Emma Kosieja

I tutored a student in physics and helped him with an essay over Thanksgiving break!

I got to Horse for Healing extra early before the lesson. I was able to help with sweeping the aisles and the bathrooms, cleaning out stalls, and cleaning helmets. Then i stayed for two lessons. I got to side walk with Fendley, and then helped a little girl learn how to brush a horse. Fendley was showing me how good she was at whistling the entire lesson.

This was the second time I was able to get to work with Fendley. This time she opened up even more to us and loved to goof around. She was using her voice much more the second time I saw her than the third. She even tried to two-point without us asking her to do so. She doesn't love to follow rules.

I helped as a side walker with two children. It was really really cool to see the first girl, Fendley, because she really opened up after being on a horse for ten minutes. She was a very goofy girl and loved to laugh.

I helped clean up the facility after all students had come through for the day. It was interesting to see what happened in the background of the barn. I was able to help with feeding for some of the therapy horses and could see their personalities more without being busy caring for children.

I went out to Horses4Healing and learned a lot about their facility and horses. They reviewed grooming techniques, side-walking techniques, and general safety around horses. I am looking forward to volunteering there again.

I am in a class called Equine Activities and Therapies and it requires us to have 15 hours of community service. I volunteer as many Monday's as possible at a barn called Horses for Healing where I work with kids with disabilities (Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism, etc.) as a side walker, and just making sure they are having fun while getting help at the same time. I attached my worksheet that is required for me to turn in for my class.

We were given an orientation at the Courage facility. There we looked around the facility and had some hands-on experience with learning how to provide support to riders, both mentally and physically. We also looked at how three horses moved differently and how this affected the rider.

I loved seeing everyone bond and join together to help raise money for such a special cause.