Powell River
Therapeutic Riding Association
Volunteers
June 2009 Volunteer of the Month: Harvey Jenkins
Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association is very lucky to have Harvey Jenkins on its volunteer roster. Harvey has been volunteering with Therapeutic Riding since 1995 when he retired for the last time.
Harvey joined the RCMP in 1957 retired from his duties as an RCMP officer in Powell River in 1980. Immediately upon retiring from active duty as an RCMP officer, he became a civilian employee for the City of Powell River at the RCMP office and continued to work until he finally really retired in 1994.
Harvey was a city boy when he joined the RCMP and began his training in Regina. Equitation was a mandatory for all new RCMP recruits back then. Prior to his RCMP equitation training, Harvey’s only experience with horses was watching the milk wagon roll down his street early in the mornings!
Harvey discovered he had a real affinity for horses, however, and loved the training, even the barn and stall duty. Harvey did not go on to the musical ride training, instead he began his RCMP career in Ottawa, ‘guarding tulips’! At that time the RCMP were responsible for security on Parliament Hill, so he spent a summer sweltering in the RCMP dress serge uniform in the Ottawa humidity. Harvey’s duties including securing about the grounds of Parliament Hill, the PM’s residence and Government House. After an Ontario winter, Harvey was very sure Ontario was not for him. Harvey then came to BC working in small communities throughout the province doing general duties and traffic control before he retired. For his last posting, he was offered either Powell River or Vancouver. For Harvey and his family, Powell River was the only choice.
Harvey was enjoying his retirement, but his friend Colleen Wright kept inviting Harvey to come and check out the Powell River Therapeutic Riding program where she volunteered. Harvey eventually took Colleen’s advice and came to visit Therapeutic Riding.
After meeting the horses, riders and other volunteers, Harvey decided to spend one day a week volunteering with the adult riders. Harvey developed an affinity for a horse named Partner. Harvey says that Partner was old, with a lot of character, just like Harvey. Partner retired from Therapeutic Riding and Harvey has had several new horses to work with since then, but Partner remains his favourite.
A therapeutic riding program day for Harvey begins at 8:30 or so when the horse handler volunteers gather in the barn to get the horses ready for the day. On cold winter days, this can be an onerous task with dirty, wet horses to groom and tack. Knowing that there is hot coffee and good conversation waiting in the clubhouse helps.
Once the horses are groomed, tacked and then warmed up by walking and trotting, the horses are ready for the riders. Up to five adult riders arrive at 9:00 for their 45-minute class, with a new class arriving every 45 minutes until the classes finish at 2:00. Harvey stays for the whole day, finishing by removing the tack from his horse, grooming him and putting him out in his paddock or pasture.
In addition to his work with the horses, Harvey does odd jobs around the place. He ‘mends fences’ both literally and figuratively. He also helped put a new roof on the hay barn, insulated the new clubhouse, and kept the old tractor going long after lesser mortals would have considered it hopeless. He sheeted the new wall at the Riding Arena which was a huge task. He helped Lynne Nott demolish the trailer that was used before the clubhouse was built. The trailer was supposed to have been moved to another location, but it was so rotten that it did not survive even the first foot of a journey to another location.
Harvey also helps raise funds for Therapeutic Riding by helping with the Parade of Homes, the Valentine’s Day dance this year and wherever and whenever else he is asked.
Why does Harvey do all this for Therapeutic Riding? Harvey believes that those who can need to give back to their communities and Harvey loves the Therapeutic Riding program.
When Harvey is not at Therapeutic Riding, he is unlikely to be found in an easy chair.
He just finished helping his son complete a mechanics shop south of town.
Harvey is an advanced amateur photographer who still works with film, but admits he has been seduced by digital, just a little. Harvey has his own darkroom and loves developing his own black and white photographs.
Harvey is also a keen gardener. A highlight in his garden is the 15 or so bonsai trees he has developed over the past twenty years. Maple trees are a speciality because they are relatively hardy and very beautiful.
On behalf of the riders, horses, volunteers and staff a huge thank you to Harvey Jenkins for finding time to fit Therapeutic Riding into your week.
March 2009 Volunteer of the Month: Lynne Nott
Like many horse people, Lynne Nott caught the horse bug at a young age, and never really recovered! Although Lynne doesn’t ride anymore, she loves being with horses, grooming, tacking, feeding, horse handling and even cleaning up after them.
As Lynne approached retirement from the Audiology Department of Community Health, she thought she would contact Powell River Therapeutic Riding and see if she could assist with the program. Lynne has often done volunteer work during her life, and she thought helping with Therapeutic Riding a few hours a week would be a lovely thing to do once she retired. However, Therapeutic Riding contacted Lynne before she ever got around to either retiring, or making that call!
In 1999, Lynne was asked to consider a term on the Powell River Therapeutic Riding Board of Directors, which she accepted. Little did she know she would become volunteer coordinator, program coordinator, program administrator, fund raiser, floor sweeper, the person who turned out the lights at the end of the day and president of the Association! Also, when the program was really short of volunteers, Lynne would be called in to sidewalk or horse handle! Those few hours became a new retirement career.
For many of the years that Lynne has worked on the Board of Directors, she has been the president. Always up for a new challenge, Lynne has enjoyed her duties as president of the Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association. When she took over, the first task she assigned herself was to pay off a debt incurred by the Association to build the indoor riding arena. Raising funds and getting a reduction in the interest the Association was paying made it possible to retire the debt much sooner.
Lynne was not really spending much time with horses, though.
Having the indoor riding arena was wonderful, but now Therapeutic Riding needed a clubhouse of their own. Lynne and the Program Coordinator found and arranged for the purchase of an old construction trailer at a local salvage yard. That trailer was used to: house the gear needed by the riders, provide a space for the riders to get their gear on, and get ready to go, as well as an office and a space for volunteers to warm up and get a mug of something before the next class.
Needless to say, the 12’ x 30 ‘ trailer was overcrowded and ill suited to serving the needs of the Therapeutic Riding family. Lynne set out to get a clubhouse built for the PRTRA.
Still, though, not much time for hanging out with the horses…
Lynne and Nellie Valentine, Adult Program Coordinator, were the project managers for the construction of the new clubhouse. Lynne raised the money and Nellie found the contractors to get the job done. They then both supervised the completion of the clubhouse with the help of numerous volunteers.
Lynne’s happiest day as president of PRTRA was when the old, well worn trailer was demolished, and the Association, its’ gear, its’ staff, its’ riders and its’ volunteers moved into the new clubhouse.
And still, Lynne was not really spending very much time with the horses…
She’s finally winding down her time as president and is looking forward to spending the rest of her days at Therapeutic Riding as she dreamed way back in 1999 - in the arena with the horses…and the riders… and the other horse folk. She is grooming, feeding and cleaning up after horses… She is helping a rider to have an amazing experience that involves horses and horse people and self confidence.
Powell River Therapeutic Riding thanks Lynne Nott for all the work she has done for the program over the years. We hope that Lynne can be found in our stables and our riding arena and our clubhouse for many, many years to come –
... hanging out with the horses!
February 2009 Volunteer of the Month: Catherine MacMillan
Catherine MacMillan has been a Therapeutic Riding volunteer for the past ten years at least. Volunteerism is a way of life for Cath, and she has been a Powell River volunteer for many years. She was worked in the Therapy Dog program at Extended Care and in the schools. She helps care for a senior lady, visiting daily and providing support to her. Cath didn’t know very much about Therapeutic Riding when she decided to volunteer here, but she had heard of the program and thought it would be worthwhile. She also thought she would love to be around horses.
What Cath wasn’t prepared for was how much she would get from being a volunteer with the program. When Cath first started volunteering, the need for volunteers was greatest for people to assist with the adult riding program, so that is where Cath began sidewalking and horsehandling. Cath was amazed at the progress and development the riders showed over time, and she became hooked! Now, she has developed relationships with both the horses and the riders and the other volunteers. Therapeutic Riding is a huge part of Cath’s week.
Cath normally arrives at the Therapeutic Riding barn around 8:30 AM on Tuesday mornings to begin grooming and tacking the horses for the first riders at 9:30 AM. Grooming and tacking involves brushing and cleaning the horses’ coats and removing dirt and debris from the horses hooves. The horses are then saddled in tack appropriate for the riders in that class.
The horses are then taken to the arena to get their muscles warmed up before they are mounted. This involves walking and trotting the horses to get them moving, much like any athlete does before strenuous exercise.
Once the horses are warmed up and the riders mounted, Cath leads the horse either out on the trails in Paradise Valley or on inclement days, in the arena.
Cath has developed a special relationship with a therapy horse named Apollo. Apollo is a 17 year old chestnut Morgan horse that has been in the program since 2006. Apollo has a weakness for all things mentholated, so volunteers working with Apollo have to remember to leave cough drops and Fisherman’s Friends at home.
Some weeks, Cath will work extra days in the childrens’ program if she is needed.
Cath’s work at Therapeutic Riding now also includes the mentoring of new volunteers in horsehandling and grooming and tacking. Cath also assists the program instructors with exercising and schooling the therapy horses, which she loves to do.
Cath and her family moved to Canada in 1966 from Scotland. Cath’s husband Phil was offered a job at the mill. The mill was looking for a top notch drummer for their pipe band, and Phil fit the bill. Unfortunately, the band was dissolved a year after the MacMillan family arrived in Powell River, but by that time, Powell River was home.
Cath missed her family and friends back in Scotland, but the move was a good one and Cath has loved her life here in Powell River.
When Cath is not busy with the Therapeutic Riding program, she loves to garden, she especially loves to grow flowers. Cath knits – a lot. She has figured out how to knit while reading so she can do two of her favourite things at the same time. She is currently knitting a sweater for her adult son and reading a Clive Cusler book. Cath is never without a book, even while knitting! Cath has two grown children and two grown grandchildren, so she will never run out of people to knit for.
Cath will continue to volunteer with Therapeutic Riding for as long as she can and the riders, staff and horses are very glad that Cath continues to be part of the Powell River Therapeutic Riding team.
Janurary 2009 Volunteer of the Month: Mary Miller
Mary Miller has been a volunteer with Powell River Therapeutic Riding for the last five years. Mary found out about the program when one of her hiking pals told her that she worked for PRTRA, and told Mary that volunteers were needed.
Mary grew up on a farm, so she was used to being around animals, but she had not spent much time around horses. Mary found that she loved the therapeutic riding horses, especially grooming them before their classes. Mary calls this her ‘therapy time’.
Mary has a special affinity for a Norwegian Fjord pony named Desi. She usually gets him groomed and ready for his day. This makes many of the other groomer volunteers very happy. Desi hates being indoors and refuses to wear a blanket. Desi is almost always the wettest, dirtiest, smelliest horse in the barn!That is, until Mary finishes toweling him off, lovingly brushing the dirt and mud off his coat and telling him what a great pony he is.
Mary volunteers with PRTRA every Monday from 11:15 to 2:30 and again on Thursday from 11:15 until 4:00. Many volunteers stay for one or two classes, but Mary usually stays for the whole day and works every class without a break. She would rather skip lunch and hang out with the kids and the horses, than warm up and eat.
Mary’s job as a volunteer is to handle the horses while the riders have their session. Mary works with the preschoolers on Monday and school age children on Thursday.
Mary makes sure that the horse is performing his/her duties and that the rider has a good and safe ride. Mary likes the outdoor trail rides the best, but on inclement days, the lessons are held in the new indoor arena. Even when indoors, Mary walks with Desi for most of each of the 45 minute classes.
Before Mary retired, she was a housekeeper for the local priests in Powell River. Mary certainly doesn’t consider retirement a time to rest on her laurels, however. When she is not helping with Therapeutic Riding, Mary can be found hiking with the Powell River hiking group on Sunday and Wednesday. These hikes are not for the faint of heart, as they can be anywhere from 2 to 6 hours in length! Mary also swims and attends exercise classes.
Mary loves to sew. She makes many of her own clothes. If you purchase pj’s or nightgowns at a local bazaar, they may be one of Mary’s creations. She also sews for her children and two precious grand-daughters.
Mary says she keeps on volunteering at Powell River Therapeutic Riding because she loves the children and the horses a lot. We are certainly glad that Mary continues to volunteer with Therapeutic Riding! Powell River Therapeutic Riding salutes Mary Miller and thanks her for the hours and hours she spends working with the children and the therapy horses.
November 2008 Volunteer of the Month: Noelle Pagani
Noelle Pagani is a busy mother, wife and home school educator who finds time to volunteer with her horse, Mia each week at Powell River Therapeutic Riding.
Noelle first began volunteering with PRTRA several years ago. She recalls the days before the new comfy clubhouse were built. She would bundle herself and her two little kids up, load Mia in the horse trailer and head off for a day of volunteer work at Therapeutic Riding. While Noelle and Mia worked with the therapeutic riders, her children, Rosalea and Dalton would keep warm drinking hot chocolate and eating the lunch their mother prepared for them. The kids were watched and entertained by the other volunteers waiting for their own shift in the therapeutic riding program.
Back then, all the horses were volunteer horses. The horses would spend the winter months at Therapeutic Riding, and would return to their owners for the summer months.
These days, Mia is the only volunteer horse that works in the Powell River Therapeutic Riding program. Noelle, however, is one of over thirty volunteers who spend time each week assisting with the program.
When asked what it is about therapeutic riding that keeps her volunteering, Noelle stated that she comes and stays because of the kids. Therapeutic Riding is a happy place. The pleasure that the kids get from the horses and the program makes it very easy to want to come back and volunteer each week. She loves talking to the young riders and watching them develop confidence and independence as they hone their riding ability.
Noelle’s duties vary from week to week, but usually Noelle is asked to horse handle while a young rider works on a variety of skills including balance, coordination, self-esteem and confidence. On nice days, the programs take horses, riders and volunteers out onto the trails surrounding the facility for a trail ride. This may also include a scavenger hunt, Easter egg hunt or other activity. On rainy days, activities in the arena may include obstacle courses and agility training which help young riders develop horsemanship skills.
On a very busy day, Mia and Noelle walk for all 5 classes. With each of the classes being 45 minutes, that is a lot of walking! If there are enough volunteers or if a child is absent from the program, Noelle (and sometimes Mia) may get a 45 minutes break. Noelle says she loves the fresh air and is sometimes tired after a day at Therapeutic Riding, but it’s a good tired. (Many other volunteers stay only for 1 or 2 classes).
Mia is a 19 year old registered paint horse. She never complains and is always happy to work with the kids in the therapeutic riding program. Mia was a belated 30th birthday gift to Noelle from her husband some years ago. Noelle grew up with horses, but had been away from them while she attended university.
When Noelle’s children were small, she acquired a pony and had lots of fun with the kids, the pony and the cart. She was a fixture at the Farmer’s Market and spent many happy days wandering through Paradise Valley with the kids, the pony and the cart.
Noelle missed having a horse of her own, but she was pretty sure that she had no time or room in her life for a horse of her own. When Mia came up for sale, Noelle hoped that her mother would purchase her, so that she could spend time with Mia, too.
It was Noelle’s husband, Rob that insisted that Mia join their busy family. Noelle and her daughter Rosalea are both very glad that he did.
Mia has been a wonderful addition to the Pagani family. She has been adopted by Rosalea and the Therapeutic Riding Program. Noelle now has another horse, Josie, that she rides with Rosalea and Mia on the trails throughout Paradise Valley.
In addition to her work at Powell River Therapeutic Riding, Noelle loves to make scrapbooks for her children. She is a good baker, specializing in ice cream cakes, chocolate fondue and more. She also loves to garden, with trees being her current specialty. She has planted hundreds of trees on the family property and enjoys all of them.
Noelle’s daughter, Rosalea spent so much time at Therapeutic Riding growing up that
she was eventually hired on as barn staff. Rosalea feeds the Therapeutic Riding horses six times a week and she also helps out with barn cleaning and horse grooming.
Rosalea is very proud of the work that her mom and Mia do each week at Therapeutic Riding.
The Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association are very grateful to Noelle and Mia. Five children and youth are able to participate in the program each week because Noelle and Mia volunteer.
Powell River Therapeutic Riding salutes our Volunteer(s) of the Month, Noelle Pagani and her horse, Mia. Thank you.
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Powell River, BC
V8A 4Z2
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