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Mission Statement:
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A Day at KART...
Meanwhile the group in Stable Management has been learning how to groom and care for a horse, how to clean stalls, polish saddles, and perform other “barn chores” under the supervision of the Stable Management Instructor. And, yes, they really do love to muck stalls!
At the end of the two hour session, each child has spent time in all three areas; the school bus rolls back into the parking lot and returns them to school. There will be something fun to talk about with their schoolmates and family.
After the kids leave, the volunteers take the horses back to their stalls, remove tack, and clean up the area so it’s ready for the next day’s lesson.
Within all these activities, there are challenges for any level of ability and opportunities for developmental growth physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Areas targeted for improvement during riding sessions are sequencing, patterning, motor control, eye-hand coordination, strength development, balance, focus, and discipline. In the Classroom, children learn additional language and cognitive skills by reinforcing what is learned in Riding and Stable Management.
Marco Belperio - NARHA Certified Riding Instructor Marco was born in Novara, Italy and currently resides in Chestertown, Maryland. Marco matriculated in Animal Science studies at the State University in Milan, Italy. He created with others the Eques Cooperative Society S.r.L. in order to promote equestrian sports in Tuscany. He has also completed courses for Vaulting Trainers. In Italy he worked for the World Wildlife Fund organizing and managing camps for both adults and children in national parks.
He is a Certified Registered Instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.He has attended training for managing ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Anger Management, and Autism.
In addition to working for KART, Marco is the head instructor for MATRA (Mid-Atlantic Therapeutic Riding Association) and he is employed by Crossroads Community as a Rehabilitation Specialist and Therapeutic Mentor for children, adolescents, and adults. He also teaches private, individual therapeutic riding lessons.
Classroom Instructors
Kathy Myers
graduated from Washington College with a BA in Art. She is a
certified art teacher K through 12 grades in the state of MD, and
currently substitute teaches at Kent School. She has been teaching
riding since 1994, and was certified for recreational riding level
one, and Hunt seat level 2. She is a graduate B pony clubber of
the Tuckahoe Pony Club, and still does clinics and ratings for the
kids involved with pony club. In addition to her classroom
instruction for KART, Kathy currently teaches riding to all ages,
and she teaches drawing at the Amy Lynn Senior Center and the
Sudlerville Senior Center. In the summer she teaches art in the
Chesapeake College Kids on Campus program.
Genna Kuster – Stable Management Instructor Genna is the daughter of the owners of Worthmore Equestrian Center. She is an experienced rider. In stable management she shares her valuable first-hand, practical knowledge in caring for the horses and the property with the children.
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Even if you are not a horse person, we will find a use for your talents…volunteer leadership and service takes many forms…the hard work of our volunteer board members before the time at the farm is essential to bringing the riders, program volunteers and donations together! Click here to find out more! |
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KART
| PO Box 126 | Worton, MD 21678 | KART is located at Worthmore
Equestrian Center | 11570 Still Pond Road | Worton, MD 21678 |
info@kentridingtherapy.org |
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Volunteer
groomers arrive about an hour and a half before the children are
scheduled to arrive in order to groom and tack the horses.
Rain or shine, the school bus rolls up beside the barn, and the
children start piling off. Volunteers greet them, and assign them to
one of three rotating groups. One group heads to the riding ring;
the second to the stable management area; and the third to a
classroom devoted to equine education. Everyone gets a turn at each
of the three activities. 
The
kids that will be riding first are fitted with their riding helmets
by a volunteer, and then it is off to the riding arena where they
will meet with the Riding Instructor, Marco Belperio, or “Mr.
Marco”, as the kids call him. Mr. Marco quizzes the kids as to which
horse they rode last week and asks if they can pick out their horse
from the line-up of waiting horses. Each rider is escorted to his
or her horse by a volunteer. The rider pats the horse on the neck
and has a few words with him to get reacquainted, then pulls the
stirrups down, and waits quietly by his horse until Mr. Marco comes
to help him or her mount. 
The
lesson began when they selected their horse, but now it’s time to
ride. The riders (and their side walkers and horse leaders as
needed) guide their horses around the ring, turning right or left
when instructed to do so, learning proper posture and how to guide
the horse with the reins. Some of the learning is accomplished
through exercises such as weaving the cones, but they also learn by
playing games. The favorite is “red light green light.” In
addition to specific riding skills, they are learning to listen, to
focus, and to follow instructions. When the lesson is finished, the
riders thank their horses
with a pat, then thank the volunteers that have helped them, and, of
course,
Mr. Marco. Each rider dismounts and goes to the next session in
either Classroom or Stable Management.
Last
but not least, in the Classroom, Instructors have been reinforcing
lessons learned in the ring and the stable by teaching the riders
such things as the names for parts of the horse, colors and breeds
of horses, and types of saddles and bridles. Sometimes they have an
art project related to horses, or they may sing songs about horses.
A favorite song is “A Western Saddle Has a Horn, But It Doesn’t Go
Beep! “
