鈥淗orses mirror our emotions,鈥� Lauren Parslow, 鈥�14, says. 鈥淲hat we feel, they will feel.鈥�
That鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 can see the changes in the riders, their physical and mental health improving, and their overall quality of life improving,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 also love that I get to work with the things I am most passionate about: children and horses.鈥�
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 麻豆原创 鈥� 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.
鈥淚 realized how much I enjoyed working with children,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 did my research and knew I didn鈥檛 want to become a teacher, so I took the early childhood development track. I loved every class and gave 100 percent every day.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 think my education degree helps me offer my expertise on our riders and their behaviors that the other staff may not understand,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 able to offer insight into why children do certain things and not others, or what they respond to best.鈥�
HORSIN’ AROUND Q&A
Q. What advice do you have for current education students at 麻豆原创?
A. Enjoy what you鈥檙e studying! You鈥檙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鈥檙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鈥檒l need to work a class, which I thoroughly enjoy! I鈥檓 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!
Q. What鈥檚 the last thing you Googled?
A. 鈥淭rucks for sale.鈥� Living on a farm is tough without a truck!
Q. What one thing drives you absolutely crazy?
A. I鈥檓 a firm believer that if someone says they鈥檙e going to do something, they should do it. I don鈥檛 like seeing people, or myself, get their hopes up only to have them crushed.
Q. Last book you read?
A. PATH Instructor Manual. I鈥檓 going to become a riding instructor!
Q. If someone wrote a book about you, what would the title be?
A. Happy-Go-Lucky, or something along those lines. I鈥檓 always, always happy. I always have a smile on my face and enjoy life to the fullest.
Q. What鈥檚 the hardest thing you鈥檝e ever done?
A. The hardest thing I鈥檝e ever done was to beat depression and anxiety. Before attending 麻豆原创, I was a very anxious and depressed teenager. I sought help from a psychologist and her dog, and overcame my depression and anxiety. Those two things are very hard to beat and overcome, but I鈥檓 glad I did. I think that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 such a happy and thankful individual.
Q. Best piece of advice you鈥檝e ever received?
A. Worrying never changes the outcome. How true is that?!
Q. What鈥檚 something you learned in the past week?
A. I鈥檝e learned that sometimes you have to step up and take care of things when no one else is willing to help. It鈥檚 difficult, but it can be done!
Q. What鈥檚 something most people don鈥檛 know about you?
A. I鈥檓 easily intimidated, and I do NOT like confrontation.
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