Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs (CPEAP)

08/13/2022

https://www.showhorsetoday.com/2022/08/nsba-world-honors-heroes-on-horses-saturday-aug-13th/ Honoring our heroes

NSBA World Honors Heroes On Horses Saturday Aug 13th

01/12/2020

Great news
https://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/rep-barr-successfully-includes-equine-therapy-in-veteran-suicide-prevention-bill/?fbclid=IwAR1krWynWyulpmYRCMwcdpqUrqZZgCKqXxqbKbUkWtpD5rnEutgdYum5Yms #.XhYWvx-k-hp.facebook

In the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Congressman Andy Barr's (R-KY) amendment to the IMPROVE Act was adopted on a bipartisan basis with a vote of 26-0. Rep. Barr's amendment added equine assisted therapy, adaptive sports, and innovative approaches to the list of services which community orga...

12/23/2018

Great article https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2018/12/17/wounded-horses-veterans-work-together-to-heal/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=Socialflow+ARM&fbclid=IwAR3hbUWbMrr0W2CoLtbu60hQOjN8A1ASYlu-DDbp7fAU8Hpjblmcr5QRkcc

Cody Miller often forgot to breathe. A hundred firefights in Afghanistan will do that.

03/08/2018

Great article. https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2018/03/07/veterans-with-ptsd-are-turning-to-horses-for-healing/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow

As health care professionals seek innovative ways to heal veterans struggling with PTSD, equine therapy has been growing in popularity.

11/12/2017

Horses as healers. http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2015/09/how-horses-help-warriros-in-transition.aspx

Equine-assisted therapy is increasingly being used to help veterans. Here's why it works.

10/25/2017

Military Night is Thursday at this year's Washington International Horse Show. If you can't attend in person, you can watch online via Live Stream. http://www.wihs.org/tickets/tickets-info.php

10/08/2016

True wherever one rides. http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/far-from-the-fray-veterans-say-trail-rides-make-the-world-stand-still-for-a-second

The trail rides can help veterans begin to rebuild a sense of community that they miss since leaving the military.w

07/13/2015

Nice article on the farriers for the caisson horses. http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2015/07/farriers-work-keeps-essential-arlington-treasures-moving/

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Salas uses a forge to heat up and reform a horseshoe. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.

07/10/2015

Thank you Larry for your 10 years of hard work and dedication to Wounded Warriors. You created CPEAP and spurred on the creation of 200 new programs nation wide.

07/10/2015

The Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Program is no longer conducting lessons.

Since May 2006 CPEAP has served more than 300 wounded warriors and veterans.

This has been a wonderful program with the support of the Army, The Old Guard, The Caisson Platoon, Walter Reed NMMC and the NICoE TBI Clinic at Fort Belvoir.

We have enjoyed serving our wounded warriors and their families.

Thank you for your support and I hope you will continue to support our American service men and women.



Sincerely,

Larry Pence

05/23/2015

Please take time this weekend to reflect on the sacrifices made by those service men and women who have given their lives in defense of this great nation so that we may enjoy our freedoms and way of life.

11/19/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 19 November 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Robert F., Jorden, Chad, Christopher, Jonathan M. & Ryan
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Leading the horse
5. Mounted lesson: Musical Rings, obstacle course
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students awarded completion certificates
9. Cookout for students, families, volunteers and Caisson Platoon personnel
10. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. All students participated in the ground lesson which was leading their horses to warm up the horse and the students. Students then tacked their horses, helmeted and mounted their horses for the end of the year games on horseback. The games were musical rings in which when the music begins then stops and the students walk their horses around cones & pillars. When the music plays again the students must guide their horses so the horses halt with their front hooves inside a ring. This exercise works on leg aids, verbal commands, steering and controlling their horses. The next game was an obstacle course where the students circle a cone while picking up a small ring from a volunteer, then guiding their horse over ground poles and around another cone while handing the ring to a different volunteer and then back over the ground poles to the finish line. This game also focuses on steering, balance, sequencing and horse control. All the students did very well and really enjoyed the games. Following the games the students dismounted and were awarded their completion certificates and a picture was taken of the students with their horse. The next exercise for the day was enjoying the delicious meal prepared by the volunteers, medical team and members of the Caisson Platoon along with great conversations and discussions. This was a great way to end another successful season of the Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Program.

11/12/2014

A read worthy article on the healing power of horses for veterans shared this Veterans Day evening 2014. http://www.horsecollaborative.com/the-real-war-horses/

A growing number of veterans with post traumatic stress disorder are turning to equine therapy to help them cope; and it's working.   For centuries, horses assisted humans engaged in war. Although long rendered obsolete in most modern militaries, horses remain as critical as ever to the warriors of…

11/06/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 5 November 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Jorden, Chad, Christopher & Owen
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/practice previous lesson riding inside of cones then inside/outside of cones/pillars
iv. Teach/demonstrate circling cone then circling pillars from halt between cones
v. Practice the above task
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss
viii. Dismiss
b. Student in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones and around barrels
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. Practice backing up, turning on the inside leg, going over poles with eyes shut
vii. Dismount
c. Student in East Turnout
i. Student correctly tacked up his horse, saddle pad, western saddle & bridle
ii. Student was accompanied by SPC Kesselring, practiced riding in pairs
iii. Student learned how to ride up hill and down hills – how to position his body to best support the horse
iv. Student rode trail through the wood-line
v. Student walked and trotted
vi. Dismount, remove tack and brush horse
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle and Robert practiced round pen work. . Michelle mounted ba****ck and rode in the large arena where she practiced those tasks in b above. Robert did very well mounted today and so did John D. practicing and learning the tasks in c above. Jonathan M., Chad and Jorden rode in the covered arena. Christopher groomed his horse and also practiced leading. It was Owen’s first lesson so he groomed only and observed the round pen work.

10/24/2014

Tonight is Military Appreciation Night at WIHS!!!

10/22/2014

Hope folks in the DC area are able to enjoy this weeks Washington International Horse Show. If you are out of town it's being streamed live online. Meanwhile here's a local news segment with a Caisson Platoon member talking about Friday's Military Appreciation Night. http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/26855877/washington-international-horse-show-back-in-dc

While it's the nation's premier equestrian event - it's still a lot of fun for horse lovers of all ages. FOX 5s Holly Morris checked out the Washington International Horse Show!

10/14/2014

Great article on the Caisson Platoon. http://www.army.mil/article/135988/

Before the sun peeks over the horizon, the Soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), are already hard at work preparing the caisson horses for the day's solemn duties.

10/02/2014

A related article on a Florida based program. https://www.ocoos.com/me/horse-in-miracles/blog/article-in-the-sun-program-teaches-post-9-11-veterans-horse-handling-skills-1621

Dan Bassett, Lugene TharpeDan Bassett, who served in the Coast Guard, puts a lead on Dreamer while Lugene Tharpe, who served in the Marine Corps, look

10/01/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 1 October 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Nickolas, Jorden, Chad, Ryan, Bobby P., Dylan & Christopher.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/practice previous lesson for eye focus, voice and hand aids
iv. Teach/demonstrate halting then walking on between cones
v. Practice those skills in the arena using designated cones
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss
viii. Dismiss
b. Students in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. Practice pairs riding
vii. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle, Robert, Chad, Bobby, Christopher and Dylan practiced round pen work. Robert improved tremendously over last lesson. Chad also improved dramatically as did Bobby. Michelle did well and both Christopher and Dylan need continued practice.
Michelle and Robert mounted and went into the large arena where they practiced walking around the cones and across the poles. Michelle worked on steering and turning the horse while at the walk and she trotted a very short distance. Robert paired up with SSG Goodrich and they practiced on several horsemanship skills and it seemed like a very positive experience for Robert. Ryan and Nickolas observed round pen training and then participated in the lesson for students in pads. Jonathan M. mounted again today and while he had a little trouble with his upper body balance he did very well and was very positive. Ryan also mounted and rode for a short time very successfully. There was noticeable improvement for both Jonathan and Ryan today. Christopher groomed and then worked in the round pen for the first time and did fairly well. He also participated in the mounted exercise and did very well. He was involved today and communicated well. Jorden arrived late so only groomed today.

09/24/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 24 September 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Nickolas, Jorden, Chad, Ryan, Bobby P., Dylan & Steven K.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/practice previous lesson for balanced & centered seat
iv. Teach/demonstrate eye focus, voice and hand aids
v. Practice those skills around arena at designated pillars
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss
viii. Dismiss
b. Students in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle, Robert and Dylan practiced round pen work. Robert did much better today as we discussed the tasks/sub-tasks in sequence then he repeated them to me and then conducted the exercise. Dylan seemed to understand the tasks however had difficulty in executing them.
Michelle and Robert mounted and went into the large arena where they practiced walking around the cones and across the poles. Robert also rode in diagonals and along the fence line. Michelle worked on steering and turning the horse while at the walk. Jorden, Chad, Bobby, Ryan and Nickolas observed round pen training and then participated in the lesson for students in pads. John D. worked 1 on 1 with Jorden which seemed to work very well. Jonathan M. mounted today and while he had a little trouble with his upper body balance he did very well and was very positive. Ryan also mounted and rode for a short time successfully. Steven K. attended for only a short time as he had another appointment. He and Christopher are now 2 full lessons behind the other students and will have a difficult time catching up.

09/23/2014

Great article on the benefits of the outside of a horse for the inside of a warrior http://www.va.gov/health/newsfeatures/2014/September/Reining-In-PTSD-With-Equestrian-Therapy.asp

Veterans participating in the residential treatment program at the Bedford VA, in Massachusetts, are being given a chance to spend a day riding horses, or just walking through a quiet pasture.

09/18/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 17 September 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, Jon M., Robert F., Nickolas, Jorden, Chad, Ryan, Bobby P., Dylan & Christopher
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Round Pen work
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Teach/demonstrate a balanced seat
iv. Practice arms extended exercise for balanced seat
v. Teach/demonstrate centered posture
vi. Practice exercise with stick in crook of elbows
vii. Cool down to music once in each direction
viii. Line up to discuss
ix. Dismiss
b. Students in large arena
i. Warm up by walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice walking over poles and steering between cones
iii. Weave between cones
iv. Practice steering across poles
v. Practice riding diagonals, across poles, around cones and at the fence line
vi. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. Michelle, Robert, Jorden, Chad, Bobby and Dylan practiced round pen work. This was the first experience in the round pen for Jorden, Chad, Bobby and Dylan. Bobby and Dylan did very well. Chad & Jorden had difficulty with mobility, lateral movement and sequencing.
Michelle and Robert mounted and went into the large arena where they practiced walking around the cones and across the poles. Robert learned one-rein stops, riding diagonals and along the fence line. Robert also worked up to a trot today. Jorden, Chad, Bobby, Dylan and Nickolas participated in the lesson for students in pads. Ryan & Christopher both groomed their horses today and Jonathan M. groomed his horse and did some extensive ground work showing positive improvements. This was the initial lesson for 8 of the ten students and we were very impressed with their aptitude and desire to learn. It was wonderful to welcome 4 new volunteers; Crystal, Carrie, Geoff and John. We are very glad to have them on our team.

07/31/2014

And here is the AAR from today's lesson during which uncharacteristically cool weather was enjoyed by all participants, both horse and man!!! http://www.cpeap.org/lesson-review-30july2014/

CPEAP AFTER-ACTION REVIEW DATE: 30 July 2014     PARTICIPANTS: Michelle, John D, Carrie, Gregg, Todd, and Rob LESSON OBJECTIVES: Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants Students complete anxiety survey Student groom their horses Ground lesson: Round-pen work Mounted lesson: Stu…

07/31/2014

An article to ponder bringing the healing power of the caisson horses to light. http://www.ofhorse.com/view-post/The-Mighty-Horse-Brings-Hope

Horses are already adorable animals to most of us; at times, they appear to be best companions that are very helpful and loyal. Moreover, once a horse becomes your friend, it takes care of you more than you would take care of the horse; and if that friend...

06/04/2014

2 students in the Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Program at Fort Belvoir, VA participated in the SPROUT Therapeutic Riding Program Spring Horse Show. Michelle rode PACMAN and Carrie rode DAVID Sunday in a demonstration of their horsemanship skills. CPEAP’s participation was in support of SPROUT’s efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of equine assisted activities in helping our wounded warriors & veterans recover and rehabilitate from the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). SPROUT will soon start their own program serving veterans at their facility in Aldie, VA. Mrs. Arnette Smith, PT at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at Fort Belvoir, VA and Larry Pence, Program Director and Co-founder of The Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Program also attended the program to support SPROUT and Michelle and Carrie.

Pictures provided by SPROUT Therapeutic Riding Program and Education Center

05/05/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 30April 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Carrie, Todd, Michelle, John D, Toni
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Desensitizing to the lead rope, stick & string
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/ practice previous weeks balanced/centered seat.
iv. Teach/demonstrate halting, then walking on between cones
v. Practice
vi. Cool down to music once in each direction
vii. Line up to discuss lesson and evaluate
viii. Dismiss
b. Students in saddle
i. Practice walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice changing directions
iii. Practice steering through cones
iv. Practice halting within cone boundary
v. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. SGT Gallatti then demonstrated yielding the hindquarters and backing up. All students practiced these tasks. Students then tacked their horse and volunteers directed them to the mounting blocks where they donned their helmet and mounted. Due to the weather all students went into the covered arena where they were instructed by Brenda in the lesson for students in pads. Michelle trained separately on using leg commands and her seat to have the horse increase and decrease speed, then using only leg commands rode her horse in circles in both directions and turning on the inside leg. Michelle rode ba****ck on Dozer and performed very well. Her balance, posture and seat were very good and she demonstrated excellent steering skills as well as flexing and bending her horse. Toni made an unintended dismount in the mounting process and did not ride today. During the After Action Review we discussed this incident which is the 2d in the last 2 weeks. We believe we followed all the necessary safety precautions. However we will review mounting and dismounting procedures again before students ride next week. There appear to be several possible reasons for Toni not making a successful mount today. She had a high state of anxiety and the incessant rain could have made her horse uneasy. We will discuss steps of how to do a better job of being confident the student is physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to mount. In some case it may be prudent to have the student do more ground work to help develop the confidence and comfort working with the horse prior to having them mount. Each student manifests differently each week so staff and volunteers must be diligent in observing the student during the grooming and ground lesson phases. One volunteer was stepped on by a horse during the incident with Toni.

04/17/2014

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 16April 2014

PARTICIPANTS: Carrie, Todd, Michelle, John D, John G, John P, Monica, Tim G
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Student groom their horses
4. Ground lesson: Lunging for respect, phase 1
5. Mounted lesson:
a. Students in pads
i. Warm up at an energetic walk once in each direction
ii. Safety check, then breathing and stretching exercises
iii. Review/teach/demonstrate balanced seat
iv. Practice arms extended exercise for balanced seat
v. Review/teach/demonstrate centered posture
vi. Practice exercise with stick resting in crook of elbows
vii. Cool down to music once in each direction
viii. Line up to discuss lesson and evaluate
ix. Dismiss
b. Students in saddle
i. Practice walking around outside of arena
ii. Practice changing directions
iii. Practice transition from walk to trot to walk
iv. dismount
6. Medical personnel take blood pressure/heart rate
7. Students complete anxiety survey
8. Students dismissed

Summary: Students arrived, went through their medical checks and volunteers escorted them to their assigned horses to perform grooming. SGT Troyer then demonstrated phase 1 of lunging the horse. Students then practiced lunging for respect phase 1. Students then tacked their horse and volunteers directed them to the mounting blocks where they donned their helmet and mounted. All students except John G. went into the covered arena where they were instructed by Brenda in the lesson for students in pads. John G went into the large arena where he participated in the lesson for students in saddle. Overall each student was challenged in the areas of balance, hand/eye coordination, posture, mobility and engaging their horse with verbal commands.

03/10/2014

Spring is upon us, which means the horses are shedding out, the snow is melted/ing and the mud is drying up!!! In the meanwhile, enjoy this article on another effort in the Carolinas.... http://www.aikenstandard.com/article/20140309/AIK0101/140309423

A departure from the battlefield, for many soldiers, in no way guarantees a seamless transition to an ordinary routine when returning home. Many...

12/14/2013

Our training sessions have been suspended as we are now on winter break. The Washington DC area/Military District of Washington has been getting sporadic snow days over the past week, so Mother Nature has confirmed for us that winter in indeed enroute. We will start back up in the Spring of 2014 and wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

11/26/2013

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 25 November 2013

PARTICIPANTS: Carrie, Todd, Michelle, Jason, Tim, Jimmy, Jeffrey, Edgar & Dani

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Conduct SAFETY briefing
4. Perform grooming of the horse
5. Ground exercise: Round Pen exercise
6. Mounted lesson:
a. Riders with pads:
1. Tack horse with halter & lead rope, ba****ck pad, saddle pad & girth or saddle & tack
2. Don helmet
3. Mount horse from the mounting block/Safety Check
4. Horse is led into the covered arena
5. Warm up at an energetic walk 1 time in each direction around the arena
6. Deep breathing and stretching exercises, Safety Check
7. Riders participate in varied mounted games
b. Riders in saddle
i. No riders in saddle today
c. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants

Summary: All students groomed their horses and conducted round pen exercises. Carrie really did well today in the round pen. Her movements, balance and positive control of the horse were excellent. Todd experienced another very good exercise in the round pen. His balance was good and his foot movement and positive horse control were good. He has made substantial improvement this year. Michelle continues to improve. She maintains her balance much better. She needs to continue to work on maintaining positive control of Dozer. Jason did very well, even with his cane he maintains good balance, shifts his weight appropriately and keeps good eye contact with his horse. Tim did not participate today. Jimmy does all of the physical aspects well. His short term memory issues complicate his ability to use the correct arm movements but overall he still is able to make the horse do what he wants. Jeffrey did well in the round pen and exhibited no back problems while maintaining good balance, directional control of the horse and providing positive command. Dani took the challenge today taking a new horse into the round pen. Clinch was a real challenge for her as he is a very fast horse and his movements are big. This really worked on her balance issues and challenged her ability to remain in control. She overcame these issues and had a very good workout. Edgar did not participate today. With the exception of Time & Edgar the other students mounted and participated in a variety of mounted games today. Edgar did participate as a side walker.
This was a wonderful lesson to end our year. The students enjoyed our cookout following the lesson and we had good food and good conversations.

11/18/2013

CPEAP AFTER ACTION REVIEW
DATE: 18 November 2013

PARTICIPANTS: Carrie, Todd, Michelle, Jason, Kevin, Jimmy, Jeffrey, Monica & Dani

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants
2. Students complete anxiety survey
3. Conduct SAFETY briefing
4. Perform grooming of the horse
5. Ground exercise: Round Pen exercise
6. Mounted lesson:
a. Riders with pads:
1. Tack horse with halter & lead rope, ba****ck pad, saddle pad & girth or saddle & tack
2. Don helmet
3. Mount horse from the mounting block/Safety Check
4. Horse is led into the covered arena
5. Warm up at an energetic walk 1 time in each direction around the arena
6. Deep breathing and stretching exercises, Safety Check
7. Review & practice previous lesson
8. 1st lesson Riders will independently in three fluid consecutive steps, combine a halt between cones, weaving in & out of the pillars and 2 complete circles around the pillars.
9. Practice the exercise
10. 2d lesson Riders will independently in 2 fluid consecutive steps combine eye and voice commands to halt and walk-on as well as to weave in and out of pillars
11. Practice the exercise
12. Cool down to music walking once in each direction of arena
13. Line up to discuss and evaluate lesson
b. Riders in saddle
i. Cruising and diagonals
ii. Backing up and turning on the inside leg
iii. Walk – trot – gallop transitions
c. Medical personnel take blood pressure reading of participants

Summary: All students groomed their horses and except Monica, conducted round pen exercising. Monica observed the round pen exercise and then was instructed and practiced desensitizing the horse to the stick & string. The students then put pads on their horses, donned their helmets and mounted. They were then led into the covered arena where Brenda taught the above lessons. Michelle once again rode Dozer ba****ck. She really is becoming much more finely attuned to Dozer’s movement. Ba****ck riding is much more challenging for her and she has to really work to maintain balance, seat & posture. Jeff who had a lot of back pain today noted that his pain lessened substantially during his ride. Monica enjoyed all aspects of her first lesson and was willing to try and accomplish all tasks. Jimmy’s short term memory issues continue but he is able to complete all tasks well with remedial instruction. Kevin was the lone rider in saddle today on Tazi. Tazi exhibits some control issues and Kevin maintained focus and didn’t allow Tazi to take charge.