| Sunrise EquiTherapy | UNL Class, Intro to Equine Assisted Activities |
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| CLASS AT UNL RETURNS FOR A SECOND YEAR! | view flyer |
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| Trip to Texas Tech University | ||||
| Julie Wood, Sunrise EquiTherapy's executive director and NARHA certified instructor, has been hired by the University of NE-Lincoln as a professor of practicum for the spring semester, 2009. Julie is teaching the first class of its kind in NE, Introduction to Equine Assisted Activities. The class is being taught on east campus through the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Animal Sciences division. Dean Steven Waller and Interim Department Head and Professor of Animal Sciences, Dr. Sheila Scheideler met with Julie and Sunrise board members last spring to discuss the partnership of UNL and Sunrise in the proposed NE Horse Park building project. From the discussion grew the possibility of a 2 credit hour class regarding equitherapy. North Dakota State University and Texas Tech University were used as a template for the NE Horse Park venture and assisted with curriculum development for the UNL class. The class was offered for the spring, 2009 semester to all colleges on the UNL city and east campus. The result was nine students enrolled with varying majors that ranged from special education, speech pathology-audiology, fisheries and wildlife, agribusiness, general education and animal sciences/equine. A Teacher's Assistant was assigned who worked with several of Sunrise special needs clients. |
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The class focuses on a broad view of various disabilities and how equitherapy can accommodate their needs and improve their physical and mental being. Also included is therapy horse selection, hippotherapy, types of adaptive tack, cart driving, liability, how to write lesson plans and implement them for the client. Family members of Sunrise clients and the clients themselves shared their stories about the equitherapy program. Riding demonstrations were given by several Sunrise clients that showed what someone with a disability "can do!" There were many "hands on" experiences for the UNL students which seemed to be the highlight of the class. |
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We hope to further our out reach to additional colleges on the UNL campus for next year. In the mean time, all the UNL students enrolled in the class have taken the mandatory volunteer training so they can be part of the Sunrise program this season. |
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Congrats to Julie for her hard work designing the curriculum for Introduction to Equine Assisted Activities!
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 Animal Science Complex Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources |
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 Animal Science courtyard |
 Animal Science courtyard |
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Photos are of Sunrise client Rachel and her mom Sally Moon. They visited the class and answered questions relating to Rachel's disability and how her riding experiences have impacted her life over the last 4 years. Rachel gave a demonstration to the class on grooming, safety, tacking up, riding at a walk and trot. |
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| UNL Class and Sunrise's miniature therapy horse, Lucky Boy. |
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