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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, April 8-10,2009 The Park Record A-8 Home off the range: Mustangs arrive at NAC Center plans to use horses for therapeutic riding program BY ALISHA SELF Of the Record Stuff When Jan Drake, the resource manager at the National Ability Center (NAC), moved to Utah, a fellow horse-lover invited her to the western deserts to watch the wild mustangs. The experience etched an unforgettable image in her mind. ' i thought, '] want to have one of those someday,1" she says. Eight years later, Drake has realized her dream. She has three wild mustangs of her own. Two of the horses, a weanling and a 2-year-old that she recently adopted from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), will become therapy horses for disabled children and the adults at the NAC. The BLM controls the size of free-roaming herds across the western United States to maintain the balance of available food and water, explains Drake. In February, she attended a BLM adoption event with a plan to bring mustangs into the NAC's therapeutic riding program for the first time in its history. Horseback riding has been shown to improve balance, coordination, strength and self-esteem for physically and mentally disabled individuals. The NAC's therapy program is open to people of all ages with different types of disabilities. Drake went into the adoption looking for horses with desirable confirmation and mellow temperament. A tricolor pinto from the Cedar Mountain Herd immediately caught her eye. "He was really calm and didn't get uptight about anything, even when he was getting vaccinated," she says. "I also wanted a weanling so that the kids can DAVID RYDER/PARK RECORD Jan Drake is pictured at the NAC with one of the wild mustangs she adopted from a BLM holding facility in February. watch him grow up." Another mustang from a holding facility in Nevada also seemed to fit the bill. Drake made her decision, loaded the pair of mustangs in a trailer and hauled them back to Park City. Upon arriving at the NAC, the mustangs willingly trotted from the trailer to the stable, says Drake. "I think they knew it was a good thing to be here." Within a few days, she had both horses in halters, and by the weeks end, they were walking on lead ropes and getting brushed. The right to name the younger mustang was auctioned off at the Red, White and Snow fundraiser in March. His official title, in honor of the designer of the original Ford mustang, is Carroll Shelby KR (King of the Road) - Shelby Mustang for short. Drake decided to call the other mustang Miss Etta, after a character. in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Shelby and Etta are currently working on basic ground training including walking on a lead, backing up and communicating with their trainers. Drake and the NAC's lead instructor, AbbyJane Ferrin, are taking baby steps with the mustangs to get them used to being around people. By nature, mustangs are cautious around strangers and wary about having their faces and legs touched. "You have to stay within their comfort level and not push them too much," says Ferrin. The important thing is to move at a slow pace and gain their trust. Drake adds. "Mustangs are very smart and loyal, but they can be tricky." Their willingness to DAVID RYDER'WflK RECORD Miss Etta, left, and Shelby Mustang will be trained and used in the National Ability Center's riding programs for disabled adults and children. cooperate depends on the day. she says. The next step in the mustangs' training is working in the indoor arena and preparing them to interact with children. Drake says she's excited about the p/ospect of using I got to work with a wild mustang today!'" she says. Once they reach the age of three, the mustangs will be sent to Jim Hicks at the Sage Creek Equestrian Center in Heber for saddle training. "We don't have What little kid can go home and say, 'Guess what, Mom and Dad!? I got to work with a wild mustang today!'" - Jan Drake Resource Manager National Ability Center the mustangs for lead walking and ground work in the NAC's summer camps. "What little kid can go home and say, 'Guess what. Mom and Dad!? quite the gumption for saddle training ourselves." Drake says. She adds that Hicks appreciates how much further he will need to go Adventure no 1 1 4 - H u n t for the GOLDEN EGG! Join us Sunday, April 12th for Park City Mountain Resort's Annual Easter Egg Hunt 9 : 0 0 a m sharp: Little Kids Egg Hunt - Children under 6 are invited to the randy-filled egg hunt in the Kids Kotral. Please arrive early as the hunt starts light at 9:00 am! 9 : 0 0 a m sharp: Ail-Mountain Golden Egg Hunt - Be the lirst on the lilts in search ol the Golden Egg containing a 09/10 season pass! There will be hundreds of other eggs wilh prizes including lift tickets, Alpine Coaster tickets and more! uwvmv**) 1:30 p m : Easter Non-Denominational Service - Loran Larsen Park, located where Assessment and Powder Keg branch oil of Homcrun. Don't miss the Easter Bunny skiing the slopes all day long, handing out treats and goodies to everyone Looking forward to that juicy check from the IRS? When you do get it, consider "paying it forward* by keeping your dollars with Park City businesses. By patronizing local merchants your sales tax dollars give back by supporting our free transit system, over 300 miles of mountain trails, our parks and arts...the things that make our quality of life here so great. as1-* v piHkcilymounlain.com 800.222.7275 \\ S I y with the mustangs since they will be working with disabled children and adults. Drake's ultimate goal is to help mustangs get adopted by showing people what they are capable of. She hopes to continue to incorporate wild mustangs into the NAC's programs and help the BLM find new adopters. "To be able to take a horse off the range and make it a therapy animal is an amazing thing," Drake says. "1 want to show people that mustangs can be trained and what they can do." To follow the adventures of Shelby Mustang, Miss Etta and their trainers, visit http://nationalabilitycenter. blogspot.com. For more information on the National Ability Center's therapeutic riding programs, visit www.discovernac.org. |