Horses Healing Hearts

Monday, April 27 2009 S.Baldwin

A new program offered in Webster "Never Say Never" …horses healing hearts is an equine assisted program dedicated to providing life-enriching, horse related activities to children and teens living with cancer and other life challenges or setbacks. This program is the long time dream of Janice Hyde, a former first grade teacher and mother of two, who wanted to combine her love of children and horses to reach out to those who are suffering and could find comfort in the healing presence of horses.Never Say Never was created for sick children and their families to experience the emotional, spiritual and physical healing benefits of gentle interaction with horses. Through one-on-one contact, children are empowered to be caregivers. Though many of the children who may come to visit Never Say Never are struggling with physical and/or emotional difficulties, they can find comfort and healing in petting, brushing, loving, feeding, leading, or just connecting with that “special” horse or pony.

 

Those individuals who actually want to ride are supported and encouraged to do so with the personal attention and care of the people at NSN who act as leaders, side-walkers and safety personnel. Studies have shown that animal therapy can greatly improve an individual’s health, shorten recovery time, ease depression and decrease the stress associated with chronic illness. It is Never Say Never’s goal to provide a safe and nurturing environmet for equine-assisted activities to improve the quality of life for children who are suffering from illness.While many organizations across the country work with children with physical and mental disabilities, few work with children who are either suffering or recovering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses like cancer or other long term ailments, and other issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, ADD/ADHD, autism, OCD, learning difficulties, social/emotional challenges and more. Unlike hippotherapy or licensed therapeutic programs,  NSN is not a certified therapeutic facility. The program is recreational only, and does not require individuals to participate in achieving specific medical or health related goals nor to document physical or mental progress. Rather, this is strictly an opportunity for children and teens who are battling life challenges to come interact with our horses and ponies in a relaxed and nurturing environment.

Birthday Party Goers Waiting thier Turn

Through connections with area children’s hospitals and cancer organizations and special groups, Never Say seeks to reach out to and welcome children and their families to the farm. The program is relatively new, and is hoping to develop a solid relationship in the community with those children and families who would like to take advantage of this unique service. For eligible children and teens, NSN does not charge any fees for participating in the equine assisted activities at the farm. The program is run solely by volunteers. NSN will be looking to incorporate in the near future as a not-for-profit business.

 

Currently the program receives no funding from outside sources. Revenue generated from other programs at the farm, such as pony parties, summer camps and weekend pony rides help offset the cost of operating the farm and caring for the animals. In the future, the program will be looking at ways to raise revenue through fundraising, individual donations and corporate sponsorship.

 

It is NSN’s long term goal to expand facilities to include an indoor riding facility and observation area to make the program services accessible year round. If you or anyone you know may be interested in donating construction and planning services, building supplies, time or money towards this goal, or to make donations to support the operation of the farm and program, please contact Janice Hyde Call 585.738.2021 or 585.787.9835 you may also visit the website at http://www.nsnstables.org/ or email Janice directly JaniceHyde@frontiernet.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEBSTER — Janice Hyde and her two children may be the only human residents of 904 Maple Drive, but they’re not without company. They share their address with several horses and ponies; Edith, an incredibly tolerant chicken; a black-and-white bunny that lives in a hutch; and a rescue cat named Panda.Their home is Never Say Never Stables, an 11-acre swatch of land off Route 104 in Webster. Hyde, an Irondequoit native, runs a summer day camp and uses the proceeds to offer free riding lessons for children with long-term illnesses and disabilities.

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