- September 5, 2024
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Lauren Prescott, who is 12, shows love to Salsa Baby after a successful ride. Prescott says she loves working with Salsa Baby, who she described as bouncy and energetic.
Photo by Liz RamosSkylar Tobiassen, who is 15, smiles while riding Whiskey as she receives praise from Sarasota Manatee Association Riding Therapy instructor Carolyn Kelsey.
Photo by Liz RamosSkylar Tobiassen, who is 15, practices weaving around cones with Whiskey.
Photo by Liz RamosPaislee Miller, who is 8, gets control of Whiskey as they try to go over three poles.
Photo by Liz RamosCarolyn Kelsey, a Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy instructor, gives 8-year-old Paislee Miller advice about getting Whisky to smoothly run.
Photo by Liz RamosLauren Prescott, who is 12, gives Salsa Baby a big smooch.
Photo by Liz RamosPaislee Miller, who is 8, spends as much time as she can at Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy because she loves horses.
Photo by Liz RamosSkylar Tobiassen, who is 15, works on her trot with Whiskey. Tobiassen has been participating in summer camp at Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy for five years.
Photo by Liz RamosLauren Prescott, who is 12, is focused on her posture and technique as she starts to ride Salsa Baby.
Photo by Liz RamosWhiskey, one of the horses at Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, is a pro at working with campers.
Photo by Liz RamosSarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy campers Lauren Prescott and Paislee Miller start their ride off with a slow walk around the arena.
Photo by Liz RamosEast County 8-year-old Paislee Miller spends as much time she can at Horse Summer Camp.
The weekly camp, offered by the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy nonprofit through mid-August, runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. However, Miller was on the grounds before the camp began each day, and after it ended.
She helped feed the horses each morning and stayed late to help groom the horses and get them ready for a good night's rest.
"I just love to help around here," Miller said.
Along with other campers, Miller learned all that it takes to properly care for a horse.
Campers learned how to groom the horses and to clean and prepare the barn. They also watched as East County's Dan Mohl, a SMART client, had a lesson so they could see how therapeutic riding is done.
But the camp wasn't all work.
The campers also participated in yoga and sound baths to calm their nervous systems. Annmarie Kennedy, an administrative assistant with SMART, said the exercises allowed campers to regulate their nervous systems and learn about self awareness and situational awareness, so they are better prepared to calmly be around the horses.
Izabella DeToma, a SMART volunteer who worked with the campers, said she led the campers through an observational lesson with the mini horses. She let them loose in the arena and had the campers take note of their behavior.
The campers also made fun treats for the horses, including cookies and popsicles.
