|
      
|
Anyone who has been on a horse responds immediately
to the power and strength of the animal. For the physically and mentally
challenged the experience offers a new view on life. Horses are a wonderful
medium for relationships and for therapy in a natural environment. The
disabled can participate in “therapeutic riding” at Freedom
In Motion Therapeutic Riding Center (FIM), located in Bishop, California.
Freedom In Motion is a Premier Accredited Center with the North
American Riding For The Handicapped Association, which regulates
training and activities at over 600 centers nationwide.
The creation of the Freedom In Motion program began with a love for special
needs children and a love of horses. The riding center officially opened
in 1997 and the program has grown faster than ever expected. Freedom In
Motion started out with two students in February 1997 and currently sees
seventy-four students on a weekly basis. The entire staff is formed of
highly motivated and dedicated volunteers. Retired citizens and today’s
youth come together to share their skills and devotion to better the lives
of the challenged members of their community. Community support has been
strong in the donations of horses, equipment, saddles and office supplies.
A complete list of donations is available upon request.
At this time Freedom In Motion has clients suffering from cerebral palsy,
Down syndrome, cancer, epilepsy, autism and many other learning and behavioral
problems. The benefits from therapeutic riding are greater than self-esteem;
physical strength, coordination and balance, all achieved in a natural
setting without a sterile medical environment. FIM's location offers the
rider a spectacular view of two mountain ranges and a close-up look at
California wildlife. Many disabled individuals never get the opportunity
to experience such outdoor activities.
Due to the popularity of our program we have incorporated able-bodied
riders into the lesson schedule. This mixture offers the chance for the
students to achieve a greater respect for their classmates and an understanding
of what it must be like to be handicapped. This helps in their every day
life skills by building a mutual respect for each other.
Do you believe in Miracles?
During the summer of 1999, Carol Archuleta was working at Sierra Meadows Ranch in Mammoth Lakes, California.
She was running an extension program of Freedom in Motion for the summer months. The Mammoth Lakes extension program
offered relief for parents who had been driving their children to Bishop for therapeutic riding lessons and it also
was a much needed source of income for the program.
On one Saturday afternoon after riding lessons, a discussion began regarding how this woman would like to
own a ranch, but did not feel she would have time to develop that dream. She said she had an itch to own a ranch.
Carol Archuleta, being driven to provide therapeutic riding in a safe and friendly environment, desperately needed
to secure a place for Freedom in Motion. She blurted out “well someone could buy a ranch here and Freedom in Motion
could develop it for you!” She was instantly mortified that she had been so bold as to suggest such a thing.
She worried all the way home to Bishop that night.
When she arrived home there was a message on the answering machine. She played it over and over again to
make sure she had not mistaken the message. The woman from earlier in the day had called and said “I have
talked it over with my husband and let's go look at property tomorrow!” Of course there were stipulations
to the purchase of the ranch. But first Carol and her husband, Archie, had to scramble quickly to find a place
that would be appropriate and available. A quick phone call to a local real estate agent got the ball rolling.
While looking at property, Carol and Archie had no clue that the owners would not be residing at the property,
but that Carol and Archie would be able to live on site while they developed “Rain Shadow Ranch,” the home
of Freedom in Motion.
Freedom in Motion has a 25 year lease for the property, as long as they meet the lease requirements and continue
to develop the Freedom in Motion program and the property.
Diamond in the ROUGH
Work began on the ranch as soon as the Archuleta's moved into the facility. Acres of lawn were planted to
provide a cool clean environment for the children to play while waiting for classes. Two arenas were put up
and a pasture set up so that the horses could have plenty of room to roam during the day. Since 1999, Archie
Archuleta the Ranch Manager has been busy 24/7 keeping the ranch in pristine shape. He spends countless hours
doing repairs on the equipment that keep the program going. Many people do not understand the amount of hours
it takes to care for the horses and keep the acres of grass, the 150 trees, and the arenas in the shape they are in.
The equipment that Freedom in Motion owns is all pre-1980 models. Maintenance and maintenance. It's is a good
thing that Archie is so proficient at being a mechanic, plumber, and electrician. The program could not function
without the man behind the scene.
Current Equine Staff Members.
|
|
