Square Peg Foundation

This weekend  we found the horses strangely agitated and the kids with a wanderlust.  We were drawn to hiking to the campsite and playing with lizards, watching the dogs hunt for gophers and dancing around the poison oak.  I worried families weren’t getting their expectations met.

While I was worrying – there were songs, art projects, giggles and daydreaming.  A parent wrote me a beautiful and heartbreaking email and she used the term “an oasis” in referring to the ranch.

It got me thinking about what’s important.

This morning, i came across this article and thoughts started taking shape.

http://musingsofanaspie.com/2014/05/29/the-importance-of-play/

This sentence got me:

“Autistic kids have the same rights to a childhood as other children. Therapies and supplemental educational activities should be done in addition to playtime, not in place of it.”

I’m glad I wasn’t born in this decade.  I was born in the (ahem!)  60’s.  A time when parents were seriously “hands off.”  Dad travelled for work and mom stayed home and making casseroles based on Campbell’s soup can recipes and there was a LOT of television.

I was a wanderer.  My brother was a genius. He found motorcycles and re-built them. Then we rode them and wrecked them and fixed them again.  We lit stuff on fire.  We found out about fire ants, poison sumac, shut-in neighbors and how puppies and kittens were made all first-hand. We ducked under fences and brushed cows, made up songs and fixed the transistor radio that we’d broken with duct tape.  We had pen knives and pet turtles both of which we’d found in the bayou. We stole baby magpies out of nests and tried to teach them to talk (it didn’t work).We took the dog everywhere. We got lost, we waged dirt clod wars with real blood, we crossed double yellow lines on our bikes.

We asked shop owners for jobs and got them. Jobs like washing windows – which we did badly, painting fences, which we did an even worse job. We broke into abandoned storage sheds and found treasures, and spiders and rat skeletons.

We talked to strangers.

We built tree forts and underground forts and forts under the stairs in the house.  Building sites were open season – I’m sure kids today would make the 5 o’clock news if they got caught in a building site with pockets full of nails, door hinges, lumber scraps and bathroom tiles.   

I sold Campfire girl mints door-to-door and sat in front of the grocery store giving away unplanned kittens and puppies.

Our mom, by profession was a pediatric nurse.  She’d seen everything and instead of worrying about what the world might do to her kids, she reminded us that our scraped knees were “not that bad.”  She expected us to put on our own bandaids and to dig out a sliver from each other’s hands. And we did.

Occasionally, I was jealous of the girls going to dance recitals and gymnastic classes.  But while they were doing drills I was strapping smoke bombs to the bottom of my skateboard and gliding down hills pretending I was a jet.

Play. Yeah. That’s what was happening at the ranch this weekend. Unstructured, curiosity-based childhood. 

But I worry (that’s my job). Again, a quote from this article helped me realize that in following the children, creating a space for parents to breathe and children to giggle, we are doing something precious and vital.

“They’re being led by an adult in a structured activity that has the goal of producing desired outcomes for which the child will receive extrinsic rewards. That’s the opposite of play. In fact, that’s the dictionary definition of work.”

So today I’m taking the day off.  I’m going to daydream, pet the dog and be grateful for the chance to play.

click here to buy your tickets!

Yesterday was the biggest media opportunity of my 25+ year career in the horse industry.  Two kind souls flew up from Los Angeles to film and to understand Square Peg Ranch through the lens of the America’s Best Racing doing a promotion with Autism Speaks.  Today is world Autism Awareness day and I woke early this morning thinking with pride wonder about the day.  There was also  the never ending self-flagellating thoughts of “things I should have said.”

So many things to process from yesterday.  Things like:

Parents told their stories while their kids illustrated them with laughter, wonder and simple joy. The camera caught the exhaustion of a family with a child having an autism “rough day.”

The crew treated everyone with kindness and patience – with humor and respect.  

The horses were beautiful and well behaved – except for some adorable silliness.

The staff, the volunteers, the families all laughed and played and revealed their most authentic and awesome selves.

The barn looked great – our hard work showed.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day.  

I know enough not to expect anything.  What the editors will do with the footage is filed under the giant category labeled “not mine.”

But I’d be lying if I didn’t fantasize about “what if?”

What if this footage inspires people in all sorts of ways?  Hopefully to donate, but maybe more importantly, to have discussions over dinner tables – to patch up family rifts – to show compassion to a neighbor you might more fully understand, or at least be curious about. Maybe someone smiles at that mom in the school parking lot.You know, the one with the bizarre kid that nobody plays with. I’d like to think those smiles might make a difference for her. 

When the interviewer asked me what I understood about autism, I mumbled something about “autism is a spectrum and everyone is different – blah blah blah.”  What I should have said is this:

“Autism is best described in the literal sense; autism literally means ‘locked within the self.’ Autistic people want what everyone wants. They want love and safety.  They, like you, need community and dignity. Talk to any autistic adult and they will tell you two things – that loneliness and anxiety are the biggest hurdles.” 

On Autism Awareness day, I should have been talking about dignity.  Because it’s as vital as the air we breathe and too many people are taking up that vital air debating vaccinations, different therapies, cures, bickering and snarking.  

Why aren’t we talking about Dignity? 

Kindness, awareness and even compassion all too often morph into something that smells an awful lot like pity. Pity makes anyone feel “less than”  and nobody wants your pity.  Treatments and therapies can only go so far if we don’t begin with an understanding of the simple need for human dignity.  Otherwise, it becomes just another exercise in making the person being treated feeling alone and more isolated. 

Being Autism Aware is a start.  I’m grateful for that start.  But today, I challenge you to step past “awareness” and even over the bridge of kindness and into the beauty of human dignity.

Awareness means acknowledging that mom in the school parking lot.  Kindness means asking if she wants to join your mom’s group for coffee some morning.  But dignity means making an effort to find out what her child loves and bringing his strengths and intelligence into his peer group.  Giving him an opportunity to share what he loves and giving it your genuine attention and curiosity is the truest gift.  Listening is an act of love – especially when you don’t have the time.  Developing an interest in what a person is passionate about is the key to unlocking autism – the missing puzzle piece if you will.

What I’ve learned in all these years -what I saw come to light in front of the camera yesterday is what my friend Rupert Isaacson told me years ago and I wasn’t brave enough to hear it – is that in giving that gift of dignity – all of your dreams – and I do mean all – will be realized. An added bonus; you will meet people that will rock your world.

This isn’t isolated to autism of course – it’s the same for anyone whose dignity is at risk because of depression, addiction, mental illness or other social stigma. Listen, lean in – give a sh*#.

I spend my days on the stunning California coast with beautiful horses, laughing children, sleeping dogs, goats that endlessly entertain. I’m surrounded by a loving family and friends. This is the life I’ve dreamed of since I could remember dreaming and it’s all possible because we spend our days in service delivering the simple and necessary gift of dignity. 

What I saw yesterday at the ranch and what I dare to dream the camera and editors will reveal on national TV is that it’s laughter and caring that connects us.  It’s in listening to and treating each other with dignity that makes our dreams come true.

Sermon over – I’m going to go and play with horses. 

(all photos are the fantastic work of Robyn Peters)

But what if that child can’t sleep, melts down in classrooms and grocery stores and is told time and again that he “can’t.”

We’re going to level with you – J’s interest in the horses had begun to wane.  He’s six and big for his age.  He’s going through a phase where his frustration tolerance is at an all time low and he’s been acting out violently despite the loving attention from his parents and aids. They’ve worked with the behaviorists, the specialists, the teachers – the whole banana.  He’s always loved the rhythm and hard pressure of cantering on the longe line on our ever ready pony Rickie but lately, he’s been grabbing the tack with all his might and throwing himself off the pony.  We knew we needed a plan to keep him safe and keep him engaged.  But what we really wanted to do was to draw out the unique joy and creativity of this beautiful child.  We wanted his wonderful parents to hear good news about what he could do, about how clever and creative he is.

But what to do?

We received a text from his mom in the morning that read: “ps. no sleep again. So doomed.”

We had 90 minutes to figure it out and in that time we also had chores, tasks and a ranch to run. What to do? This beautiful child was slipping. He was frustrated, angry and constantly in time-outs for aggressive behavior.  How could we flip it around?  How could we engineer an experience that didn’t set him up for another frustrating failure?

We thought about going back to back riding.  He’s bigger now, but we could keep him safer if he’s up with me.  But how do we make that new and exciting?  We’d been working on his love and engagement with the pony and that was still working.  But if we can’t keep him safe….

What about a trail ride?  No, he’s fascinated with hide-and-go-seek and there’s a lot of poison oak on the trail right now and that would be a nightmare for this sensory sensitive guy and his sleep deprived family.

We were stumped.  Our gaggle of teens were dreaming of the jumping session we’d promised them after J’s session and as much as we tried to get their ideas – they were thinking about which horses they might ride and if they should go and set up a jumping course.

That’s it!  J needed to feel empowered – listened to and in control. He needed to feel the joy of a moving, wonderful horse that would take him through transitions into a place of wonder and joy.  He needed to show us that he was creative and smart and fun.

“Girls, go set up some jumps – make them colorful and single fences.  Then go and tack up your jumping horses and then put on fun costumes like colorful polo wraps for the horses and tutu’s and super hero capes for yourselves.  Be tacked up and warmed up by the time J gets here and tack up Beetle for back-riding while you are at it and put on Beetle the craziest saddle pad you can find.”

You can imagine how easy it was to motivate a half dozen teen girls on this path.

When J arrived, we picked him up at the parking lot with Beetle and told him we had the very best surprise in the arena he could imagine and that Beetle and I would take him there.  The car ride had him dis-regulated and he wasn’t quite ready to swallow our plan.  He walked a few circles around the manure pile, took off his shirt and was going for his shoes when he heard the sounds of the girls in the arena laughing and giggling.  That’s what got his attention.  “Let’s go see the girls – you are going to LOVE this!”

He was in – but not completely.  We had some selling to do.  “J, the girls are all waiting for you.  You are going to be their teacher today. The’ve been waiting for you all afternoon.  They could hardly eat lunch they’ve been so excited.”  He spun around to look at me.  He wasn’t quite buying it and he had things he wanted to do.

“You get to pick which girl and then you tell them which jump to take.  And then you pick another girl and tell her which jump to jump. You are their teacher today. Pick a girl – they are all ready.”

“Pick me!  Pick me!” The girls all cried.

J was hooked.

In minutes he was snapping his fingers and telling the girls “listen up!  Rachel, you go to the blue jump.”

“Which one – there’s a dark blue and a light blue?”

“Dark blue AND THEN light blue!”  He was in ecstasy.

We spent the next hour marching around the ring on horseback, making up encouraging songs to bring the girls safely over the jumps (“go Kemma, go Kemma, go Kemma – good girl!!!) creating courses and describing them to the girls, giving them encouragement when things went wrong and more.  His mom stood at the fence and watched it all with a giant smile on her face.  At no point did she have to warn him, admonish him, correct him, direct him.  She got to bask in the sound of his laughter and watch him be playful, creative and kind.

That’s just how HorseBoy Method™ rolls.  Right?  Flipping around the old “top down” dynamic.  Fostering movement and curiosity and joy.  Here’s the kicker; everyone won – teens, parents, horses. The girls are still talking about it – still high on how much fun they had.  Their moms sent notes as well. 

It shouldn’t be special – it shouldn’t be news.  But we are going to keep on re-defining normal and laughing and playing our way to wholeness.

May you fall madly in love this year.
In love with someone who unhinges your tired trajectory
In love with a spouse of several years who might be aching for lightning.
In love with demanding children and crazy relatives.
In love with the particular pedigree of genius insanity that has perhaps claimed you in spite of your reluctance.
And certainly in love with an animal, a cloud, a redwood, the wild.

These at least once a day.
May you fall in love with this fragile jewel of a world,
With hard work, real learning, just causes, petitioning and prayers.

May you fall in love with wonder itself, with the grand mystery, with all that feeds you in order that you may live.
And with the responsibility that it confers.
May you fall in love with heartbreak and seeing how it’s stitched into everything.
May you fall in love with the natural order of things and with tears, tenderness and humility.
May this be a magnificent year for you. May you fall deep, madly, hopelessly, inextinguishably in love.

Poetess: Rachelle Lamb

Fravel – Our newest addition 

The horse is the main tool we use to connect Square Peg students to a world they are often shut out from.  Autism literally means “Locked within the self.”  Horses, environment, movement and humor are the keys we use to help connect autism and other special needs families so they can share love and joy together.  It’s not unicorns and crystal balls – it’s neuroscience.

Please join us by sponsoring one of these glorious animals. Each Square Peg Horse has a story to tell and something special to offer our families.  Each one has a personality that draws out joy and connection and empowerment from the kids in our program. Everyone deserves a place where they feel Safe, Accepted and Competent.  Our horses do that every single day.

A gift of horse sponsorship is a gift to Square Peg Ranch, to the families we serve, to a loved one AND it’s tax deductible.

Here’s a chance to meet them and to give a unique gift that can never be bought in stores.

Sponsoring a Square Peg horse means covering the costs for one of our horses for a month, a quarter or a year.  Here's the breakdown of what it costs to keep a horse at Square Peg Ranch:

$9228 annually $769 per month
Monthly Breakdown of care and costs (per horse)

• Occupancy: $298 (rent, maintenance, insurance)
  Staff: $158 (care & training)
  Feed: $181 Farrier: $39   Vet: $52  Other: $41 (dentistry, chiropractic, supplements)

Extra Fifty aka “Curtis”

This exquisitely beautiful son of Kentucky Derby Winner Afleet Alex has already in his short

life acquired quite the story – while resting at Harris Farms last year, Extra Fifty saved the life of a foal in need of a blood transfusion. Shortly after that, Extra Fifty lost his left eye in a pasture accident.  He came back to racing, despite an ankle injury and then developed a tendon tear in a front leg. When we picked him up at Golden Gate Fields, the entire barn crew saw him off with tears in their eyes. As you can see from the photos, he’s charming everyone with his beauty, his curiosity and his willingness to learn. We have faith that once you meet this special horse, you will be in love like we are.

 

Sponsoring a Square Peg horse means covering the costs for one of our horses for a month, a quarter or a year.  Here's the breakdown of what it costs to keep a horse at Square Peg Ranch:

$9228 annually $769 per month
Monthly Breakdown of care and costs (per horse)

• Occupancy: $298 (rent, maintenance, insurance)
  Staff: $158 (care & training)
  Feed: $181 Farrier: $39   Vet: $52  Other: $41 (dentistry, chiropractic, supplements)

 

 

Sponsoring a Square Peg horse means covering the costs for one of our horses for a month, a quarter or a year.  Here's the breakdown of what it costs to keep a horse at Square Peg Ranch:

Mythical Storm aka: Hermes

Hermes, the mythical Greek God  was the Olympian god of herds and flocks, travellers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, astronomy and astrology.

Hermes the horse is even cooler.  Carrier of dreams, deliver of giggles, bearer of twin riders – Hermes delivers the goods with all the style you would associate with one so named. He’s all that and more. 

Sponsoring a Square Peg horse means covering the costs for one of our horses for a month, a quarter or a year.  Here's the breakdown of what it costs to keep a horse at Square Peg Ranch:

$9228 annually $769 per month
Monthly Breakdown of care and costs (per horse)

• Occupancy: $298 (rent, maintenance, insurance)
  Staff: $158 (care & training)
  Feed: $181 Farrier: $39   Vet: $52  Other: $41 (dentistry, chiropractic, supplements)

Success isn’t measured in numbers, but by the sound of a child laughing or reading aloud, or by the smiles on their faces after a ride around the place where Everyone Fits.

We are so grateful for our current horse sponsors – you are our angels!

We admit it. We are guilty. Guilty as all get-out of the sin of pride. Yesterday, we got the letter establishing us among only 28 other Thoroughbred Aftercare organizations in the nation as officially accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance! It was the most rigorous and thorough process we have ever attempted. Our finances, our adoption policies, record keeping, feed and farrier and veterinary protocols, our fundraising practices, our lease, our relationship with the local and national media were all combed through carefully by leaders in the Thoroughbred industry. A physical inspection of our horses was done by a D.V.M. and a surprise inspection by the Executive Director of the organization all culminated in Approval!

We couldn’t have done this without our staff, board and volunteers. When I got the letter yesterday, I found myself weeping openly. It meant so much to be acknowledged for excellence in dedication and care for these splendid animals. It felt wonderful to be counted among the very best in the nation in an industry I have loved and served for most of my life. It means having a legitimized voice in the racing world showing and telling these animals aren’t just capable of second careers as performance animals but to illustrate how they serve our Square Peg families with generosity, with valor and with compassion. We love thoroughbreds, and today, the thoroughbred industry loved us back.  Yup, our step is a little lighter today, our chests are puffed out a bit.  We are proud!   

Now the SF Giants are in their third World Series in just five years!  Giants 3rd base coach Tim Flannery is playing a benefit for Square Peg Ranch next month!  Just a few tickets left – click here to get them –  come celebrate with us and GO GIANTS!!!

Join our revolution of kindness.  Giant Steps Foundation has issued a $15,000 challenge grant through the end of September, 2014.  Every dollar you contribute will be matched by our friends at Giant Steps up to $15,000.  Please donate today.

One subject comes up time and again when professionals reach out to help us solve fundraising problems.  “The problem with Square Peg is that it’s just not scaleable.”  

Yup. It’s true.  100% true.  So, how can we have the impact that our donors deserve?  Are you ready?  Here it is: Square Peg is so much more important than scaleable- it’s inspirational. Can we show you how?

Here’s Seven Bridges.  He’s five years old and last year, he suffered a race career ending injury.  His owner/breeder is a thoughtful man and the folks at CARMA took him in and re-habilitated him for almost a year.  Then they paid for him to come all the way up from San Diego to live at Square Peg.  This is his first time under saddle at the ranch.  He’s kind, intelligent and sweet.  He’s going to be able to teach kids about second chances, about kindness and generosity.  He’s an example of responsible owners and breeders looking to place their horses safely after their race career is over.  He’s an inspiration.

Here’s a montage of the smiles that our pony Rickie evokes.  It’s fall and most of our kids are going back to school.  Parents are suffering through brutal IEP’s.  Kids are doing their best to try to fit in and learn the ropes of a classroom that is a cacophony of flickering fluorescent lights, confusing tasks, and mind scrambling social rules.  At the ranch, they get to be the king, the princess, the warrior.  Ricky takes them places where they can explore, sing, squeal or just rest. Rickie is not scaleable – she’s a treasure.

This us Pickle – we laugh and say he’s the best therapy dog we’ve ever had.  He’s the best mouser we’ve ever known and he’s FIV+. Each day he goes without symptoms is a gift.

Let’s not forrget the surfers from the Half Moon Bay Surf Club.  Every year, Square Peg gives them the chance to share their surfing skills with kids who struggle.  Every year these uber cool teens come bounding to the beach eager to play and attend to and accept the kids we bring to them.  Want to be inspired?  Take a look at how these kids aren’t afraid to go wherever our Square Peg kids take them.  You don’t need to fear for the future when you see these kids in action.

We’re going to leave scaleability to the hamburger franchises and computer companies.  Here, at a little ranch by the sea, we are looking to our animals and our families to inspire us to continue to change the world – one horse and one child at a time.

Giant Steps Foundation has issued a $15,000 challenge grant through the end of September, 2014.  Every dollar you contribute will be matched by our friends at Giant Steps up to $15,000.  Please donate.