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Edie
Our sweet bay mare Edie is 25 now but
that hasn’t slowed her down a bit. Her
coat may be a little whiter these days
but she has the heart, spirit and energy
of a much younger mare and is always
ready and willing for whatever PATH has
to offer. You know that when you work
with Edie you will be treated kindly and
with respect. There’s nothing of the diva
about her. As an instructor you know that
she’s trustworthy with a reliably steady
temperament. As a rider you know that
Edie will take you wherever you want to
go with enthusiasm and that special spark
that makes for a fun ride!
December 2006
It is difficult to say goodbye to
someone who has had such a profound
impact on so many people. When we
understood that Edie’s time with us was
coming to an end it was almost
impossible to master our sorrow at
losing such a wonderful teacher and
friend. Edie had developed debilitating
arthritis and was in considerable pain.
While her activity level was already
low, she now found it painful to walk
and even to stand. The very difficult
decision was made to end her pain
humanely, and to make her last days as
filled with love and treats as possible.
Over the years of Edie’s involvement
with the PATH program, her generosity
and kindness helped to develop the
horsemanship skills of many disabled
riders in the Palouse area. Riders were
able to focus on learning and having fun
because Edie made sure they felt safe
and comfortable in every lesson. Edie
was an extremely special horse whose
contribution to the PATH program will
never be forgotten.
Robin Rilette,
NARHA Certified Instructor
Striker
Striker is an 20-year-old Quarter Horse
gelding with an extensive training
background in Western Pleasure. His
gentle, easygoing nature makes him a
valuable therapeutic riding horse; he can
always be counted on to keep his riders
safe. New riders find relaxation and
security in Striker’s slow, steady gaits,
while more seasoned riders enjoy his
responsiveness and training background
for more advanced riding skills. One of
Striker’s most valuable qualities,
however, is his extreme patience. One of
his riders is a 5-year-old girl who is
unable to remain standing or walk without
assistance. She enjoys grooming Striker,
but to do so, she must groom from the
mounting block to reach his neck and
shoulders. He stands quietly and allows
her to lean on him for as long as she
wishes while she carefully grooms him.
Striker’s good nature, patience, and
skills make him a prized equine member of
the WSU PATH program.
Sheri Babb
NARHA Certified Instructor
Blue
Blue is our 14-year old Palomino mare and
is quite a character in her own right.
Her papered name is “Bluegrass Sunsation”
– hence, the nickname “Blue”. She is a
registered quarter horse and has been
thoroughly trained to compete in Western
Pleasure. Her career was cut short,
however, when she developed a condition
called “exertional rhabdomyolysis” or
tying-up. This is a muscle disease of
performance horses in which the horse
becomes stiff or reluctant to move, has
hugely painful muscle cramps, profuse
sweating, increased heart rate and
increased respiratory rate. Blue’s bouts
of tying-up became so frequent that it
prevented her from continuing in a career
of competition and even started to
endanger her life. Her owner donated her
to PATH, and our program for riders with
handicaps gained a wonderful horse who
just happened to have a handicap herself.
With a special diet and moderate regular
exercise, Blue has been able to rebound
and become an integral part of the
program. She’s a very much-loved favorite
among the PATH riders. She is all
business when it comes to PATH classes
and she provides a steady, safe and
secure ride for any of PATH’s special
riders when they’re on-board. Because of
her training and wonderfully smooth
gaits, she is able to accommodate the
needs and abilities of all our riders –
from very basic riding skills to those
more advanced skills of our more
independent riders. She makes whoever is
riding her safe, have fun, and look good
in the process. She is a wonderful part
of what makes a great PATH team – rider,
horse and volunteers – which all add up
to helping the riders achieve all that
they possibly can. The PATH Program
focuses on “abilities” rather than
“disabilities”. Blue has been given a
second chance and, in turn, she is giving
others a second chance. After all,
there’s something “magical” about the
human-animal bond and very special things
can and often do happen!
Bea O’Neill
NARHA Certified Instructor
Indy
Indy is a 23
year-old half-Arabian chestnut tobiano
pinto. Her striking color pattern, and
long mane and tail make her a very
attractive horse and a favorite amongst
the riders. She was donated to PATH in
the fall of 2003 and, as such, is the
newest member of the program. Before
joining us, Indy was shown in English,
Western and Halter for several years by
a young girl. After a successful showing
career — as a team, they took high point
for King County, WA and took Reserve
Grand Champion in bareback — the girl
eventually outgrew Indy. This mare is
14.2 hands tall, which allows for easier
mounting of our riders and is also
easier on the arms of our side-walker
volunteers with riders who need support.
Indy has adjusted well to the PATH
program and has shown wonderful
tolerance in her first class when her
rider reached back and pulled her tail!
Indy is very people-oriented and her
favorite activity is to be groomed by
the riders. She loves all this personal
attention! Indy has also found an equine
friend at the barn and has bonded with
our bay mare, Edie.
Leslie Elberson
NARHA Certified Instructor
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