Hinchinbrook Farm receives $20,000 grant from Sport Nova Scotia

Sport Nova Scotia’s Sport Fund focuses on community sport support. Traditionally, Sport Fund has focused on strengthening quality, sustainable programs. While we know this support creates positive impact in sport communities across the province, we also know that it is not easy for every Nova Scotian to have opportunities to experience the positive benefits of sport. Sport Fund has created a separate, but parallel funding stream for sport programs that support inclusive and diverse populations.

Sport Fund – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (Sport Fund-EDI) is designed to support para-activities and traditionally underrepresented communities in their efforts to increase participation in community-based sport programming.

Hinchinbrook Farm Society announces Megan Daniels as the Assistant Program Manager

Megan will manage the delivery of programs at Hinchinbrook Farm; coordinate the fundraising events; recruit and train volunteers, seasonal employees; and the therapy critters.

Megan has maintained risk management standards in therapy as a volunteer at Hinchinbrook since 2014. In 2015 Megan traveled to Elgin, Texas to certify in Horse Boy Methods. She certified in the Movement Methods in 2018. Megan acquired her Therapeutic Riding Instructor technical in 2017 through the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association CanTRA. In 2020 Megan joined The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International PATH International to acquire the Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor status. Megan has the required Equine Canada Rider levels in both English and Western Riding. Her past experience includes working in long term care for residents with special needs and in manufacturing.

Megan is being mentored over the next two years by retiring Program Director, Patricia McGill, to take over operational management of the Society’s activities. Society President, Steve Dyer, stated: “Megan’s presence guarantees the continued quality of service in equine and recreational therapy for special needs children and adults with challenges at Hinchinbrook Farm”.

What does PATH stand for in equine therapy?
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International is a non-profit association that provides equine-assisted activities including the use of horseback riding as a form of treatment for persons with emotional, physical and learning disabilities.

www.pathintl.org

SOCIETY COVID PRECAUTIONS

Note: This is DEFINITELY a non-medical mask

Updated March, 2022

VOLUNTEERS, RIDERS/FAMILIES & VISITORS
Can elect to show proof of vaccination or not.
Persons with Immune Deficiency are expected to self identify.
All participants have the option to work with only vaccinated.

ALL ARRIVALS
Volunteers and riders/families are to hand wash or hand sanitize upon arrival in the tack room before participating in any programs.

VOLUNTEERS
Vaccinated Adults/Youths are able to work with any of the riders and families.
Un-vaccinated Adults/Youths are only to work with riders and families who are comfortable with un-vaccinated status.

RIDERS & FAMILIES
Vaccinated families are able to participate in any of the programs.
Un-vaccinated families are only able to participate with volunteers and other families who are comfortable with un-vaccinated status.

MASKS
Adults & Youth helpers are to wear masks when indoors, masks are not required outdoors.
Children are not required to wear masks at any time while participating in the programs.

COVID EXPOSURE
All volunteers, riders/families are to immediately advise Hinchinbrook Farm Society they have been exposed and refrain from participating at the farm until they are not infectious.

DAYS END PROTOCOLS
Spray all surfaces with lysol (railings, latches, handles, drawers, cabinets, faucets, fridge, sink and counter) clean tack, put used towels, cloths etc in the laundry bag.

Animal Care Is A Crucial Part of Business At Hinchinbrook Farm

Read the blog post and testimonial here>>

Watch our Ther-a-Play…

“Time outdoors as a child aids mental health as an adult”

Horse Boy Playdate The June 5, 2019 edition of South Shore Breaker (Saltwire Network) includes an article that, in part reads: “…more time in nature (is connected with) better cognition development and improved physical health, coordination, balance and agility.”. The article also reports new research that shows adults who spent time in nature as children have better mental health. Read the full article here>>

How Do We Spend Our Money?

Check it out on this page>>

Help increase our capacity — become a volunteer!

The number of children and young adults who can receive the benefits of our therapeutic riding and Ther-A-Play programs is dependent on the number of available volunteers. We always try to have a one-to-one volunteer to rider ratio to meet our risk management guidelines. Life changes result in a certain number of volunteers either being less available or leaving (for example, to go to college). So, we are always looking for new people to join our tribe of about 40 dedicated volunteers and become part of the Hinchinbrook experience.

Volunteers are trained by certified therapeutic riding experts
You must commit to a minimum of 10 hours a month (about 1 session per week, although many volunteers do more than that). The best thing is to choose one day and time that stays the same every week, but additional time is always welcomed.
Once you have put in 100 volunteer hours (including training) you qualify for other free training such as Emergency First Aid, Mental Health Emergency First Aid, T-TOUCH and more — saving you hundreds of dollars
Volunteering at Hinchinbrook qualifies for school and college community service and supervised co-op work
Looks great on a resumé
Really helpful on college applications for related programs (social work, animal care, psychology, etc.)

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“FREE REINS” Documentary

GET YOUR POPCORN — AND A BOX OF TISSUES — AND THEN CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CBC DOCUMENTARY, “FREE REINS”, ABOUT HINCHINBROOK FARM AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR TRIBE (45 MINUTES)

This video can only be viewed in Canada.

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Our web site is a great place to get to know about therapeutic riding and the people and critters that make up this charity. Check out all the information found on the many web pages under the tabs in our menu. Click on that big DONATE button at the top right!

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