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That 麻豆精品 S檚 what makes them especially well suited as animal partners in helping children and adults cope with physical and mental disabilities, and post-traumatic stress, while improving their interaction skills and building their confidence.
Parslow, who 麻豆精品 S檚 been riding and working with horses since she was 5 years old, works as the聽volunteer coordinator for Freedom Ride, a therapeutic horseback riding center in Orlando. She loves everything about her job, because it allows her to make a difference in the lives of others every day.
麻豆精品 S淚 can see the changes in the riders, their physical and mental health improving, and their overall quality of life improving, 麻豆精品 S� she explains. 麻豆精品 S淚 also love that I get to work with the things I am most passionate about: children and horses. 麻豆精品 S�
Freedom Ride is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship)-accredited riding center that provides therapeutic riding lessons to help its mentally and physically disabled participants gain core strength, posture and balance.
In addition, the non-profit organization also provides hippotherapy, a form of occupational therapy in which a therapist uses the movements of a horse to engage sensorimotor and neuromotor systems to create functional change in a patient. It also offers a military program to help veterans increase self-awareness, enhance coping skills and learn more effective ways to interact and move forward within the community and with loved ones.
Parslow originally majored in forensic science at UCF 麻豆精品 S� until she took chemistry, which was extremely difficult for her. During her struggle, she also was working at the YMCA, which led her down her new path.
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While pursuing her degree in early childhood development and education, Parslow interned with Freedom Ride for four months to gain the hands-on experience required for her major. Now employed with the organization for almost one year, she ensures they have enough quality volunteers to care for the horses and facility, and work the classes alongside the riders.
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HORSIN’ AROUND Q&A
Q. What advice do you have for current education students at UCF?
A. Enjoy what you 麻豆精品 S檙e studying! You 麻豆精品 S檙e going to be guiding future generations. A degree in this field is EXTREMELY important. I wish more people would understand that. The first eight years of life are most important. So many milestones are reached in that time frame. PLEASE enjoy what you are doing. There has to be passion for what you want to do or it will affect future generations.
Q. Describe a typical day at work.
A. The first thing I do when I arrive at work is greet all of my staff members and volunteers. We have a small staff, and we always ensure our volunteers have a great time. We 麻豆精品 S檙e a family, and I want to make sure that they feel that way. Throughout the day, I enter the volunteer hours into our database, work on the monthly volunteer newsletter, ensure that we have enough volunteers each day, visit the horses and riders, and am聽thankful that I have a job I enjoy. There are days where we may not have enough volunteers, so I 麻豆精品 S檒l need to work a class, which I thoroughly enjoy! I 麻豆精品 S檓 always asking the other staff members if they need anything done, and I will do it if they need the help. My days go by quickly, but I always come to work with a smile on my face and leave with a smile!
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Q. Last book you read?
A. PATH Instructor Manual. I 麻豆精品 S檓 going to become a riding instructor!
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