Therapeutic Horse Riding Inc. with Angels for Autism

Arena Angel Artwork (by Ayla) This story is Inspired by Fil and Caroline’s Christmas Story 2020... For a Christmas gift a few days ago, I was truly inspired ...by one of my most recently acquired Arena Angels (student) and one of the youngest of my Arena Angels to boot - Ayla is 10 years old, I was gifted the opportunity to meet her this Summer at Nonna’s Barn Summer Camp 2020 and she has continued under my Wing, learning about horses since. Ayla is a sweet spirit, she has huge beautiful deep brown eyes that just sparkle at others when she smiles... she is a Horse-girl by nature, she was born this way (in my opinion after observing her as a teacher). However, I give credit where it is due as well, Ayla has been truly inspired by her dear Auntie who is a fantastic Rodeo Cowgirl and Ayla’s Inspiration and drive comes from that prime example from her Aunt in my opinion. On with my story... Ayla approached my porch swing when she arrived to assist me with a large trail ride a this last Sunday Morning. She came toward me swiftly with a Christmas package and a huge smile. I immediately opened the gift on the porch swing and shared each piece with her. There were three carefully wrapped packages with four typed personal notes that had been cut out by hand with scissors. I was astounded as I opened each one by one at the thoughtful deep words of a child thru each note that matched the gift I unwrapped - The first Note was taped to the top of a homemade gift bag made from a real horse grain feed bag - it was amazing, a torn and scotch tapped note was on the handle and inside 3 gifts - The note on the bag said this - These three brushes are about three stories that you have told me. They are about Frosty, Rocky, and Clyde. (Note... I do tell stories when I am riding with my students, so Ayla has heard stories about each one of these horses) Then inside the bag - a note taped to each of the three gifts said this - #1 Frosty, she waited for you so she could say goodbye and you and me both know that she loved you that much and that proves it so on her brush there is a picture of a girl and her horse I opened the package and it was a grooming brush, medium soft bristle, turquoise and black in color and painted on the top of the brush by hand was Frosty’s name in silver glitter paint with a silhouette of a horse and a girl. I held back the tears... remembering the moment I did say goodbye to Frosty, when she waited for me - she did love me that much. How a child knew that without ever meeting this majestic horse was amazing to me, Ayla had only heard the story from my mouth, never a photograph or anything else of Frosty. #2 Rocky, he was your roping horse and you did the best thing for him. On his brush there is a picture of a roper on her horse and when I look at the picture, I see in my mind that was when you just finished roping that one calf. The brush was a firm bristle, brown/tan in color and painted in bright pink by hand was Rocky with a girl swinging a loop. I was a little breathless as I am now when I type this story, I am just amazed at the simplicity of a child, the depth at which they understand feeling when they hear a story from the heart about an animal that was loved so much. The story of Rocky is near and dear to my heart, as Rocky was. The fact that I owned him for such a short time and his story was so inspiring and touched Ayla’s heart meant something to me... she had picked two of my favorite horses and stories thus far and I was anxious to know about her reason for the third pick, Clyde. #3 Clyde, when you told me that Clyde was your dads name and that he picked Hollywood I thought of a picture of a stallion and a colt right by each other so that is what’s on Clyde’s brush.. The brush was small and short in black bristle and the horse heads were finely detailed by hand with paints and a brush - I had to look closely to make sure the detail was not from pen or marker. I was amazed by the Artwork - I continually have to remind myself that Ayla is 10 years old! Needless to say, of course there is a complete connection from my father picking one of my all time favorite Mares, Hollywood at a distance, to the years down the road when she throws me a fine colt that I knew my deceased father would love - I named him after my Dad... Clyde. The entire gift was Inspirational and wanted to write a note of gratitude to post to Ayla and show off her Artwork, and before I sat down to start typing my thoughts that very day, her mother sent me a message with a picture of a new horse name plate for the tack room wall that she made for Caroline to hang up for Fil with an American Flag! It was inspired by the Christmas Story I posted just hours earlier that her mother had let her read - Aylas mothers text read, Ayla wants you to see that she made a new nameplate after reading your sweet Facebook story this morning! It was perfect - and Caroline will love it as well I am certain! As I share photographs to match the descriptions given by word in this story, please appreciate the thought and detail and heartfelt meaning behind the messages. I am thankful after receiving this Christmas gift to be heard by a child, appreciated by a child, and loved by a child as a teacher and mentor. I am very proud of this little Arena Angel in the short time I have known her. I cherish the Arena Angel Artwork she has created thus far and I think a new trademark for her could be... Artwork by Ayla. Especially because you Ayla, truly are a piece of Art! Thank you for allowing me to share part of my story about you... Ayla. Thank you for the touching Christmas gifts and thank you for being beautiful you - Artwork by Aylawill be famous someday... I just know it - and I I am ahead of the game, because I have your first originals! Blessings and Gratitude to you 77 x 7 to InFinity, Your teacher, Ms Charlene aka Nonna

First of all, Merry Christmas 2020 Caroline and Fil’ - I am so thankful to be part of your story... As most of you know, I will tell anyone this truth about Hor...ses... Horses pick Us, We don't pick them. I believe this with all my heart. Through my years with horses, I have experienced or witnessed this connection many times and I would like to share this recent Christmas story of such... I have had the privilege of being Caroline's horse teacher since she was a little girl, at Horsin' O Round, Iron Wing Ranch for 11+years, and at Nonnas Barn, Caroline helped as a Volunteer- Caroline has been a joy to teach, she is quick on her feet (to say the least, for those of us who witnessed her outrun the Stallion, Cinco, to an open gate one day). Caroline is dependable, kind, courteous and quick to help another fellow student or guest with anything needed from tack to a pat on the back,a smile and an uplifting word. Caroline is beautiful on the inside and the outside, so needless to say, many love Caroline, and she deserves to have some credit for the "Horse that picked Her, Fillipo, or to Caroline always - Fil. There has always been a connection between these two. When Fillipo was born at Iron Wing Ranch, Caroline was one of the first to come to hold him, love on him and help with his scripting. Little did she know those few years ago, he would be her horse... This year just weeks before the Annual October fundraising event, the Angels for Autism Hoof A Thon, I contacted Caroline and asked her if she was up to the challenge to help me get two horses broke/trained and ready to participate in our Hoof A Thon 2020 ride- without hesitation, Caroline agreed. Caroline is a competitive soccer player - holds an extreme high grade average at Helias High School, is a member of Student Counsel, and works a part time job after school as a Junior in High School and managed to fit in the time to come and break/train Fil before the ride. It was a connection on the first day, Caroline was not only the first on Fil’s back but he has never for a second given her any real trouble - on her first Hoof A Thon, Fil even carried the American Flag for 13+ miles and never flinched a moment the entire ride at traffic, the crowds, parading FIRST thru a huge Trump Campaign, the river access by the Capitol, not a thing - he just carried Caroline like they had been together for years! He may have things to learn yet because he is young, but the progress in just the past few months with Carolines dedication has been a real miracle to watch. Caroline has become quite a Horse-girl in my book - Caroline was also the second largest fundraiser for our 4th Annual Angels for Autisim Hoof A Thon event this year on top of training her horse- How she managed it all is amazing! A few weeks after the Hoof A Thon, Caroline’s mother approached me about possibly a horse for Caroline for Christmas - I immediately knew which horse that was, and actually said a little arrow prayer in thanks for the possibility of being a part of making this lifelong dream happen with the help and support of her parents - What next for me? Ask Marc, my husband, who is particularly fond of this horse Fillipo - he named him after his cousin in Italy and often sends his cousin pictures of Fillipo and keeps him updated on the horse that is named in his honor. Fillipo in Italian means Friend of Horse and truthfully, Fillipo is just that - honestly, the friendliest horse I have ever raised. He has a great personality, he is kind and polite but also has beautiful markings - in fact, a unique marking of a seahorse for his blaze! So, with much thought and intention to make this happen, I went ahead and asked Marc if he would he consider letting Fillipo go to another person who he picked and I explained what I had witnessed between Caroline and Fillipo - Marc quickly said yes and so the fun planning for Christmas began! Caroline’s parents were all in - her Father, Terry, managed the business side and Mom, Susan, very thoughtfully wrapped up details and prepared a note from Fil to Caroline and sent a big red bow and green ribbon for dolling up this big Christmas Gift! Christmas morning came and we went to catch Fil and bring him in to decorate for Caroline - it was a crisp 10 degree morning and he walked right up to me as if he was saying... ok, she is coming soon so let’s go get ready! I talked to him as we walked to the arena and told him that I had enjoyed raising the friendliest horse ever and it was time for him to move on to his real job here on earth with Caroline. I also told him I felt he picked well - and I do. I certainly give my blessing to this match - I watched Fil for a while after he tolerated the large red bow and green wrap I put on his head and it was as if he was waiting for Caroline to arrive - looking for her - he just knew it was a special day! He waited in the stall until she arrived to the note carefully tucked away to open and read - the note said, Caroline, you’ve always had my whole heart - I think you should have all of me! Love, Fil McCurren! I can tell you that I have never seen Caroline McCurren shed a tear - I do believe from her mother’s video, that there was a Happy tear or two shed at the moment Caroline realized what was happening and that she now owned the love of her horse life Fil - One of the things Caroline shared with me after her big Christmas Surprise was that when she was in 2nd Grade, she wrote a list of must haves and the 2nd one on the list was a Horse! I told Caroline that her story is proof that writing something down that you wish to have, believing in it, dreaming about it, envisioning yourself with it, and putting in the work, the time, the effort to learn about it - it will HAPPEN! I want to speak gratitude for being part of this experience this particular Christmas Season- amidst everyday challenges in LIFE, we can forget to take time to enjoy the experience of loving, living and just plain being Happy and this is what Caroline and Fil’ have going for them now and in the future... just plain ol’ being Happy together! I am proud of you Caroline, and for that matter, proud of Fil too - your pictures of just this last few months with your horse speak for themselves. May you enjoy many memorable years with your Heart Horse Caroline, I can not wait to see what you two do together - you have all my love and blessings behind you! You are certainly a true Arena Angel Caroline - Love and Blessings this coming year and always 77 x 7 to Infinity! Your Teacher, Mentor and Friend, Char

I know this is true...

That’s a wrap for our 4th Annual Angels for Autism Hoof-A-Thon Thank you to all of our participants and volunteers-it was our biggest year yet!! A huge thank you to our food sponsors yesterday for keeping us fed throughout the day!! ... Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken Pizza Haus - Ashland Panera Bread Please enjoy some pictures from the adventures of our ride, we are looking forward to next year-hope you can join us!!

Awards for our 4th Annual Angels for Autism Hoof-A-Thon~thank you to everyone who participated and helped with today’s events!!