On Saturday, September 26th, the Equestrian Special Olympics were held at in Skowhegan, ME. Freedom Riders, a non-profit organization in Warren, ME, that provides Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) to special needs children and adults, entered a team of 9 riders ranging in age from 8 to adult.
An organization like Freedom Riders can not function without the support of many volunteers. Some of those volunteers are teenagers, such as Sarah Pinkham, age 16, a Junior at the Watershed School. Sarah, who has been riding since she was 7 years old, wanted to use her skill with horses to make a difference in her community. Sarah studied riding at Hunter Hill Farm in Union. Over the years she competed on many horses, working her way up through Introductory Level Dressage, Training Level, First Level and finally, competing Second Level at USEF/USDF recognized horse shows. Since coming to Watershed, Sarah has given up competitive riding, as her time has shifted to academics, school activities and work. Her long range plans include obtaining a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. A therapeutic riding program like Freedom Riders, provides her with the opportunity to fulfill the volunteering requirements of her school, obtain experience related to her future career, and satisfy the need to give something positive to her community. In addition, it provided an opportunity to keep Sarah engaged with horses.
At Special Olympics, the volunteers do everything from lugging gear, and running messages, to helping keep the children and horses safe by acting as horse handlers or side-walkers, as necessary, given the skills and challenges of the young riders. Many of the volunteers are adults, but teens can play a special role in these circumstances, as young children and pre-teens, often look up to their teenaged supporters as role models and mentors, having already built a special relationship with them during the lesson season. Sarah is especially well equipped to calm the nerves of a young equestrian charge, as she well remembers the jitters and anxieties associated with competition. . Sarah was the one on one for Kylie Lane, age 8, throughout the day. She made sure that Kylie was ready for each of her classes and helped her get her horse ready. The attention she gave Kylie, helped this young equestrian gather the confidence to go on to win a 1st place in equitation and working trails.
All Freedom Riders volunteers go through a training at the beginning of the season, with the number of hours dependent on the position held by the volunteers. The position of “horse handler” required Sarah to undergo six hours of training before the start of the spring session. She volunteered every Friday after school, and during the summer, from June through September, and accompanied the team to the Equestrian Special Olympics. Her volunteering commitment for the year, ended with the Freedom Riders Horse Show on October 2nd. In all, Sarah volunteered over 20 hours of service, plus travel time, to this very special organization.
For more information about volunteering opportunities with Freedom Riders call (207) 273-2282.
