course he won’t always be a child. Many parents of young children with disabilities try not to dwell on concerns about the future; the day-to-day challenges and the uncertainty is already a lot to think about. For Casey, “I spend little time thinking about the future, but it’s always present. There are small moments when I realize we need to plan. It’s always there when I pick up Ford. How is this going to work when he’s 50 pounds heavier? How am I going to bathe him? It alters our thought process and decision making. I hope someday to have a conversation with my boy beyond him just saying a word or two. I hope he learns to read—I really, really hope.”
For Effie, “I want people to genuinely love and want to be with Ford and care for him, that he has real buddies for the rest of his life.” With emotion in her voice, Effie recalled hearing Casey sing to Ford, “The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” She continued, “You can go through your life mourning some of the things he can’t do, but the most important thing you can do is just love.”
Effie and Casey agree, “It’s so important to be able to go through this process and not feel like your life is just taking care of the disability. Ford looks forward to Little Bit every week—it fills Ford’s cup. However, it’s not just for Ford, it’s for families. Little Bit is us getting to break out of a typical therapy environment and feel a bit normalized. It’s ok to figure out different types of therapies that might seem unconventional. Little Bit is capable, competent, and qualified to take care of kids like Ford.”
♥ Thank you to Ford, Effie, and Casey for sharing their family’s story with all of us.
Thank you to Ford’s Little Bit Team.
Thank you to Steve Birds Photography.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
MUTUAL TRUST BETWEEN A HORSE AND A TEEN LEADS TO GROWTH
As Caitlin approaches, Molly quickly moves to the front of her paddock—it’s clear she’s happy to see her. Caitlin enters the paddock and gently puts the halter on Molly before they walk together to the round pen. Despite multiple spirited horses being nearby, Caitlin leads Molly with apparent confidence, signaling to Molly there is nothing to be concerned about.
Caitlin started Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in January 2020, self-describing that she was hoping for help with navigating the challenges of her teen years and dealing with childhood events. Traditional mental health therapy works for many people, but for some, like Caitlin, it doesn’t, and they are left wondering where to turn for help. Her therapist, Melissa Cope, MSW, LICSW, meets her at Little Bit for every session, along with Kelly, a Little Bit Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Together, they customize each session to Caitlin’s individual needs. Horses are uniquely suited to EFP, because they are intuitive and will react to behavior patterns and cues that people might miss.
Melissa, who provides both EFP at Little Bit and traditional psychotherapy services elsewhere, shares, “EFP works best for individuals who have tried traditional therapy and have not had success, those who are not yet appropriate for traditional therapy, or those who have difficulty speaking directly about that which they need to address. The horse adds motivation for many individuals since they want to do what’s necessary to be understood by the horse. Patients are then able to see their own behavior from a different perspective and how it may be getting in their way.”
During their session in the round pen, at times Molly is “at liberty,” in other words, not tied to anything, while at other times she wears her halter attached to a lead rope. Caitlin practices keeping personal space when leading Molly with her halter and rope. As soon as Caitlin removes the halter, Molly wants to follow her. Caitlin and Molly are guided through desensitization exercises. Today, that exercise is blowing bubbles, and in a previous session it was moving a plastic bag. The bag used to cause a large anxious response from Molly, but through their desensitization work, it no longer feels threatening to her, so the group has moved on to a new stressor. Today, the bubbles create a small response.
One of today’s session goals is for Caitlin to help Molly work through any anxiety she feels. First, Kelly blows the bubbles while Caitlin holds Molly’s lead rope. Then they switch, eventually removing the lead rope. As the session progresses, each person in the round pen shares their observations with the group. As Caitlin changes her location in the round pen while blowing bubbles, Melissa asks, “Would Molly respond as calmly if someone she didn’t know was blowing the bubbles?” Caitlin has worked very hard to gain Molly’s trust, which likely helps Molly to experience less anxiety because of their strong bond. The team makes sure each session ends on a positive note. Today, it’s a hay treat for Molly.
When asked to describe Caitlin’s progress from her first EFP session to today, Melissa shares, “Caitlin has grown substantially in her ability to stand up for her needs and read non-verbal communication, a key to building and maintaining relationships. She is able to see the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships and has been able to see how her behavior impacts the behavior of others through being very intentional with her horse. She is also able to anticipate problems and works to prevent them, which reduces overall stress levels. Through her work with desensitization, she has learned the importance of breaking down difficult tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.”
Thank you, Caitlin, for courageously sharing your experience with others! View the full story at www.littlebit.org/blog
Based on the number of requests for EFP services Little Bit continually receives, clearly there is a growing need in our community. In 2021, Little Bit served 15 EFP patients through 216 therapy sessions, just three percent of the participants Little Bit served that year. Little Bit also offers Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL), a program utilizing an education model rather than a therapy model.
AT THIS TIME, LITTLE BIT EFP AND EAL PROGRAMS ARE FULLY FUNDED. PLEASE CONSIDER SPONSORING ONE OF THE HORSES THAT ARE VITAL TO THE EFP PROGRAM: PETE, PRINCESS, LOKI, LIBERTY, PUMPKIN, GIGI, AND MOLLY. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WWW.LITTLEBIT.ORG/HORSES.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
A VALENTINE TO OUR LITTLE BIT SUPPORTERS: Andrew's Story
“For a family with special needs, this past year stretched our capacity to endure difficult circumstances. Covid outbreaks, quarantines, homeschooling, and severed connections with relatives, teachers, and therapists made life for our family incredibly challenging. For our sons, therapy time is critical, and working with our boys is not easy. It takes resilience, creativity, patience, and a high level of skill.”
Marci continued, “Our two sons possess a rare genetic syndrome called Smith, Lemli, Opitz that manifests in low muscle tone, behavior control concerns, sensory issues, and limited fine and gross motor coordination.” One of Bill and Marci’s sons, Andrew, now 15 years old, has received physical and speech-language therapies at Little Bit over the past 12 years. Andrew is nonverbal, expressing his needs through signs, body language, and an augmentative communication device—he works hard to communicate his favorite riding activities during his therapy. Marci describes the last few years for Andrew as “his most significant physical and mental growth all amidst his angsty middle school phase.”
Kelsie, his physical therapist for the last three years, recognized his constant and sometimes unpredictable movement meant it was time for new challenges. As sidewalkers during Andrew’s sessions, parents Marci and Bill are very much a part of helping Andrew meet these challenges. Marci shared, “The first day he moved into a kneeling position on Ronan, I experienced something between complete terror and overwhelming excitement.” The trust between Andrew’s team members, and according to Marci, Kelsie’s “knowledge of her craft and unwavering belief in my son,” led him to complete several vaulting poses while riding, transitioning independently after verbal cues—the same poses he was unwilling to do in the therapy room. Today, after hard work and patience from every team member, Andrew successfully completes tall kneel, airplane, donkey kick, and crab poses! Marci continued, “Vaulting produced a level of confidence in my son that has extended into every aspect of his life.”
Ronan is intuitive and spicy, and the perfect match for Andrew. Their bond leads Ronan to know when Andrew needs him to stand still or move. Sometimes they both need a calm day where they walk together and just explore the property, and other days they need more movement like trotting laps around the arena and a lot of position changes. After dismounting at the end of a session, Ronan always looks to Andrew for recognition and a carrot.
Andrew’s treatments can also include walking with Ronan, carrying tack, and learning to ride a scooter to improve his posture, core strength, and coordination. Marci has “seen numerous people succumb to Andrew’s meltdowns, but Kelsie remains an immovable presence; she waits, redirects, guides, and waits some more. Without fail, Andrew eventually gets up, returns to work, and finishes his job. Her masterful skill and grace-filled patience are the perfect match for him, and for this, I am eternally grateful.”
“I know my son will face incredible hardships in his future, but Little Bit is equipping him with the resilience to overcome these challenges. We continue to be blessed each week Andrew rides and proceeds to make the impossible possible.”
Thank you, Marci, Bill, and Andrew for sharing your story.
Follow more of Andrew’s story with KING 5 News at Redmond horseback riding center helping those with disabilities | king5.com.
A Lifelong Equestrian Finds Strength and Happiness at Little Bit
Photos courtesy of Kimberly Lind Photography.
Alice is a lifelong equestrian. When the day arrives that she can no longer ride, she will still be an equestrian in her heart. So many of us have interests that fuel us through life’s ups and downs, such as gardening, hiking, writing and so on. For Alice, that fuel has always been horses—and dogs are a close second. Photos of her horses and dogs over the years are visible throughout her home, bringing up great memories.
It’s been seven years since Alice’s horse, Poco, passed away—a love that still brings tears to Alice’s eyes. Alice has pushed through cancer and strokes, with lingering effects on her memory, peripheral vision, and core strength, and she was afraid that continuing to ride in her condition would take too much out of her. Her doctor was concerned about Alice riding, too. Don, Alice’s husband, sought ideas from their friends. “How could we get horses back in her life and be safe?” The answers led Alice to Little Bit.
After three months in the Little Bit Adaptive Riding Program, Alice shared, “I was crying the first time I rode Molly because I was riding a horse again. I like the way she responds. She doesn’t try to get her own way. She was pretty solid. There was nothing to be worried about.” Don shared, “Riding begins to rebuild her core muscles, and Alice’s back doesn’t bother her when she’s done riding. It’s muscular exercise she doesn’t get anywhere else. Instructor Joan does a good job of communicating and giving her challenging tasks. She does a really first-rate job of mixing mental work and riding skills to create a wonderful experience every week. I feel [Alice is] very, very safe [at Little Bit].”
Family members, like Don, know that emotions are a huge part of the disability experience. Don sees an emotional change in Alice since she began riding at Little Bit—more happiness. “I’m just so happy that she’s able to get back riding. The day that we go [to Little Bit], she has a big smile. Alice will cancel a doctor’s appointment but not her Little Bit ride. It’s emotionally uplifting.”
Don continued, “None of us know when we might need the services that Little Bit provides. It’s a wonderful facility and unique combination of skilled staff and therapeutic resources—the programs are so positive. Everyone should have the opportunity to visit and support the work they are doing.”
Alice is a Seattle area native, many years ago hitching her horse outside the original Bellevue JCPenney, on land that is now Bellevue Square. She’s also an honorary lifetime member of the Lake Washington Saddle Club, a non-profit organization formed in 1945. Alice was part of a core group who threw themselves into successfully saving Bridle Trails State Park when it was in jeopardy of closing. Each year the club honors an individual with the “Alice Prince Award” for their support of the park. Jennifer Duncan, president of the club, shared, “All of us who love horses, who ride regularly, and are reaching a certain age . . . it’s exciting to think that this opportunity exists. It’s an incentive to make sure that [Little Bit] survives and thrives.”
Alice’s riding at Little Bit today completes a circle, given that she volunteered at Little Bit many years ago; she gave then, not knowing that one day she would receive. Alice, Little Bit is honored to earn your trust and to safely provide an opportunity for you to achieve your best quality of life. Welcome back.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Breakfast with Kelly
Photos courtesy of Sanda Anderson.
It starts every morning at 6 a.m. The Little Bit herd is greeted with a cheery good morning from one of the barn staff specifically trained to provide the morning feeding. Like many top athletes, the Little Bit horses have a full team of professionals working with them – nutritionists, massage therapists, chiropractors, trainers, and custom shoers. The health and safety of every Little Bit herd member is the number one priority of the equine staff, and a complete diet specifically catered to their individual needs makes sure that they stay healthy and ready to work.
Like humans, each horse has its unique feeding needs. Kelly, one of Little Bit’s morning feeders and barn staff, knows just what each Little Bit herd member gets for breakfast. She begins the morning by loading up the quad with an assortment of timothy and alfalfa hay and delivers it to each member – some of which get their hay tossed on the ground or placed in nets. As foragers, horses benefit from eating small mouthfuls over longer periods of time. The nets that are used provide a slight barrier to the hay which simulates this process. Once all the horses have been fed their hay, Kelly returns to the barn to prepare every horse’s favorite food – the grain!
Individual buckets are filled with an assortment of high-quality grains and supplements that have been hand selected for each horse, providing additional calories and nutrition based on their diets. Kelly fills the quad with the buckets and delivers them to each of the horses who have been patiently waiting. Horses require a number of nutrients to survive: fiber, fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and most importantly, clean fresh water. Hay provides the fiber they need while the grains and supplements provide the rest. Horses’ digestive systems are made for their grazing habits - smaller meals eaten throughout the day. Horses are also known for having “eyes bigger than their stomachs,” so if they overeat or eat something poisonous, they cannot regurgitate the food. This means that monitoring their intake throughout the day is always important. The barn staff at Little Bit are well aware of this and watch for signs of digestive issues each and every day.
Once all the horses have been fed their morning hay and grain and are happily eating away, Kelly returns to the barn to prepare for the morning’s program participants. Additional barn staff arrive to help, and Little Bit starts buzzing with volunteers, staff, patients, and riders. It’s another great day at Dunmire Stables!
Written by Sanda Anderson
Meet Our Herd: Lolli
Written by DJ Shakib for Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center.
Photo by Reed Palmer Photography
A narrow road leads into a small parking lot outside of Little Bit. Just behind the welcome building is a stable, tracks, and paddocks for the horses. There are fields for the horses to graze and paths for them to take riders on. It is a small, idyllic slice of nature for Little Bit’s horses to trot around, form bonds with patients, riders and schoolers, and participate in the amazing therapy and riding lessons offered at Little Bit.
Lolli is a 17-year-old Bashkir Curly and one of the smaller horses at Little Bit. She has a beautiful grey coat, which looks white, and is speckled with little spots. She is very social and will come right up to you if you approach her paddock. She loves being around people, especially when they groom her mane. Lolli is content to spend her off days exercising with the schoolers and enjoying some company while grazing.
A former show pony, Lolli was leased to Little Bit by her family in 2015. Her energy and keen awareness made her a perfect match for emerging independent riders who were beginning to trot and ride more independently. Lolli is a great horse to learn to ride on and is amazing in the adaptive riding and therapy sessions.
The bond between a horse and a rider is incredibly special. Horses are amazing animals and tune into the emotions of the people around them which allow for them to communicate with their patients, schoolers and riders. Lolli is known for being very gentle, sweet, and always looking after her riders.
Lolli loves hanging out with her schoolers, soaking in plenty of love and attention. Like any person, Lolli has her pet peeves, and she will stand up for herself, often by pulling a face and laying her ears back if she gets uncomfortable or nervous. Her maturity and experience are great during sessions because she communicates well.
Young riders love Lolli because of her energy and as two younger riders have put it, “she will go fast.” The former show pony is a fun horse to ride, especially for riders who love when she trots during sessions. Lolli may be an older horse, but her youthfulness comes out when she hits the track. When given the chance to exercise her speed, she will take off like a “bottle rocket” galloping around the track as fast as possible.
Lolli is one of 28 horses Little Bit cares for year-round. Sponsorships cover everything from food to blankets to veterinarian care. Sponsoring a horse ensures that Little Bit can continue providing the highest quality care and sessions. Donations are greatly appreciated and go toward caring for amazing horses like Lolli.
Shamez Rises to the Challenge
“I get very excited and look forward to going horseback riding every Saturday morning. I like trotting on the horse in the arena. I used to really enjoy looking at all the horses before the virus started.” Shamez is among the 10+ percent of Little Bit adaptive riders who live in adult family homes. For many adults with disabilities, their lives changed dramatically in 2020. Shamez moved back home with his parents and has taken a leave from the job he held at Starbucks for 15 years.
Firoz, Shamez’s father and a retired pediatrician, noticed shortly after birth that he faced significant challenges. His rare syndrome affects fine and gross motor movement, global development, verbal communication, visual perception, strength, and posture. Having experienced the benefits of therapeutic riding in California, dad Firoz and mom Shamim quickly found Little Bit after moving to the Seattle area in 1992, when Shamez was nine years old. Today, Shamez works with adaptive riding Instructor Devon.
According to Firoz, “[Little Bit is] one thing he always looks forward to. He’s very much in tune with nature. It helps him so much—he was not walking very straight. His posture improved, he walks upright, and he has gotten stronger. At the same time, he also started talking more—he opened up. He still waits for Saturday for that one hour.”
Devon has been Shamez’s Little Bit Instructor for two years, though she has known him for five. Together they work on one of Shamez’s goals to navigate the arena at the walk/trot in a group setting without assistance from his volunteer leader, Ellen, all while riding Little Bit’s largest horse, Harvest, at 17.2 hh. Shamez’s narrow field of vision and depth perception makes this a challenging goal, and Shamez rises to the occasion. Devon gets creative setting up obstacles with cones and poles, while taking into account her students’ abilities. One day, while navigating a challenging course, Shamez and Harvest got turned around, and Shamez responded humorously, “You know, all those cones look the same.” Another goal is to continue more advanced trot work. His unmounted goals will have to wait until COVID limitations have lifted.
Firoz and Devon agree that Shamez is a man of few words. Devon shared, “Shamez is very insightful and aware of what’s happening in the arena. When Shamez is with the horses, I see a more extroverted personality than when he’s on the ground. . . . He’s able to engage with people more when he has horses as a buffer.”
Given Harvest’s background with the Seattle Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit, it may come as a surprise that during a recent trail ride around the Little Bit track, Harvest saw a deer and panicked, frozen in place with nostrils pointed up. Instructor Devon knew the bond between Shamez and Harvest, so she asked Shamez if he would like to dismount. With another rider and another horse, Devon would have made the decision to dismount rather than ask the question. Recognizing that Harvest was scared, Shamez responded, “No, I think we just need to give him love and tell him to be brave.” As they walked past the deer, Shamez continued to show empathy and caring for Harvest who eventually relaxed.
This is just one example of Shamez’s compassion for Harvest and the other horses he has ridden. Devon shared, “He can tell you something about all of his horses.”
Routines and activities outside the home are vital to the health, happiness, and independence of adults with disabilities—and their caregivers. Right now, for many adaptive riders, Little Bit is the only weekly activity outside their home, presenting both an honor and a great responsibility for Little Bit.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Photo credit: Jessica Farren Photography
Acres of Life-Changing Opportunities for Becky’s Boys―and a Breakthrough
You are growing concerned about your two young boys and their progress reaching typical developmental milestones. There are challenges with attention; anxiety; writing; speech; muscle, core, and bone strength; and emotional self-control. A syndrome that could explain these challenges runs in your family’s history, and there’s no cure—but there are treatments and early intervention is critical. You’ve noticed that in a traditional therapy setting, your boys do the minimum and an emotional connection seems to be missing. Where can you find a different kind of therapy treatment that meets the varied needs of both your boys?
Taryn, Charlie, Rosie Girl, & Sandra
Becky searched for an answer to this question. Your own journey may be different than Becky’s, proud mom of Charlie and Thomas, but you can understand her concerns, the challenges her family continues to face, and her deep desire to provide the best opportunities and future for Charlie and Thomas. All of this led Becky’s family to therapy on horseback at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center and an eventual breakthrough. Initially, Thomas, Becky’s youngest boy, began therapy with Katie, a licensed speech-language pathologist, and oldest Charlie began therapy with Kelsie, a licensed physical therapist. Eventually, both boys transitioned to therapy with Taryn, a licensed occupational therapist (OT). Then the pandemic became a reality.
Thomas
Given COVID-19, Becky hesitated to bring her boys anywhere in public―people with disabilities often have health conditions that bring greater risks. After initial virtual therapy sessions with OT Taryn, and after receiving regular updates from Taryn on the safety protocols Little Bit put in place, Becky brought her boys back onsite at Little Bit for unmounted sessions, and shared, “. . . I could not imagine how safe I would feel taking my kids anywhere. Having the waiting area outside, having the washing station in addition to hand sanitizer, and having the doors open with fresh air in the therapy room. The careful thought to scheduling, sanitation, and making the kids feel good in this new normal was just astounding. I am so glad we chose to return to in-person therapy. I wanted to thank you and all the staff that must have worked tirelessly to make this happen.”
Then, this summer, came the breakthrough for which Becky had spent several years searching. OT Taryn researched therapies targeting dysgraphia with the goal of helping Charlie to be able to write his letters and numbers in the typical direction. Taryn designed cross-brain exercises for Charlie in the arena, barn, and therapy room. The difference between Charlie’s pre- and post-treatment writing was remarkable. Becky shared, “These therapists are just on top of their game . . . and there is no other therapy center that has the ability to offer so much outside.”
The Little Bit environment provides a rich source of therapeutic tasks for both Charlie and Thomas including leading a horse, sweeping, picking barn stalls and the arena floor, grooming, and cleaning hooves. Not only do these tasks lead to strengthening core and other muscles as well as improving balance, they also lead to improved thought sequencing, attention, body awareness, and emotional self-control. All of this has a positive effect on their schoolwork and home life.
If you witnessed a recent therapy session, you’d likely hear OT Taryn saying, “It’s time to pick the paddock. First, we’ll get the bucket and pitchfork. Then, we’ll find the urine and the poop. Next, we’ll pick only the waste and leave the shavings . . .” A favorite activity is pulling up a carrot for their horse fresh from the Little Bit carrot patch. At that point, you’d hear Taryn saying, “Remember, horses won’t eat dirt.” At Little Bit, Charlie is willing to change the subject from his favorite video games to the horses and the people around him.
Whether a family needs physical, occupational, or speech-language therapy, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center is prepared to meet those needs with top therapists, specially-trained horses, mounted or unmounted treatments, and 14 acres of unique opportunities that lead to life-changing results. According to Becky, “Little Bit therapists are the best of the best.”
Thank you, Becky—it’s our honor to serve your family and hundreds of others. We are tremendously grateful to Becky, Charlie, and Thomas for sharing their Little Bit story with us!
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Photo credit: Steve Birds Photography
Meet Our Herd: Sherman
Kimberly Lind Photography
Sherman is one of the biggest horses in the Little Bit herd, standing at 16.1 hands high and 1,400 pounds! His size allows larger Little Bit riders to participate. He is a Draft cross born in 2002 who joined the Little Bit herd in 2011 after a career in eventing and dressage—don’t be surprised if you see Sherman jump over a cone just because he can!
Sherman is gentle and patient, which he demonstrates whenever his Little Bit rider is having a difficult day. Sherman’s relationship with his rider is most important to him; one of his advanced riders shared, “He knows me better than I do.” His interactions and responses teach riders more about themselves. It’s no surprise that he was voted the 2017 “PATH International Region 9 Horse of the Year.”
Sherman is versatile. At the Pat Flynn Memorial Horse Show costume contest, Sherman is always decorated in one of the most magnificent costumes to match his partner Jennifer—he enjoys the attention! He has partnered with riders in the Margo O’Callahan Memorial Dressage Show and Special Olympics Washington at the most advanced level.
Suzy Weber Creative
His favorite treats include cantering around the Little Bit track and carrots—he is known to do a “carrot stretch” to indicate he wants a carrot instead of waiting for the carrot to appear first, and his favorite carrots are fresh from the Little Bit carrot patch.
Sherman’s care includes regular vaccinations, teeth floating, farrier-recommended temporary natural balance shoes to correct his stride, and a custom diet including Timothy hay for extra protein, in a slow feeder, and supplements for his joints and digestion. Additionally, Sherman receives regular chiropractic and acupuncture treatments to make sure his back and muscles are feeling good and schooling sessions three times per week to keep up his fitness and keep our big guy moving!
Kimberly Lind Photography
Little Bit staff intentionally select each horse’s barn stall and outdoor paddock and who their equine neighbors are. After realizing that walking Sherman past other horses in the barn makes him nervous, he was assigned a corner barn stall so that he can walk right in while at the same time supervise the tack barn and all the comings and goings.
Today, Sherman’s care is 22 percent sponsored. To help sponsor Sherman’s care, please contact Director of Development Sharon Soldenwagner at sharons@littlebit.org or visit www.littlebit.org/horses. Horse sponsorships start at $1,000 per year.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Volunteers Add Power and Heart to the Little Bit Mission
During a recent survey, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center donors asked for more Little Bit stories, including stories featuring our volunteers. Sharing Little Bit stories is one of our favorite things to do! If you have witnessed Little Bit programs in action, you know how vital our volunteers are. The number of Little Bit volunteers has increased every year from 2014 through 2019—they provide power and heart to the Little Bit mission!
We reached out to Soraya and Greg, two of our many dedicated volunteers, to ask them for their perspectives on the Little Bit volunteer experience.
How long have you been volunteering at Little Bit and what are your volunteer roles?
Soraya: I have been volunteering since January of 2019; I am trained as a horse leader in adaptive riding as well as a member of the training team that helps new volunteers. I also step in for hippotherapy when they are available because I love them.
Greg: I started volunteering in 2018 and am trained as a horse leader in adaptive riding. I help out with adaptive sessions but more often now with hippotherapy.
Why do you carve out the time to volunteer at Little Bit when you have so much on your plate?
Greg: It is such joy to be there working with the riders, the staff, the therapists, and the horses. I don’t do it as a selfish reason, but I do get a lot of joy out of it. Just to see the rider’s face if they are able to overcome a fear or accomplish something, that interaction. I learn so much about the different riders and horses. It’s quite enjoyable for me.
Soraya: For me, volunteering at Little Bit is my recharge station. Doing a lot of high stress things on a day to day basis, it really helps to have a place to go. Being around horses recharges me—seeing the riders get through things, like Greg said, learn things, overcome fears—that also recharges me and makes me feel ready to go back into whatever I need to do that day.
Do you have a favorite rider or patient experience since you’ve been at LB?
Soraya: One of my favorite experiences is watching a rider bond with a horse for the very first time, especially in hippotherapy sessions. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right horse for the right rider. They’re all great, but there are certain personality matches that just click. I remember subbing for a therapy session where the kid was extremely high energy and had trouble focusing on therapy. He had previously been put on slow horses that were very calm, and that wound up being too little stimulation for him. They tried him with Spring who is very high energy, very up and go. That match was love at first sight. You could see over the course of less than 10 minutes the patient went from being distracted to focusing.
Greg: What first came to mind was seeing the same rider and horse over a few weeks—you get acquainted. You’re not just someone at the head or side of a horse. It’s meaningful when that connection is a little bit stronger, whether it’s a simple smile of recognition or some type of communication to me. I’m there to kind of help, but then to see that little bit of change, it’s just a reward. I remember there was one time one of the therapy patients came in, and it wasn’t a good day for her. All of a sudden, it changed. The therapist’s eyes beamed as if to say, this is great. It’s going to be a different day.
Do you have any experiences to share about your interactions with other volunteers at Little Bit?
Greg: I became acquainted with Little Bit because one of my staff had been volunteering there. She knew I felt comfortable working with horses. Unfortunately, we never got to volunteer at the same time. There was an occasion when I knew another volunteer from years before. It was great to have that little bit of connection. When we were volunteering together, it was fun to chat with each other during the warm-up. I have another colleague whose daughter is a rider, and I’ve been able to see his wife and their kids on occasion at Little Bit. The program reaches out a good distance from Redmond, and so it’s good to appreciate that people are coming from many locations and many walks of life. Sometimes there is some familiarity from another circle of involvement.
Soraya: I’ve forged new friendships there. There have been a couple of times when I worked shifts at odd hours, and during those quiet times you really get to know the volunteers you’re working with. One of my first friendships at Little Bit was with a woman who I had not met before. We wound up, every morning, chatting about what was going on in our lives. When there was a group of people who were all working Friday afternoon, we often spent extra time hanging out at the stables after the classes were done. We would help clean out the stable and feed horses to get a few more minutes in. I’ve definitely found that forging friendships with other volunteers at Little Bit has been another reward.
If you were trying to convince someone to volunteer at Little Bit, what would you say to them?
Soraya: I tell them that volunteering at Little Bit is one of the most rewarding things I do every week. It’s a great way to reconnect and actually see the good results of what you’re doing. I also tell them that you don’t need to be intimidated if you don’t know that much about horses yet, because the people at Little Bit will really walk you through it and will be patient as you learn—and they’ll also teach you really good practices so that you are safe around horses.
Greg: I’ve invited others to join. You don’t have to be leading a big horse or be concerned about the rider and the horse. You can help out at the barn. I saw volunteers build some of the sheds outside at the paddocks. I would love for my son and I to spend an afternoon and just knock-out a couple of those. There are lots of different ways to volunteer. It doesn’t always have to be so intimately engaged with the horses. When I had a barn, it was therapy for me, just to get in there, have a sense of accomplishment, and interact with the animals. There are lots of ways to help. It’s just a matter of encouraging someone to come along, look at the place, and find a place that is suitable for their interests and abilities.
Do you have a favorite horse at Little Bit?
Greg: I don’t have a favorite horse; there are some that I like more than others. It’s really the ability to work with a horse over several weeks to get acquainted. Even now coming back, I’ve had to get reacquainted. I have to remember I can’t cross-tie Sherman and when I need to bring a crop because that horse is going to dive for grass every opportunity. I would love to get to a place where a horse nickers when I approach. Sherman did that a couple times when I was working with him week in and week out. It’s great to receive that kind of recognition, and it doesn’t require treats in my hand to get that.
Soraya: I absolutely do play favorites. My favorite is Davida. There was a time when I was working with her week in and week out, in an adaptive class, and it was always such magic to see her in the warm up: she’s very alert and she demands that you be very alert so she knows that you are looking out for her. Then the rider arrives and she becomes this gentle, sweet thing. She pays so much attention to the rider that she’s working with, trying to do what she can to help them. I really love how she goes from making high demands of people that work with her on the ground to being an attentive caretaker for people that are on her back. It feels like she is asking the people on the ground, “Hey, I’m about to work and I want to make sure that you’re ready to work with me.” Davida is a very big favorite of mine.
There will be people who read this who have never been to Little Bit. How would you describe the Little Bit experience to someone whose knowledge of Little Bit is limited to stories and videos?
Soraya: I would describe it as being around the kindest, most attentive people that you can find. Everyone at LB is always trying to help each other out. There isn’t a sense of judgement ever; there isn’t prying. How can we help each other out? I love the attention to detail, like checking on the horses and sweeping a little muck out of the area. The therapist or instructor helps the rider rearrange their pants leg after it’s been pulled up by the saddle. All of these little things come together to form this place. You know how much work is getting done, you see how much work is getting done, and yet the people who are doing all that work make it look simple. They’re handling it, they’re here to care for people, and they’re willing to put so much energy into making everyone else have this great experience.
Greg: What I love about the name Little Bit—it’s kind of a philosophy in that sometimes we don’t know how much we help by the little efforts we offer, whether it’s helping someone adjust a cuff or cleaning the stall. In the lives of the riders and their families, they’re looking for help in many ways, some specific and some not. We get to contribute a very, very small part, just a little bit, in helping them. That gracefulness of helping people, that gratitude of being thankful for the assistance others give us, I think is prevalent throughout the organization. It’s very rewarding to see, and not take any credit for it, but to see someone say thank you. That smile on their face, that nod of appreciation. That’s what’s very attractive about the whole outfit—from reception to throughout the stalls and every aspect.
What adjustments have you seen Little Bit make, and you personally have had to make, related to the pandemic?
Greg: I think it is well thought-out with the understanding that the process has been considered and evaluated. It’s also adjusted as needed. I personally feel safe. There are many things in place to help make it safe for all people involved. I kind of expected it but I’m glad to see it. Sometimes it’s great in plan or in theory, but in practice is sometimes where things trip up or you forget a detail. After talking to the staff and understanding that we’re going to make adjustments, all those items are terrific.
Soraya: The adjustments that I’ve seen since returning have been impressive. A lot of things changed. For example, each horse no longer has their assigned tack box. Now, a volunteer gets in, they pick their own tack box, and it’s just theirs for the day. Then those have to get cleaned and washed and can’t be shared. These are really good thought processes and really effective at minimizing how many people are contacting the same things. Over time, I’ve seen pieces of that which worked and pieces which didn’t work. I’ve watched the staff adapt to each of those changes, adapt rules about who can go into the tack barn and how we’re going to put horses into individual stalls. People are being really flexible about working together and accepting change. Everyone is actively looking out to make sure we are doing things safely.
How are you acknowledged as a volunteer within Little Bit?
Soraya: One of the things that means a lot to me at Little Bit is how many therapists, staff, and other volunteers make the effort to learn and remember my name, which is a tricky one to pronounce. (So-RAY-ya, “Ray like sunshine,” I like to say!) It’s always meaningful when I sub in for a class and maybe I haven’t seen that staff member for weeks or months. A surprising amount of the time, they remember my name, and if they don’t, they make the effort to be polite and ask. Then they refer to me by name during the class. “Turn towards Soraya.” It’s a small touch that means a lot to me to show that they care that I am there.
Greg: Outside of Little Bit, there have been a few occasions where I’ve encountered some staff members. In every instance both of us stop what we’re doing and just have a chat. Sometimes you see an acquaintance from one area of our lives and pass them with a completely different backdrop, and 1.) Do you remember who it is, 2.) Do you remember the person’s name, but 3.) Are you able to stop what you’re doing and have that brief conversation—it’s great, you kind of feel a part of it. It’s a big organization and there are so many volunteers. It’s great to see the recognition and the time that it takes.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Greg: A part of the organization I’d like to explore more is how to donate horses; I’ve owned horses myself, and at the time our place was considered a geriatric barn. I’d like to understand how to donate a horse or sponsor a horse, to be able to think of a horse that might be suitable for the program.
Soraya: One of the things I don’t have many opportunities to say thank you for are the folks that work the office. They have always been incredibly helpful and understanding. Whenever I’ve brought up an idea for improvement or concern, I’ve been met with understanding and support. Even picking up volunteer shifts that need a substitute, people are completely understanding. If I can make it, great; if I can’t, no problem at all. I can tell how much people are giving to the job, both in the stables and at a desk.
Thank you
to Greg, Soraya and all of our dedicated volunteers!
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Meet Our Herd: Honey Bee
Jessica Farren Photography
Honey Bee is a sassy 20-year-old Norwegian Fjord mare who joined our Little Bit herd in July of 2014. Before coming to Little Bit, she was a competitive trail rider and driver. Now, at Little Bit, she is a fantastic all-around horse and aids in both the Adaptive and Hippotherapy programs. She is known for her reliability, high level of training, and big, adorable personality.
Honey Bee is incredibly sweet and does whatever job is given to her, including being fully scheduled and receiving special training for hoist mounts. She is a very hard worker, but has been known to pout and make faces when her girth is tightened or she can’t get a last bite of grass. Honey Bee can be a bit of a diva.
When on vacation from Little Bit during session breaks and holidays, Honey Bee is very lucky to be able to go home with our instructor Diana who spoils her. With Diana, she spends her days playing in the pasture with fellow Little Bit horse Gigi and is turned in to a private stall at night.
Jessica Farren Photography
After many years of hard work in our program and regularly supporting unbalanced riders, Honey Bee has developed a bit of a sensitive back. To ensure her utmost comfort, Honey Bee receives chiropractic care every six to eight weeks and massages every two weeks as well as handmade concave horse shoes. At the beginning of 2020, Honey Bee’s saddle had begun to pinch her withers and put stress on her vertebrae. She was uncomfortable, and it was difficult to find a saddle that fit her better. Thanks to generous donations, Little Bit was able to hire a professional saddle fitter who measured her and selected a custom saddle that is a perfect match for Honey Bee.
Thanks to her new saddle, Honey Bee is able to relax while riding. Her schoolers have said that she stretches her head and neck all of the way out “like she’s free.”
We truly are blessed to have a special horse like Honey Bee on our Little Bit team. Right now, Honey Bee’s care is 28 percent sponsored. To help her get closer to 100 percent, please contact Director of Development Sharon Soldenwagner at sharons@littlebit.org or visit www.littlebit.org/horses. Horse sponsorships start at $1,000 per year.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
Meet Our Herd: Rosie
Suzy Weber Creative
Rosie is a beautiful 14-year-old Warmblood mare with a Hunter Jumper background who joined the Little Bit herd on a care lease in October 2018. Her owner thought she would be happy to retire from her jumping career and would love to work in our program. Once at Little Bit, she immediately wanted to become engaged with patients and riders! She is known at Little Bit for her gentle nature, kindness, and intuitiveness about her walk/trot riders’ needs.
Kimberly Lind Photography
Rosie receives monthly chiropractic and also is on an acupuncture regimen to keep her back, neck and pelvis healthy and comfortable. Her twice-monthly sports massage sessions from our amazing volunteer therapist have helped her to stay relaxed and limber. Her saddle fit is professionally checked to avoid soreness and she wears handmade therapeutic horseshoes.
In addition to Rosie’s routine vet care, she receives grain and nutritional supplements for healthy bones, Platinum Performance multi-vitamins, and meals three times a day to help her digestive system function at its best.
Rosie has a custom schooling and training program which focuses on building up strong muscle through her back and topline and teaching her to use her hind end properly. She also learns the special skills she needs to be a wonderful Adaptive horse. She also stretches out on the Little Bit track to relax and spends time grazing in our grass pastures.
Kimberly Lind Photography
At the end of her day, she retires to her big, cozy 12 x 24’ barn stall with room to stretch and extra shavings for a comfortable rest.
All of us at Little Bit admire Rosie and feel so grateful to have her as part of our program! Today, 43 percent of Rosie’s care is sponsored. If you would like to join Rosie’s existing sponsors, please contact Director of Development Sharon Soldenwagner at sharons@littlebit.org or visit www.littlebit.org/horses. Horse sponsorships start at $1,000 per year.
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
