Vy Tran
SOCG 371M
Martin
Research Project #2
For the community service research option, I chose to volunteer at Hazelwild Farm. They have a weekly therapeutic horseback riding program for children with disabilities that help increase motor skills, strength, flexibility and many other physical and emotional benefits. I’ve actually always loved horses, but I’ve never had an opportunity to be around them and experience their magnificence. I heard that Hazelwild works with UMW students often and have volunteers help with a wide range of activities. I learned about the therapeutic riding lessons and felt it would be a good opportunity for me to make a difference in the children’s lives. Each child that attends these lessons would be assigned a horse and each horse was assigned 2-3 volunteers. Kristie Torline is in charge of running lessons and she has the children do various activities while riding on the horse. Some of the more advanced children were able to have the horse trot. One volunteer would lead the horse to walk around the sand pit and two other volunteers would be on either side of the horse to assist and encourage the child.
In this service project, the sense of community came from the children and all the volunteers and helpers. With my participation in assisting in a program that is highly beneficial for these children, I felt that even with my small contribution of time and kindness, I made a difference for the children. I was at least one person that engaged in activity with the children and offered them support and encouragement. It seemed that these children always looked forward to their lesson and I think that is because of the warm people they were surrounded by.
The distribution of power appeared to begin with Kristie. Hazelwild Farm as a whole has other directors and people in charge of various programs, but Kristie directed the therapeutic riding lessons and instructed volunteers on their duties. Relative to the larger community, there are no governmental regulations or restrictions of Hazelwild. It is all run by local community members and volunteers. It allows people in the community to have power over a small part by assisting children with disabilities in a way that highly improves their well-being. Local officials do not control any part of the program so it gives the community an opportunity to make a difference with the power that they have in this service. It is especially unique because not many other organizations or local farms offer therapeutic horseback riding so this offers up even more power for volunteers to recruit and encourage more children to participate in the lessons.