Peanut to the Rescue

Hi Friends;

You who know me have heard me declare that I avoid descriptions of "miracle" and "dream" and other such words suggesting what we do in our therapy arena is less than calculated, planned, organized, and orchestrated work. I suppose it is my left-brained, analytical nature that promotes this. I will take that a bit further. I avoid talking about "miracles" and "dreams" out of a driven desire to develop and promote equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) as a true and professional approach to treatment as much as they are compassionate and fun. Now, here is where I get to talk out of the other side of my mouth. All the professionalism and continuing education and research and planning and training doesn't prevent those enlightened moments which happen all the time at One Heart. It also doesn't mean that I don't see them! One Heart has always been about following a "greater plan" and learning not to say no to those insights that could be interpreted as divine. While following this blog I hope you learn the many dimensions of One Heart and EAAT.

Through the networking of the NARHA centers of Iowa, an email was forwarded from a person with a miniature horse for donation. This mini was located in Eastern Iowa, probably an hour and a half from One Heart. A picture was attached. I forwarded the email with picture to Jennifer since she was "in to " minis. I advertised this potential donation using all of the worse descriptions possible. Truthfully, I felt this little misfit was not only muggly-ugly, but as a yearling wouldn't contribute to our program for a long time. This mini was of no use to us. There could be potential, but not without an investment of time and money. I phoned the owner to discuss the particulars of her little stallion which is when I found out he was born in Wisconsin. She had located and purchased him as a weanling through the internet. Her goal was to find a pure white mini who could accompany her to renaissance festivals and be her lovable unicorn sidekick. Her plan fell through and she felt the pure white mini with glass-blue eyes needed a new home. She had him boarded on a farm away from her and she couldn't give him the time and attention he deserved.

Of course we accepted him. Then, as it happens at One Heart, Vol Jeannie was going to a horse show near the mini's farm. On her way home from the show, she stopped by and loaded the teeny, little, gangly, shaggy, shy boy in with a her beautiful, coiffed, manicured, blanketed, show mare.

Our first introduction to the little guy was to get him out of the back of Jeannie's trailer. Her trailer was designed for big, grown-up, quality horses deserving strong suspension under their delicate show hooves and refined legs. This put the floor of the trailer off the ground almost as high as the mini was tall. Somehow he had gotten in there. Somehow he was going to have to get out. He looked and looked toward the ground. He nodded his nose up and down so his eyes could focus on his target. Finally, he launched into midair, crouched into a little tuck, like an Olympic diver, aiming for the ground. He landed gracefully at our feet, proud to figure out that obstacle, cooperative with his handler and interested in the people and the new geography. All of a sudden he wasn't so unattractive anymore! There was nothing "mini" about his horse sense.

Our little "find" was taken directly to Stagecoach and immediately worked himself into the herd. As a stallion and a youngster, he didn't take any guff and soon established himself in the social structure. He didn't know anything. He didn't know how to come, get caught, wear his halter or walk with manners with a person. He did know how to slip through the gate while the big horses were led through. He started getting a stinker reputation. Another dilemma was a name for this little character.

We decided to invite the volunteers and families to suggest names. The very first name suggested by our youngest volunteer was "Cloud". Made sense; fluffy, white, perhaps like the PBS-featured wild horse named "Cloud". Perhaps a bit noble? The next suggestion was made by a volunteer/mom who thought he looked rather like a packing peanut.....round on each end, thinner through the middle, and white, and foamy-looking. Not as flattering, perhaps. Cute enough. The next mom wanted to recognize the wishes of his former owner, being involved with medieval times and suggested that whatever name needed to bear the title, "Sir".

And so the little ugly duckling mini character was thus dubbed, "Sir Peanut Cloud". Regal, stately, and silly. So much like the little dynamo; wanting to be taken seriously, but so little, so pesky.

Peanut was sent to Vol Mindy's house for the winter. We thought we would lose him in the "jungle", besides he was growing into a 2 year old stallion and needed some capable hands to manage him if he hoped to fit into the program anytime in the future. At Mindy's he learned about people, and halters, and leading, and eating. He also graduated into being a gelding.

Spring reunited Peanut with the One Heart herd when they all returned to Stagecoach Stables. He had matured and was ready for a real introduction to the One Heart arena. He learned standing tied and interacting with all the people; volunteers, riders, staff, families. His personality blossomed and he became a favorite - much like that favorite beany baby.

Vol Tiffany began working with Peanut to give him a useful education. She handled him like a real horse, not a beany baby, and brought him into harness with longing and lining. She got him ready to hook to the mini cart.

That brings us to this summer. A summer which changed the world of one of our accomplished equestrians; a Special Olympics medalist, a skilled rider. Following a routine exam it was found that a change in medical condition suddenly made it contraindicated for this equestrian to ride or drive. Let me explain. One Heart rides under NARHA standards. NARHA sets the industry standards, rules, guidelines, suggestions and best practices. The standards are continually reviewed, monitored and even field-tested before being changed by vote of the entire membership. If you would like to remove a tree from the world you simply print the precautions and contraindications presented by NARHA. Precautions mean extra consideration and perhaps modified technique would be needed to safely offer service to a rider or driver. Contraindication means, no way. It is simply not safe or effective to offer therapeutic riding or driving to the person due to their condition. It could also be harmful.

It was a sad day. It was a day that makes me sit and think and fret. A day that I talk to parents or staff and think about what to do. I was at a loss. The sadness was too much. I shared the news with Dani and Jennifer. They were sad. All sad. Then Jennifer mentioned Peanut. Jennifer, being "into" minis knew the world of the miniature horse and their people. Jennifer said our client could work with Peanut in a meaningful way without riding or driving. The family met Jennifer at a miniature show the next weekend to see what she had in mind. The competitors at the show welcomed the people from One Heart and encouraged the activities Jennifer had described.

Peanut came to the rescue. Since that very sad day, our equestrian has worked with Peanut learning how to negotiate an obstacle course. Horsemanship skills continue to be developed and a relationship with a horse is being formed. They are preparing for next Spring and hope to meet up with the people who welcomed them to the watch their show. This time they will be ready to face the challenge and take on the other mini's through the obstacle course.

Could you tell me? Was that a calculated outcome, a miracle, or a dream come true? Usually, we don't ask. We accept whatever it is and look for the next day to bring us more adventures.

Until we meet again, Kris. [Hi, MK ]