Hinchinbrook Farm

Therapeutic Riding Centre

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Great Day For New Volunteers

It was a bright sunny day that warmed up the Farm quickly as several brand new volunteers listened, watched and got up close and personal with the horses for their inaugural training session with Patty.  We learned about horse care, grooming, lunging and how to tack up.  One of the new volunteers was once a client, and wants to help other kids through this successful therapeutic program.  Learning included the differences and similarities between the therapeutic riding and Horse Boy Method™ programs.

Since Jazzmin is so good at doing tricks, and needs the mental stimulation to keep her happy, the training included having new volunteers run her through her paces, playing games with rings and giving other trick commands; followed, of course, by the requisite treats!

Because of how busy people are these days, even more volunteers are needed at Hinchinbrook, especially in winter when older teens go back to university and some of the adult volunteers either go to the winter homes or vacation.  To sign up for the next training session on August 5, contact Patty at our e-mail or by phone.  You can find both on the Contact page.

RBC Helps Again With Spring Cleanup

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Bridgewater Branch has included Hinchinbrook Farm once again in their community service volunteer program.  A team of about 6 employees will be coming to the Farm on April 30 to pitch in with spring cleaning chores that will include preparing a new play area for the kids by expanding the Horse Boy Paddock, and perhaps some fence post pounding and “road apple” removal.  Their hard work will save Patty and her summer students weeks of work.  Our thanks to the RBC crew for this huge contribution.

Red Vermont Saga Continues

You might know that a couple of years ago, Patty rescued 2 horses from Cape Breton after their owner died.  Apparently, they had been almost feral as they had roamed, uncared for, on their property for several years.  They were both extremely undernourished and Red Vermont, the male, had a bone extruding though his hoof.  Patty nursed them back to health and set up a crowd funding campaign to pay to have Red Vermont shipped back to the farm where he was foaled in the US.  Unfortunately, Red Vermont died last year, but not before he passed on his genes.  Here is how the owner described it:

Well, the Red Vermont story continues- on April 9th Quietude Taffeta foaled. She delivered Orion, a colt by Red Vermont. You may recall that while at Quietude, Vermont jumped the fence and got Taffeta pregnant. I brought her here in February, now she is raising a prospect for breeding and continuing the Red Vermont legacy.
Here is a picture of mother and foal with the owner’s 6 year old daughter.

“Free Reins” Documentary on CBC

In 2016 Tell Tale Productions Inc. spent many hours and days at Hinchinbrook Farm and the homes of various clients creating a film that will be showcased on the CBC documentary show Firsthand.  The first full length film about the Horse Boy Method™ to be produced in Canada, it follows three of our special friends who come to the farm on a regular basis to work with the horses and open their lives to new possibilities.  You can see the description of the program at the following link: FIRSTHAND — FREE REINS.

Hinchinbrook Hosts Paint Night and Silent Auction

2016-paint-nite2In the space of two hours, 80 artists painted 80 masterpieces. The outburst of mass creativity took place at a fundraiser sponsored by the Hinchinbrook Farm Society (HFS) at the Mahone Bay Centre October 22, 2016.

Billed as “Paint Nite and Silent Auction”, the event also featured the auctioning of seven themed baskets that were filled with donated items. The pre-auction value of the baskets ranged from $110 to $370. The other major source of revenue was the entry fee paid by each of the 80 participants.

“The evening was a huge success that netted more than $3,000 for the farm and children with special needs,” said Carolyn Collicutt, president of the HFS. “The society and I want to express our heartfelt thanks to the artists who first paid the price of admission and then bid on the baskets; to local business and individuals who contributed items for the baskets or donated food and drink; and to the local musicians who freely gave of their time to help nurse the creative muse.”

The evening began with a reception during which the artists snacked, drank, chatted and browsed through the baskets.  MC Pat Hirtle then introduced the professional art teachers from Paint Nite™ who supplied canvases, paint and brushes and guided participants through the completion of their paintings. While painting, the artists simultaneously became the main event and the audience as they listened to the music of Stephanie MacLeod, Tim Worthington and Clas Larsson.

Hinchinbrook Farm is Canadian registered charity located in Blockhouse, NS. Under the guidance of Program Director Patricia McGill, it offers therapeutic riding, Horse Boy Program, and special events for children with special needs and their families. The farm’s website is www.hinchinbrookfarm.com.

HELP!! We need a BOAT THAT WON’T FLOAT

THE POWER OF THE INTERNET.  With an ad on Kijiji, we were able to get a boat donated to the Farm in ONE DAY!
2016gravelboat

Here is the original post…..

Yes, that’s right.  If you know anyone who has a boat that is of no use on the water, we desperately need to replace our gravel-filled play-boat on our woodland trail.

SandBox

It is a favourite place for our young people to play with trucks and shovels and pails, digging in the gravel and building future cities.  The boat we now have, which is so popular with the kids as a mid-way place to stop their horse and do some creative expression, is rotting to the point of disappearing and is crying out to be retired.

So, if you know anyone with a BOAT THAT WON’T FLOAT, please get in touch.  You can find our e-mail and telephone information on our CONTACT page.

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Project – Phase 2

TD FEFPhase 2 of the pathways project was again funded by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.  It as completed on time and on budget this past summer and resulted in two more pathways opening up.  One of them was through the eastern wetlands area of the Farm and was constructed with gabien rock to allow free movement of the water in the wet season while giving riders and volunteers and solid, dry base on which to walk.  We also constructed an observation platform at the west end of the pathway network and it overlooks the creek (and the zip line runway).

Wetland Path2016-trail-bog-filledLow spot on the trail2016 Pathway Project StartedZip Line Platform

Sponsored Summer Camp

3 day sponsored camp for families with autism — July 8, 9 & 10, 2016

Horse Boy summer camp

 

Sensory Input | Movement | Horses:

  1. An autism friendly environment where children are allowed to choose activities
  2. Each kids has a mentor who helps keep it safe
  3. Sensory experiences provided by activities and games, toys and critters are designed to help easier processing.
  4. Back riding or long lining with the horses or any rocking movement which produces the joyful hormone oxytocin and eliminates the melt-down hormone cortisol.
  5. Movement Method of learning by doing (instead of teaching) while playing games and doing crafts.
  6. Perception Taking – Theory of Mind games and discussions around the campfire, in the woods, on the trampoline or while riding.
  7. Self-advocacy practice at all times with trained mentors so children can learn to speak up for themselves.

What to expect and what to bring

    • Nutritious snacks and meals prepared on site with the families and staff.  Any special diets require that the parents bring their own food.
    • Some Camping gear provided if necessary otherwise families are expected to bring their own tents sleeping gear and personal effects.
    • Use of screen devices is discouraged but understandably required at times for communication with staff on the property and the outside world.
    • Activities include water play, Springfree™ Trampoline, Painting or chalk art, memory and sensory games, climbing, swinging, music, crafts, bread making, horseback riding, goat herding, campfires and what ever the kids come up with.
    • Special Guest Chris Ulmer from Special Books by Special Kids will be visiting and taking interviews.

You might know him from this video (or the Facebook page he created for his students.)

He is also the keynote speaker at this year’s National Autism Conference.

Autism is not a Problem it is an adventure

Hinchinbrook Farm programs are designed to work with a few autistic families at a time on a small 10 acre hobby farm on the South Shore of Nova Scotia in Lunenburg County. This sponsored camp is maxed with three families.

 

Summer Camp Registration