To the editor:
Why horses? Especially during these hard economic times when food, shelter and gas are on everyone’s mind, Why horses? Because their positive effect on humans can improves lives, often with better results than conventional means of assisted services. From greater self and social awareness and sensory issues to physical therapy and improving coordination. In the physical and emotional realm, horses help us find balance. If your life is not balanced, where are you then?
Equine services are sought for interest, recreation and therapy all over Aroostook County. To assist special needs participants, Manes and Tails (MT) non profit awards scholarship funds toward tuition or donations to facilities offering services. Recently MT approved over $600 to support participants from St. Agatha to Fort Fairfield, expecting many more requests as the weather warms.
Where does the money come from? Most of the scholarship funds available at this time have come from the MT bottle drive, where thousands of bottles have been donated to the cause. Although the most activity for this fundraiser came from the St. John Valley, especially Van Buren, a redemption center in Monticello is providing extra support, refunding six cents on every empty. Although the collection bins are no longer out at the Tractor Supply Stores in Houlton and Presque Isle, MT volunteers are still accepting, donations of empties year round.
Media, such as newspapers, TV and radio, Social media such as web sites and Facebook, have been very helpful, increasing public awareness of equine assisted possibilities and fund-raising efforts of Manes and Tails.
New help recently from County Rotarians has come in from Presque Isle and Houlton. After interviewing MT about the needs for funds, Presque Isle Rotary has donated $250 toward scholarships. Houlton Rotary is showing support after a presentation by PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemen) certified instructor, Shelley Taylor, by donating supplies for Aroostook Horse and Pony Associates in Monticello, to build a wheelchair ramp at their facility, with the possibility of students of a local Technical program to construct this needed equipment.
The buzz in Caribou these days is “Barn Dance,” another MT fundraiser, slated for Saturday, June 2, from 4-9 p.m.
The community support is “overwhelming” states Tracy Thibodeau of Equine Inspirations Learning Center, who is preparing to host the event at her farm on the Plante Rd. Besides local friends and neighbors offering help, the Monticello Recreation Department will be hosting afternoon games. DJ Express is providing an evening of music. “Mystery Guests” will include Aroostook celebrities and performers. (Smokey the Bear is one).
Manes and Tails is still in need of donations for food, tents/canopies and sponsor(s) to help with DJ costs. The event is planned to be entertaining for adults and families. The most recent MT meeting took place April 1, at the facility to plan the layout of activities.
So providing services with horses is a lot of work? Yes. Why do we do it? Positive feedback from participants.
Find out more: Visit a local barn or Perfect Ponies Learning Center, 489 Main St, Van Buren on any Saturday 1-3 p.m. through June 9. It’s open house ‘brush hours’ and you can watch them (horses/ponies), brush, hug them, find out more about “horses healing humans,” Manes and Tails, or just what to wear at a farm during mud season.
Nancy Dumond Violette, Manes and Tails, Van Buren
To the editor:
I often wonder when or if the time comes that I am put to the test would I have the courage to act, would I have the knowledge knowing what to do. Imagine, saving a choking victim in a restaurant, providing CPR and saving someone who collapsed from a heart attack, saving someone from drowning, saving a baby who had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, stopping and turning your vehicle around to rush to the scene of an ATV accident involving a seriously injured person, calling 9-1-1 and providing comfort while help was on its way, or offering your home to a homeless family, or having lost a dear loved one in tragedy having the courage to fulfill their wishes to donate their organs so that five different people could have new life.
Wow! Imagine all of this happened in Aroostook County just this past year.
The American Red Cross, Pine Tree Chapter, celebrated these life-saving acts at the Real Heroes Breakfast held at the Northern Maine Community College on April 6. What a moving event. There was even a young boy recognized for dialing 9-1-1 after his mother had collapsed while brushing her teeth, he stayed with her until help arrived. I think everyone at that event swallowed pretty hard or wiped away a tear to two. It was the kind of event that made one stop and think about all the wonderful acts of courage that are done every day by everyday people but never seem to make it to the headlines.
The American Red Cross celebrated these incredible acts of courage and concern while acknowledging the life-saving and life giving efforts of thousands of Red Cross Disaster Volunteers who are on call 24-7 to go anywhere at any time of the day or night to bring comfort and support to disaster victims. Whether thousands of miles away after tornadoes or just up the road in Fort Kent after a devastating fire, the Red Cross is always there.
Well I don’t know if I could do what these incredible, selfless and courageous people did but after returning from the breakfast I decided to do three things. One, call the Red Cross and sign up for their next CPR and First Aid class; two, make sure my driver’s license has the organ donor symbol and tell my family that I want to be an organ donor; and three; write a check to the American Red Cross. It was the least I could do.
Congratulations to the real heroes, God Bless and thank you.
Bill Flagg, Stockholm
