Manna's Hana Veterans Program & the Equicizer

Over five years ago, Manna's Hana Riding Center was just a dream. Today, we are in our seventh year impacting the lives of children with special needs and their families. God has birthed this ministry and I am thankful that I said "yes" to His calling. The horses are amazing with the children and teach them to be patient and kind. 

An Equicizer was recently purchased by Manna's Hana Riding Center in Cookevillle, Tennessee - specifically for their Veterans program - and shortly after receiving it, we were thrilled to get the following feedback, first from their Executive Director and Instructor, Bobbie Abell who shared in detail about their Veterans Program and how their Equicizer will be used:

"In 2017, Manna’s Hana Riding Center expanded our services to include CAMP HANA Program for our Military Veterans and offered Free to our veterans participating in the program. A Grant from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas District of Sparta, Tennessee provided funding to run the program. We had three military veteran volunteers from Manna’s Hana Riding Center and a new veteran become a part of the program which ran for eight weeks. The veterans met at the riding center each week for an hour and a half, ending each meeting with a meal. On the seventh week they went on a trail ride and the bonding became stronger as they shared this experience and a meal afterwards. During this program, I witnessed healing in several of our veterans were sharing over the meals. One veteran wanted to keep coming and help with the horses. Feeling accepted and comfortable at the riding center was one of our goals with the program. Paul Abell, co-founder of Manna’s Hana assists him as they feed the horses each Saturday.

The Equicizer will be used next year to help the veterans experience how it feels to be on a horseas we work on balance, core muscle strength and stamina before they go on a trail ride. We are excited to see what next year brings."

Along with Bobbie's detailed explanation, we received the following testimonial from Paul Abell, co-founder of Manna's Hana and a big part of their program:

"As a veteran without PTSD or a physical injury, I was skeptical about joining the Camp HANA group. I decided to join to see if I could help other veterans. I was pleasantly surprised to find I could and make a difference.

The horses do all the work and make all the difference. It is the interaction of the horse and individual that makes progress possible. Our horses are therapeutic horses and are older, in their 20’s, and we have a weight limit set for them for riders of around 170 lbs. Most of the veterans, so far, have been too heavy to ride so we purchased the Equicizer to help. It allows our veterans to practice mounting and dismounting and actually feeling the simulated movement of a real horse. They get to ride without fear of injury or accident. The Equicizer has been a blessing to all our students, not just the Veterans."

We are excited that the Equicizer is now a part of Manna's Hana Riding Center and look forward to watching their Veterans Program continue to expand with the new addition of their Equicizer!

For more information on Manna's Hana Riding Center, Inc. you can check out their facebook page or visit their website.

by Kayla Jarvinen

www.equicizer.com

The Equicizer visits Lazy L Ranch

 

Last week we joined Steve Lantvit Horsemanship at a clinic hosted by Lazy L Ranch. Located in North Lawrence, Ohio Lazy L is situated on a gorgeous piece of land that, "encompasses 400 acres and features a heated indoor arena, four heated barns totaling over 50 stalls, outdoor riding pads and miles of open and wooded trails." 

I think it's safe to say everyone - horses included - were a bit intrigued as we rolled "Mocha" and "Maggie" into the spacious indoor arena where lunch was taking place over an impressive spread. We were more than delighted at the warm reception we received as well as the informative, and highly entertaining, training session that ensued.

As noted on their website, Lazy L has, "...been privileged to build many fine teams of riders and horses throughout the years. We take special care and personal interest in assisting our riders with finding the best prospects available that match the abilities and needs of both the horse and the rider."

Lazy L offers a wide variety of services including but not limited to Reining, Cow / Cutting Horses, Barrel Horses, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Pleasure / HUS, Trail / Riding Horses and Stud Prospects. They have their own transport service that spans across the United States.  

During our visit, Steve Lantvit offered training tips and tools as he worked with attendees aboard the Equicizer and we couldn't leave without a good jockey lesson by Frankie Lovato for anyone who was game enough to try. Below are a few more photos taken during our visit:  

 

 

To learn more about Lazy L Ranch and the services they offer, check out their facebook page and visit their website: OhioLazyLRanch.com

 

*Photos courtesy of Lazy L Ranch's facebook page.  

 

by Kayla Jarvinen

 

www.equicizer.com

Whispering Grace Horses

In August we had the pleasure of joining Steve Lantvit and his wife Jenn for an afternoon at a clinic they were doing at Whispering Grace Horses in Massillon, Ohio. We brought along a couple of Equicizers and while there, Frankie and the Equicizers joined Steve to shoot an upcoming episode of his RFD-TV show "Sure in the Saddle". That show airs tomorrow - Thursday, November 16th - at 3pm and 11pm EST!  

Whispering Grace Horses was founded by Bill and Marcia Shearer. We had the pleasure of touring their beautiful facility and meeting some of the many friendly faces that grace their program. Their goal as stated through their mission statement is to provide, "...HEALING (the rescue of HUMANS and HORSES) of the HEART while encouraging an atmosphere including HOPE through Christ-centered prayer and guidance in our community." You can learn more about them by visiting their website and tuning into tomorrow's episode of Sure in the Saddle!
 
Below are some behind the scenes photos from the filming:

 

 

by Kayla Jarvinen

 

www.equicizer.com

My Rehab Journey with the Equicizer

A few months ago I was kicked in the knee by a horse and sustained a tibial plateau fracture. As someone who has been a lifelong distance runner and a participant in many different equestrian activities, from saddleseat equitation to polo, this was a devastating injury.  I’m also an equine veterinarian, so my job involves a lot of physical activity, and horses, horses, horses. 

Needless to say, I was crushed to be told that my injury would require six to eight weeks of non-weight-bearing with my leg immobilized in a brace. I learned about the Equicizer from a friend who had used one for rehabilitation from an injury. I was determined to get back to riding and running, and it seemed that an Equicizer could play a key role in my rehabilitation.  The Equicizer was the first workout I did when my surgeon told me my bone was healed and I could start the rehabilitation phase of my injury. Five months out, I’m back riding my “real” horses and starting to return to running, so I thought I would share my experience in the hope that it might help others.

 

First, the Equicizer is a FANTASTIC workout that can be adapted to many different levels of healing and rehabilitation. When I started rehab my knee didn’t bend at all and I hadn’t put any weight on it for six weeks. I started out riding bareback for 5 minutes twice per day and worked up to a single 20-minute ride. This was a great core workout that put no stress at all on my knee while allowing me to work at an intensity that gave me an aerobic workout as well. As I was able to bear weight on my leg I started doing some work with my feet in the stirrups and working into a half seat, and finally riding jockey-style. All of this gave me a sense for whether or not I could function properly on a live horse, and when I did feel ready the transition was seamless. I had great stability and core strength, and had confidence that my knee could handle the stress of a real ride. 

Currently I ride for 20 minutes almost every day, alternating five minutes of no-stirrups and 5 minutes jockey-style (and I sure do have a new appreciation for how hard those guys work!). I was able to find an old racing saddle, and that is what I use as it makes it easy to move from one style of riding to another without having to take the saddle on and off. One of the great things about the Equicizer is that you can get it going with your core muscles or your arms, so it is really a full-body workout. Keep in mind that I had a very serious injury, and that my overall level of activity was guided by my surgeon initially and then by my physical therapist, so be sure to work with your team if you are rehabilitating an injury. From my perspective, any athlete who wants an exceptional core workout should own an Equicizer, even if they have no desire to ever ride a real horse!

 

Second, the Equicizer can be used for many different stretching and bending exercises. I adapted some of my yoga routine that I could no longer do on the mat to my Equicizer. I am also able to practice bending and twisting in all of the ways required to return to playing polo.

Third, the Equicizer is truly a work of art. I had hard time deciding what I wanted my Equicizer to look like, and considered one of my favorite racehorses, my first horse that I had until the age of 32, or one of my “imaginary” horses I had as a child. I decided on my imaginary palomino with the face markings of my old horse. Frankie did an amazing job carving and painting the head, he is a very talented artist. I gave my Equicizer the name of Dandelion, as I’ve always thought they are a great metaphor for life: you can pull them out, drive over them with a lawnmower, and put weed-killers on them and they just keep popping back up and doing their thing. Kind of how you have to be when a horse kicks you in the knee, but you still have some things that you want to do in life.
 
Finally, I can’t say enough good things about Frankie, Kayla and the Wooden Horse Company.  If you’ve come to this page thinking that the Equicizer could fill a role in your life, you are probably right, go for it! If you have questions that are different than the ones I had and have tried to answer, just pick up the phone and have a chat with Frankie, they will be happy to talk to you.

by Margaret M. Brosnahan

 

www.equicizer.com

Grace Lake Ministries

This week we’re highlighting Grace Lake Ministries, a Therapeutic Riding Program based out of Anna, Texas that provides healing through their faith centered program. They purchased an Equicizer back in 2008 and we’re happy to be able to share the amazing work they are doing.

Founded in 2004 by Holly Robinson - an Advanced PATH Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, and Social Worker – Grace Lake Ministries is run out of her family's barn on her parents 230 acre ranch. Holly says the inspiration behind the founding of Grace Lake Ministries was, “God inspired and supported extensively by my family.”

When asked who Grace Lake Ministries services she says simply, “Grace Lake serves anyone in need of hope and healing.” Their website notes that this includes children and adults, people with disabilities and people without disabilities, youth with obvious social problems, and youth without obvious social problems.

Their Equicizer “Rocko,” named by Holly’s husband, was purchased in 2008.

       

 
“We use our Equicizer for all initial evaluation and to teach specific skills that a rider is struggling with on the horse due to receiving too much sensory input from the horse. We also have riders that stretch out on Rocko before each ride,” Holly noted.

Not long ago Grace Lake created a video of their Equicizer "Rocko" so people can learn more about his role in their special program - Take a peek!

For more information on Grace Lake Ministries, follow their facebook page and visit their website www.gracelakeministries.org.

by Kayla Jarvinen

www.equicizer.com

The ABCs of Equicizer

Reminder: An upcoming episode of Steve Lantvit's "Sure in the Saddle" on RFD-TV will feature the new All-Purpose Riding Pad. The episode "Benefits of Riding Bareback" will air October 12th on RFD-TV at 3pm and 11pm ES.

The ABCs of Equicizer

E is for Equestrian

   
    This one is easy. The first E in Equicizer represents equestrians because that is the primary group of people it appeals to. While there are many other applications, the original idea for the wooden horse was born of a need to regain peak riding condition.
    The Equicizer is useful for equestrians of all types and all skill levels. You can learn to rope off it, improve your balance, stretch, warm up, practice new skills safely, and much more! While there may be a lot of differences between a professional jockey and a professional barrel racer, both must achieve a very high level of fitness. Your horse might need some time off, but the Equcizier allows you to keep improving.

Q is for Quotes

    We’d like to think that these quotes from real people using the Equicizer to train, rehab, and just have fun speak for themselves!

“The Equicizer allowed me to work at my own pace and remain comfortable all while getting stronger and rehabilitating my still very sensitive back. I felt myself getting stronger and stronger with each and every day and with that I was able to lengthen my time spent as well as the intensity of my work outs on my Equicizer.” –Isabelle Wenc, Jockey and Equicizer Owner (read more here)

"This was something I really wanted to try but it was a lot of money for me. I kept watching the website and reading testimonial after testimonial of those the Equicizer had helped. I was especially intrigued by its use in the therapeutic riding programs. I really wanted to try one out before I committed to the purchase, but I decided that I was willing to give it a shot based on all the positive reviews.<sic>  My first ride was only about 10 minutes because that is all my hips could take. I got back on and rode another 10 minutes later. The movement of the horse is so real down to the head motion.The next morning after my first day with Mags I woke up for the first time in over six years WITHOUT back pain. That was from one day of riding the Equicizer 20 minutes. I know that watching the video on the website by Dr. James Warson on using the Equicizer (watch here) to treat osteoporosis I hoped for the same outcome with my 2 bulging discs. Today is Friday August 12, 2016 and I am so excited to report that I have not had ANY back pain since the morning of Tuesday July 12 before I rode Mags the first time. None." Jennifer, Equicizer owner (read more here)

"I was diagnosed with MS 23 years ago. Although I am managing it ok, being able to ride Chance and do exercises on him has clearly made a difference in my life. For me, Chance is my chance to stay fit from riding." Debra H., Equicizer Owner (read more here)

"I use the Equicizer regularly for a variety of purposes in our clinical sessions. I use it as a stepping stone to getting on a live horse for patients who are first time horse riders or are just anxious about riding a horse for the first time. I use it to practice vaulting or other higher-level transitional movements prior to attempting them on a live horse. And I use it when I want to ride tandem with a rider so I can be more hands-on and provide more hands-on stabilization." Brent Applegate, Physical Therapist at My Heroes, llc. Hippotherapy (read more here)

U is for Unique

   
    There is no product on the market that rivals the Equicizer. It is a unique design and is made with very high quality materials. While there are many products out there that have tried to imitate our product, we are confident that the design Frankie created and has perfected over the years stands out above the rest.
    The motion of the proprietary Equicizer is initiated entirely by the rider with the intensity of the movement dependent upon the rider's effort, strength and ability. This makes the Equicizer suitable for riders of all shapes, sizes, talents, abilities, and disciplines. It will be useful in every stage of riding - as you get stronger and ride stronger, the Equicizer will rise to the challenge. Additionally, the Equicizer can be operated by a handler instead of by the rider in order to simulate motion while the rider focuses on balance or coordination.

I is for International

    
    Do you know that the Equicizer has been shipped to 29 countries worldwide? There are people enjoying the benefits of their own wooden horse across Canada, Australia and Europe. We've even shipped to places such as Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, and Kazakhastan!

    All of our horses are assembled right here in the USA but we ship far and wide across the globe. Wooden Horse Corporation has great contacts to help arrange shipping at reasonable costs for our international customers. (If you are one of our “international” customers, we would love to get an update from you for a possible feature blog!)

C is for Creativity

     Frankie Lovato Jr created the Equicizer over 20 years ago and he is still running the show today. All Equicizers, and we really do mean ALL, are hand-made by Frankie in his workshop in Northern Ohio. This means we can guarantee the highest quality product possible and it also means that we are able to work one-on-one with our customers.
    Frankie is able to look at pictures customers send to create a wooden horse in that image. He has even done a Fjord before! We are a small team here at Wooden Horse Corporation and there is a lot of pride to go around behind the product we market, create, ship, and promote. The detail in each hand-carved Equicizer Elite head speaks for itself.

I is for Invention

 
    As we mentioned, the Equicizer is an invention designed and created by Frankie. The story of this industry-changing invention is one of our favorites to tell. While most people might give up after a career-ending injury like the one he suffered in 1981, Frankie was determined to get back to the top of the racing world. He wasn’t getting enough conditioning out of standard therapy equipment so his mind traveled to the creation of what we now know and love as the Equicizer.
    Choosing invention over giving up not only brought him back up to peak condition, but it has changed countless lives and careers over the past 25 years as well. Check out our blog series “The First Wooden Horse” by Business Assistant Kayla Jarvinen for a more in depth explanation on how the first Equicizer was born.

Z is for Zoom

    Okay… so this one might be a stretch but hey, Z words are hard to come by! We here at Wooden Horse are sure that if you practice long and hard on your Equicizer, you will be ready to ZOOM back into the saddle on your own living, breathing horses!

E is for Education

 
    We strive to use our social media platforms to continuously educate our customers and fans about ways to use their Equicizer and new Equicizer products/accessories. You can follow us in whatever way(s) suit you – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Blogger, Email Newsletter, and/or on our website.
    Equicizer is constantly creating new content and we have great partnerships with people like horseman Steve Lantvit (see the announcement above!). Stay connected with us to stay educated on all the latest and greatest news!

R is for Ready

    Make the Equicizer part of your team alongside you, your horse, and your coach. You will be more ready for time in the saddle than you have ever been before. You can warm up on the Equicizer and have your coach identify balance issues or posture problems. You can get a second work out in for the day after your horse is cooled out and put away. You can throw a rope or swing a mallet off your Equicizer until you are confident and ready to do it at a lope on your own horse. The addition of a wooden horse to your barn will allow you to expand your horizons and skill sets in endless ways!

www.equicizer.com

Written by Amanda Chicotel

The Painting and Finishing Process

In this week's Wooden Horse Wednesday we're bringing you a behind the scenes look at a specific section of the Equicizer building process. This time, we're going to take a look at the painting and finishing process that is used on the Equicizer heads.

Each head is specially hand carved by Equicizer creator and builder, Frankie Lovato. The process is similar for both the Classic and Elite heads, with the exception of the added detail, color and time required on the Elite models.

Last year, we gave readers an inside look at the head carving process as a whole; you can read more about that here.

Then earlier this year, we shared with you some of the steps that are taken to put together and prepare the heads prior to them ever being ready to carve, stain or finish. (Take our word for it, it's a lot of work!)

Today, we have a look into the final steps of the painting and finishing process. This takes place after each head has been glued together, carved, stained, sanded with multiple coats of urethane and the accents have been added. So much labor and love goes into each Equicizer head alone, we hope this gives readers a better understanding of what's involved and why we take such pride in what we do.

For more behind the scenes blogs, check out the following:

The Making of the Equicizer (Part 2): The Building Process

The Making of the Equicizer (Part 3): The Packaging Process

by Kayla Jarvinen

www.equicizer.com