Zazu: A smart, resilient horse who has something in common with the people he serves
Written by Tess Millar
Zazu in California (credit: Ande Fieber)
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center’s Zazu is a vibrant, playful, hardworking therapy horse with a goofy sense of humor, much like Zazu, the red-billed hornbill from Disney’s The Lion King. Standing 15.2 hands high and weighing in at close to 1,000 lbs., Zazu is lacking the vibrant colors and floating movement of his feathery namesake, but his strong work ethic and comical personality more than make up for it.
Zazu is described as "handsome, dreamy, and adorable." (credit: Ande Fieber)
Zazu hails from a ranch in Northern California. As an eight-year-old, he began working as a school horse and trail riding steed in Saratoga. Within a year, his trainers realized that Zazu had too much spunk and spice for working with beginners at that time. Fortunately for Zazu, his current owner, Ande, recognized his potential and brought him home in September of 2013. Ande reminisced about the first year of her official partnership with Zazu, saying, “my western and dressage trainers were both telling me Zazu was better suited for their respective disciplines, so I knew I had a fun all-around guy on my hands!” Now 20 years old, Zazu still embodies the skills and mindset of a fun, trustworthy all-around horse.
Joie riding Zazu with volunteer Horse Leader Greg (staff photo)
Zazu came to Little Bit in August of 2022. He has gained wisdom and perspective since his younger days; even tempered and confident, he takes his days stride by stride. But occasionally, you can spot him with a sparkle in his eye and a swish in his tail while working with his Little Bit schoolers: experienced riders who provide physical and emotional support for each herd member. He’s a smart guy and knows when to let his energy out. At Little Bit, Zazu predominantly works in the Adaptive program, where riders with disabilities learn horseback riding and horsemanship skills. However, due to his understanding and kind nature, Zazu is known for his ability to fill in for both Adaptive and Therapy sessions on a moment’s notice. Zazu seems to easily understand when a rider’s cue, such as leg movement, is intentional and when the cue may be accidental, perhaps caused by imbalance or anxiety. This makes him an incredibly safe horse for riders working on riding independently.
““I like riding him, and I really love him so much because he is really my best friend.””
Little Bit Adaptive Instructor and Therapist Sarah Squires, OTA, CTRI, reports, “Zazu is really good for many of my kids to learn about energy levels in both Adaptive and Therapy settings. Zazu expresses a range of emotions from silly goof to business professional mode. Kids need a sensitive, emotionally in-tune horse so they can see how their own actions and emotions affect the world around them.” Sarah’s testament is reflected in Adaptive Rider Joie’s view of Zazu. Joie describes Zazu’s personality as “handsome, dreamy, and adorable” because he is “really nice to me, friendly, and gentle.” Joie often feels like her thoughts are “unorganized.” When Joie rides Zazu she feels, “he tries to help me focus more and balance. His movement helps me organize my brain.”
Zazu with his veterinarian, Dr. Bruno Karam (credit: Tess Millar)
When he was younger, Zazu experienced a handful of mishaps and injuries. Ande reports, in the “summer of 2014, Zazu experienced a major traumatic injury, which resulted in a scar across his girth area. He became a local medical marvel.” The veterinarians said it was unbelievable that he survived after spending eight days in the equine ICU at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in California. Zazu takes his title as a medical marvel very seriously.
Zazu's first ride, with Ande, after surgery (credit: Tess Millar)
In early 2023, Zazu underwent colic surgery, an invasive abdominal surgery done to repair gastrointestinal tract disturbances in horses. Zazu breezed through surgery and recovered quickly. Once he made it home to Little Bit to continue his recovery, it was quickly found that Zazu had a serious infection, a known risk with any major medical procedure. He was rushed back to the equine hospital by Little Bit staff and spent a few nights in Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital’s ICU. There was a point in time when Zazu’s prognosis was very bleak, but in Zazu fashion, he turned a corner and has made a full recovery under the care of his dedicated veterinary team, the Little Bit team, and his owner, Ande.
Zazu enjoying his post-surgery mash diet (credit: Tess Millar)
His story is one of twists and turns, ups and downs; Zazu has a notably resilient nature. His body holds scars that tell the story of his life and experiences. One can imagine the understanding and camaraderie Zazu has for our riders and clients and why he forges a strong bond with people who have had similar medical and psychological difficulties. In fact, he received the most love notes from Little Bit participants of any Little Bit horse this past summer!
Little Bit values Zazu’s joy for his work and excitement for life. It’s always a joy to see him out in his paddock when the hay gator is driving around. Barn Staff member Lydia talks about Zazu being the “most enthusiastic about mealtime, often hopping up and down when it’s finally his turn to get his food!” She says, “as a Barn Staff member, I can’t help but smile about how silly and playful he can be.”
Zazu and an adaptive rider at the Margo O'Callaghan Memorial Dressage Show (credit: Kimberly Lind Photography)
Zazu is a testament to the immeasurable impact a horse can have on a community. He touches not only the participants, but also the parents, volunteers, visitors, vendors, and staff at Little Bit. Little Bit is a community where horses transform the bodies, minds, and spirits of people with disabilities. Zazu is a shining example of why I choose to work for this organization in the role of Equine Operations Coordinator, to support these horses in their incredible efforts to positively change human lives.
Cancer Lifeline Participants Meet Little Bit’s Horses: A Dive into Little Bit’s Equine-Assisted Learning Program
Written and photographed by Noor Nagi
Eleven people quietly entered Little Bit’s shaded round pen, each with different hopes—some seeking comfort, while others, a regulated pulse and peace of mind. Cancer Lifeline frequently helps thousands of cancer patients gain stability and receive emotional support and information through support groups, exercise, nutrition and meditation classes, as well as general presentations and workshops online and in person. This session, however, would prove to be unlike any other.
The crisp morning’s air allowed for a relaxing atmosphere as everyone took a seat in the many foldout chairs spread at one end of the round pen. Today’s Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL), Pat, with a warm smile, gently beckoned everyone into introductions: asking participants for their name and prior equine exposure. As expected, some people had never touched a horse before, while others, frequented riding. Buzzes of cross chatter erupted—people eager to get to know one another and share their stories. Cancer Lifeline’s programs are meticulously tailored to the unique struggles faced by individuals living with cancer and their families; today, there was a significant sense of anticipation. Everyone was eager to see how horses might play a role in their session.
Pat began, her voice steady as she addressed the group. “Millions of years ago, horses formed into what we call ‘social herds’ to survive in the wild.” Eyes darted around with curiosity as she explained how these intelligent creatures form relationships with one another and assume roles within their groups. Over time, they have developed extremely heightened senses.
Then, just as the round pen was beginning to quiet down, Pat said the unexpected: “Did you know that horses can pick up on human energy and emotions?” Giggles of disbelief erupted from both sides of the chair line-up, but Pat’s smile didn’t waver; she was serious.
“It’s true,” Nancy, a volunteer, chimed in. “They can even sense your heartbeat from meters away!” Pat gave a firm nod and began to explain how horses are “looking for” things when they encounter another animal. They assess your heartbeat, posture, breathing, and eye contact in order to determine whether or not you have good intentions. If someone has staggered breathing, an aggressive or uncertain posture, or holds intensive eye contact with a horse, it can misinterpret your behavior as scary or threatening. On the flip side, if you stand up with confidence and approach with relaxed breathing and where they can see you, the horse will likely interpret this as friendliness.
As Pat finished up her talk on the temperament of horses, a faint, rhythmic clip-clop sound could be heard in the distance. Shortly after, both Nancy and Tina emerged through the gate of the round pen holding two beautiful horses, clouds of dust blowing beneath their hooves. Lou, a tawny brown roan, tended to be on the cautious and reserved side, while Rosie Pony, a flaxen gold horse, was very extroverted and more eager to see new faces. Pat made note that horses demonstrate ease and comfort by doing one of three things: releasing tension through licking and chewing, lowering their head, and cocking one of their hind legs (the equivalent of a human adjusting their weight to one side).
A pre-teen girl with prior riding experience eagerly volunteered to approach one of the horses first. She, as instructed, gently approached Rosie Pony and gave her the “horse handshake;” this is essentially putting the back of your closed hand out in front of their nostrils. The girl then walked around Rosie Pony’s head while maintaining eye contact, later coming in closer to give her a scratch on her neck. Rosie Pony visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh and allowing her lip to quiver and ears to separate.
“It looks like she has a new friend!” Pat said to the girl with a chuckle, before turning to the group seated in the chairs. “Now, who wants to come up and meet Lou?” A teenage boy hesitated for a moment before slowly raising his hand. Nervous, but determined, he edged closer to the horse, only for Lou to suddenly shift away, causing the boy to jump back in surprise. Noticing the boy’s discomfort, Pat gently instructed him to relax, take a step back, and breathe in deeply. As he exhaled, Lou let out a large sigh of his own. In that moment, they were both perfectly in sync. The boy’s eyes widened in amazement, as if asking, “Did you see that?” Pat simply nodded, basking in the quiet moment of connection.
Once more, he extended his closed hand out towards Lou, standing up much straighter than before. To his surprise, Lou relaxed his hind leg and sniffed his hand. “Do you see that?” Pat mused, “He’s licking and chewing and relaxing. This means he is comfortable with you being a part of his herd.” With newfound courage, the teenage boy stroked Lou down his neck, receiving a positive snort from Lou.
When the final participant, a woman in her late 50s, came closer to approach the horses, Pat turned around to address the group once more. “Horses feel your energy and respond when you stand close to them. I want you,” she pointed at the woman, “to put your hand by Rosie Pony’s ribcage. Feel her breathing; you’ll notice her breath may begin to fall in sync with yours and your heartbeat with hers.”
The woman nodded gently, smiling at Rosie Pony, “I feel her chest heaving gently. I feel calm; we both do.”
Horses have different general energy levels in the same way that humans have different personality types. A few of the types can include stoic, outgoing, and hesitant horses. Their personality attributes influence which roles horses assume in the herd. For example, a hesitant horse might play the role of a sentry, or “lookout horse,” that keeps watch for predators, while the outgoing horses might search for food. Over time, in order to survive in the wild, horses adapted to be able to feel electromagnetic energy emitted from life forms at far greater distances than humans. As a result, they can scare easily when they sense that a presence nearby could be dangerous. This ability makes horses incredibly empathetic creatures that can easily pick up on your body language and emotions. Hence, often being able to influence our heartbeat and breathing.
With an hour left in the session, some chattering bubbled up from around the pen. Questions like, “What exercise could possibly be next?” and “We aren’t going to learn how to ride a horse in an hour,” emerged quietly. It was only until Tina and Nancy held up two leader ropes that everyone understood what the next activity would be: learning how to lead a horse around the pen using a lead rope.
“This activity rests on your ability to show the horses both kindness and leadership.” Pat stepped next to Lou’s giant face. The instructions were straightforward: you never just pull the lead rope to get the horses to move; gently motion in the direction would like to go instead, and the horse will move on with you. “See,” Pat began, “Lou weighs 865 pounds. If you pull on his lead rope to try and move him forward with force, he will pull back harder and win.” She gave Lou a gentle tug forward, leaning forward like she was pulling a cart. Lou didn’t budge and gave her an annoyed huff.
“You have to lead with confidence and verbal commands. Walk on!” She commanded Lou while pretending to take a step forward. Lou happily complied and began to move forward at a steady pace. While walking, Pat gingerly tugged on the lead rope, slowed her own pace, and used her body language to slow Lou’s walk. Finally, to stop, Pat bent her knees and said, “Whoa,” and Lou came to a halt, officially ending the demonstration and beginning the formation of a line to lead the horses.
When the clock hit noon, Pat gave everyone time to reflect on the session. She beckoned the question, “Has anything changed about you in these two hours?” The pre-teen girl swung her legs back and forth on the tall foldout chair while enthusiastically extending her arm outwards. Pat gave her a nod, and she stood up to begin speaking. “I felt a lot calmer around the horses.” She tilted her small head up to the sky in deep thought, “I feel like I had to be calm for them to accept me, and so we learned to kind-of coexist and be super peaceful together.”
A woman, from the other end of the row of foldout chairs, vigorously nodded her head in agreement before chiming in. “Yeah like, I had a headache right at the start of the session, and it’s gone now. The experience was very therapeutic; horses are therapeutic.” Most, if not all the participants, hummed or nodded up and down in response to the last statement. According to Nicole, the Program Manager at Cancer Lifeline, “Equine-Assisted Learning offers cancer patients and their families a unique blend of emotional support and physical healing in such a powerful way and in an uplifting environment. The gentle presence of horses fosters a sense of calm and encourages a therapeutic connection that relieves stress and builds bonds between both people and horses.”
Little Bit is thankful that participants working with Cancer Lifeline were able to gain a sense of comfort amidst such challenging times.
Does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) consider cancer a disability?
Cancer can often be considered a disability because of the changes caused by cancer and cancer treatment. These changes may involve the immune system, cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, brain and nervous system, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive systems. These changes can affect physical and mental wellness.
Source: Americans With Disabilities Act: Information for Cancer Patients | American Cancer Society
Life Skills from Little Bit: A Look into Our Social Skills Classes
Written by Crissy McCarthy
Similar to horses, humans are social beings that need connection and relationships with others to live a healthy, fulfilled life. When a child starts to show signs of delayed development in their social skills, it can be challenging for parents or caregivers to find appropriate yet fun ways to help develop those skills. The Occupational Therapy team at Little Bit offers a lesser-known program for young children in our Social Skills Classes.
Social Skills Class at Little Bit creates a safe environment for children of the same age group to engage in social learning activities with each other. The goal is to support the development of necessary skills for social interactions, such as self-advocacy, frustration tolerance, and collaborative problem-solving through structured play and equine-assisted activities.
Generally, the class is capped at four participants and runs for an hour. The team facilitating the class is led by the Little Bit occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, alongside a Little Bit horse handler, and volunteers. The horsemanship component of the class either involves mounted activities, with one child at a time riding the horse, or unmounted activities, such as leading the horse through an obstacle course.
A typical social skills class starts with an energetic game for the kids to get the wiggles out, like red-light/green-light, or freeze tag. The group will then come together in a circle and check in on how each individual is feeling. An example of a common check-in activity is responding to the simple question “How are you feeling today?” or “What was the best part of your day today?” prompting participants to share in self-reflection and self-awareness. Check-in activities can also include a game of “Simon Says” to encourage active listening and speaking aloud in front of a group. All of these activities offer opportunities to increase social and emotional awareness and knowledge.
Once check-in is completed and the therapist can gauge where the energies are at that day, the class moves to another activity that focuses more on group dynamics and different ways to problem-solve. The therapist may read a book aloud and prompt discussion questions on the social situation the book presents, or how the characters are feeling. There may be a team-building activity, such as collaboratively planning out and building an obstacle course for the horse. Or, another fun activity allows the volunteers to act out a common social situation that presents a problem—such as accidentally hurting a peer during a game of tag, disagreeing on what game to play, or what happens when someone wants to play with the same toy. In watching these skits, the class participants are asked to evaluate the severity of the problem and come up with appropriate solutions. Regardless of the group activity, the primary goal is to facilitate the necessary social skills required of children in group settings.
After the group activity, the horse gets to come into the class! The equine component distinguishes Little Bit Social Skills Class from other therapeutic social skills classes by providing new and potentially challenging activities that require deeper self and group awareness. When the horse is brought in by a Little Bit horse handler, we often have a quick reminder on body awareness and a discussion on the observed behavior of the horse. The activities with the equine partner can vary. In mounted sessions, one participant may ride the horse and be prompted to pose in various ways, while the other participants observe and reflect on what the mounted individual is doing. In the unmounted class, participants may take turns leading the horse through an obstacle course, or watch the horse interact with various toys presented by the handler and talk about the behavior and reactions of the horse.
The purpose of equine-centered activities is to bring in a new, fun stimulus for the children that reinforces the social skills already practiced and emulated. As prey animals, horses are very attuned to group behavior and energies and will mirror these in their behavior. If the children are excited, the horse will sense that and might present with more energy, whereas if everyone is very calm, or perhaps tired, the horse might move slower and be more relaxed. While the children may not realize it, the equine-centered activities are designed so that participants can continue to practice their social skills and self-awareness.
Through Little Bit Social Skills Classes, these small groups of kids can develop friendships, but also help each other emulate what it’ll be like interacting with people outside of Little Bit, such as in school or at home. By observing and practicing skills with the support of volunteers and the therapist, the participants gain valuable experience in social situations to further their social development in their life outside of Little Bit.
Thank you to Kimberly Lind Photography (photos 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7)
Little Bit staff photographer all other photos
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.
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
Instructor Zoe schooling Loki
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
Taryn, Charlie, Rosie Girl, & Sandra
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?
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
