JUDY WAELBROCK IS SOLANO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Beyond our program partnership with the Solano Land Trust, our longest collaboration (spanning more than a decade) is with the students and teachers of Golden Hills School. On Fridays during the school year, Golden Hills teacher Judy Waelbrock brings a group of special needs students to volunteer at our Rush Ranch headquarters. Judy, and her enthusiastic crew pitch in wherever needed, performing tasks for Access Adventure and our stable of horses. Along the way, Judy’s students learn the value of teamwork, essential job skills and develop a sense of satisfaction in helping us do our important work for people with disabilities and other underserved members of our communities. In recognition of her outstanding leadership and teaching skills at Golden Hills, Judy Waelbrock has been honored as the Solano County Office of Education’s Educator of the Year. We are also honored to have Judy as a volunteer, a sponsor and a treasured friend. Congratulations, Judy for this well-deserved award! See...
TRAINING FOR DRIVERS WITH DISABILITIES
United States Driving for the Disabled sponsored a training clinic for carriage drivers with disabilities on March 31 and April 1 at Clay Station Horse Park near Wilton, California. Marcie Quist, Committee Chair for Team USA to international driving competitions, and USDFD President Diane Kastama hosted the event, featuring renowned clinician, trainer and instructor Sara Schmitt from Centerline Farm in Califon, New Jersey. Access Adventure was represented by former USDFD President Michael Muir, Secretary Brenda Duncan and Director Randie Boardman, with our home-bred mare Stonewall Calypso. A total of eight drivers with disabilities attended this event, including our former students Stefanie Putnam and Abigail Stockinger, as well as our new students Cecilia Kirks and Caroline Strongman. Three able-bodied drivers also participated. Most brought their own horses, but a wheelchair accessible carriage and experienced competition horses were also provided for participants in this unique event. Beautiful spring weather and conditions prevailed after our long, wet winter. Sara Schmitt was greatly appreciated by attendees for sharing her experience and training techniques with the wide variety of drivers and horses participating. This event was one of three held across the country by USDFD to encourage more participation by disabled drivers in equestrian competition, and to increase the pool of potential members of Team USA to future international driving competitions. The next World Championship for Drivérs with Disabilities will be held in August 2018 in the Netherlands. Photos by StormHalation...STEFANIE PUTNAM WINS PEGASUS AWARD
We often meet people profoundly struggling with the shattering experiences of a crippling injury or a devastating diagnosis of disease that will alter the course of their life. We teach them to focus on what is possible to do, rather than lament what they have lost. It doesn’t have to be a tragedy because you cannot walk anymore. We will teach you how to roll with abandon. Stefanie Putnam, a beautiful young woman who rode show jumpers with considerable success came to Access Adventure after a catastrophic accident that left her quadriplegic. She wanted to ride again. Michael gently guided her away from getting back in the saddle and encouraged her to learn to drive horses. Under his care, she began competing in Combined Driving, enjoying the challenges of this exciting life. She now trains with National Champion Leslie Berndl in California and under the direction of accomplished trainer and exhibitor Scott Monroe. Stefanie has competed in the 2016 World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities held in Beesd, Netherlands. She finished fifth in the Grade One division, a remarkable accomplishment for a quadriplegic driver. Stefanie is now poised for medal contention in future world championship events. Photo by Nancy...Donate
“Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature can heal body and soul.” ~ John Muir