In Part I we endeavored to familiarize you with the origin and purpose of T.H.E. CENTER, and to delineate their everyday activities. I ran out of time and space to, as Paul Harvey used to say, give you “the rest of the story.”

 What originally perked my interest in T.H.E. CENTER was a new program that has opened up to military veterans. Miguel Sarasa, my on-site host, showed an eagerness to fill me in. “The veterans’ program is still somewhat in its infancy,” he said. “We never had a military program in the past. When I started here I sought out ways to expand our services. We have a large population of military veterans in the Valley, many of whom are handicapped from wartime service who would benefit from a program that previously catered to mostly young people with handicaps and a few adults.”

 I wondered if that included PTSD, a problem that surfaced during the Vietnam War and continues to plague combat returnees.

 “Traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and a wide variety of challenges they deal with when they return home to their families.”

 Military life of any variety is alien to those who haven’t experienced it – and that is totally outside understanding by civilians when it involves combat and war zones.  I remember coming home from the South Pacific Theater following World War II. Military language doesn’t fit in at the dinner table. I asked my mother to pass the butter – as we so often did in the mess hall and I can tell you she did not appreciate the manner in which I made my request. I still feel the sting of her slap across my mouth. Needless to say, I learned pretty fast the difference between military and civilian table talk. The recent Middle East conflicts have created a lot of similar problems. 

 “You also have to look at the components of the family dynamics today.” The impact of 9/11 was different. December 7, 1941, was clearly an attack by another country. September 11 was a cat with different claws. Pearl Harbor involved military bases and naval vessels. 9/11 hit us where we live – civilian workplaces. 

 Miguel said, “Daddy’s been gone for months or years. He comes home and what better way to build a relationship with your child or spouse than riding alongside by the side on horses?”

 I wondered how that worked with their regular students. “It does, but with the military, we are re-uniting a veteran with a family they’ve not been around physically for a long time.”

 I wanted to know how successful the veterans program has been. I expected there would have been an influx of applicants. Not so.

 “Frankly, our veterans program is going forward at snail’s pace. We have the horses. We have the manpower. However, for some reason, the vets are not participating.”

 Any idea why?

 “Reluctance perhaps. Truthfully I can’t say for sure. It is still such a new program. Even though we market it through the proper channels, veterans seem not to be aware for some reason. There is no charge to veterans. Plus which, one other family member or friend is permitted to accompany the vet at no cost, so that he or she can be riding along with someone with whom they are familiar.

 “The veterans program deals with interpersonal skills and being able to communicate in a different environment. Working with a horse and being able to learn horsemanship skills, such as the tacking process and becoming familiar with saddles and the maintenance of the animals and overall riding techniques is rewarding.

 “Sitting on a horse for an hour once a week helps one to sort of escape the mind problems of everyday life; bills, family misunderstandings and that sort of thing.  It becomes a meditation process. When you are on that horse relaxing and spending time together, it is easy to develop a comradeship with the animal.”

 What kind of feedback is he getting from current enrollees?

 “Hard to tell exactly because we don’t have any vets involved as yet. “

 Does he think they are shy?

(Horses for Healing)

 “Don’t know exactly,” he says. “There is some hesitation because they really have to let their guard down; become vulnerable. Whereas, in the military, they are trained to do everything for themselves; now, they are challenged. Having been taught to be soldiers, partnering up with these large creatures that just want you to love them is a traumatic change of pace.”

 Miguel says they have reached out to all the veteran groups: V.F.W., AMERICAN LEGION and through social media. “I hope that your story will give us the added publicity we need to encourage more of them to come forward.”

 Although the veterans program is in its infancy, the facility has a long history of accomplishments. There is a large ring area where the horses parade about in an oval pattern. “That’s The Lydia Genders Arena,” he explains. “A pre-teener, confined to a wheelchair with various disabilities. She was our very first student.” 

 I did not know that the place was founded by someone whose family is well-known throughout the Valley. “Theresa Wilhelm, the young woman whose idea this place was, never lived to see it come to be what it is now. A little area with benches is known as Theresa Wilhelm Founder’s Park. She passed in 2002 of breast cancer, but her daughter, Tara, keeps in touch.”

 Along a mile-long trail on the backside of the acreage, I was introduced to “Sensory Trail,” a rather new addition to the property, composed of twenty different activity stations along the way where students are able to perform while riding through on a horse. “This project came into being due to a generous $10,000 donation from the Soboba Foundation. Rose Salgado, Andrew Vallehos and Sully Ortese from the reservation have been very kind to us.”

 T.H.E. CENTER holds several events throughout the year as a means to draw the community in. I asked Miguel who takes care of the nine-acre place. “Glad you asked. Mostly through the time and financial assistance volunteered. Without volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to operate. This is a large facility.”

 No joke. Within the nine acres, there are also nine pastures, ten horses, a pony and miniature donkey. “The horses must be exercised regularly and maintained in healthy conditions. Our barn manager is amazing. Also, we have a great volunteer Veterinarian, Dr. Crowley from Anza who comes down regularly to check out the animals and will come anytime there is an emergency.”

 I doubt ordinary people, not privileged to be involved, have any idea some of the duties required to keep the place in what I might call “ranch shape.”

 “Our cleanup crew does an amazing job. Also, three people are required to maintain safety during a lesson: A lead rope to make sure the horse is paying attention and not deciding to goof off; aside walker on each side of the horse to maintain the safety of students.”

 Knowing the importance of volunteers and the nature of the work required, I imagined that most volunteers are younger. “We would welcome older volunteers, but most are younger because they seem to be more interested in the physical aspects and more capable in some instances. Horses are large and need a strong hand.”

 He says, “we are accepting more older volunteers because there are other needs around the place. For instance, working in the office, grant writing and procuring other volunteers.

 “We were without a patio, so it was often too cold, too rainy or too hot to be outside with certain activities. Thanks to the Community Christian Church that has been remedied. The two front buildings and patio were donated by them. That allows us to have an indoor activity called a ‘ground lesson,’ where students learn about horsemanship skills in a classroom environment.”

 If you’ve never been out to T.H.E. CENTER, you ought to try it. It isn’t hard to find. Drive south on Girard Street. Before the street starts up the hill to the Ramona Bowl, you’ll see the black and white sign with T.H.E. CENTER in bold letters. Go participate in some of their events or be a spectator and see what a wonderful effect these activities have on kids and adults alike, some of whom would perhaps have no social life, stuck in a room in a wheelchair or confined in other ways due to physical or mental disabilities.   

 To see a handicapped child, riding high on a horse, crying out, “Mama, look at me. I’m a jockey,” with a smile as wide as the noon-day sun is worth more than gold to the parent who might think to his or her self, “That could be my child.”

 And to all you veterans who need something as wonderful as this – step up to the plate. This might be the very thing you’ve been looking for in your life.

 Perhaps I’ll see you there sometime. I hope so. Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

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 According to a young man so well versed with his knowledge of the subject that he may have a great future as a consultant on human/equine psychology.

 I sought to find out what happens behind the high chain-link fence, around a large compound on the left side of the road at the south end of Girard Street, in the southern section of Hemet in Riverside County.

 An eddy of dust erupted from the dry, unpaved, short driveway leading into the parking area. The air soon cleared and I found myself exposed to a bright fall vista with fenced corrals and pens. Inside the compound is known simply as T.H.E. CENTER, I discovered a virtual playground for young horsemen.

 Miguel Sarasa introduced himself and related that he would be the person I came to interview. He more resembled a young model in G.Q. Magazine, or college freshman, then someone so knowledgeable about his role in a vast equine center for handicapped youngsters. 

 “I’m Miguel, Rusty. Welcome to our program.” He directed me from his office to a patio facing out toward the field of activity.

 I first wanted to know when the facility came into being and how long he has been associated with the organization.

 “We were founded in 1984 by Theresa Wilhelm, with one horse and one student.” Today the Center sports more than 100 students and ten horses and a wide variety of special programs.

 Miguel immediately launched into a spell-binding dialogue of praise of T.H.E. CENTER and the services it provides to the community.

 “Obviously, to be a student here, one must have a doctor diagnosed disability that qualifies to enter the program. Although we service more young students, medically diagnosed adults are accepted.”

 The primary activity is known as “Therapeutic Riding.” Miguel assured me this was no pony riding sideshow for kids. “Students have in-depth experience to last for a lifetime. Perhaps you maybe never noticed, but horses walk three-dimensionally, just like humans. A student with muscular sclerosis, cerebral palsy or muscle mass issues, simply by placing them on a horse, becomes a different individual. When the horse begins to move, the handicapped student feels the human gait and begins to ride as though they are walking, their bodies moving with the horse’s flexibilities. They take on the feeling they would have if able to walk on the ground.”

 It is a feeling; he says like a polio victim gets from swimming, where water renders one weightless and without the helplessness of paralyzation. “Mimicking the human gait is a huge physical component. Naturally, being around a thousand-pound creature involves a lot of emotional confidence being gained that doesn’t come about with smaller animals and household pets.”

 I imagined that being around horses might intimidate some younger children. “Sometimes, it can be fearful. Overcoming such fears has healing results.”

 I also learned that the majority of the students are young men. “It is pretty much the ‘I want to be a cowboy’ attitude that boys have, although I’ve noticed that girls adapt well to horse riding.”

 Many of their students are on the autistic level. “We also have orthopedic cases and many students with neurological problems. Programs here focus on following directions, being attentive and performing the tasks the teachers ask of them under a wide variety of conditions.”

 He especially stressed the importance of teacher qualifications. “Instructors must be up to date on teaching skills. We are accredited through P.A.T.H., (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship), a national organization that assures that sites like this all follow the same rules and adhere to the same qualities. Our instructors are all PATH CERTIFIED every year in continued education. Anybody can say they’re providing therapeutic riding, but a PATH CERTIFIED instructor is recognized throughout the land as the very best.”

 PATH‘s governing body visits every couple of years “to assure that all of our documentation is appropriate and that all our horses are being properly attended.”

 The Center conducts something like 4500 lessons every year. Trust me, that’s a lot of horseback riding in anyone’s language.

 I wondered where all the money came from to fund the ranch – and it is ranch-sized. Also, if they provided the program free of cost. “I wish it were free. Tuition is based on family incomes. Within the industry, the cost is known as ‘the billing rate.’ Group lessons are priced at $40; individual lessons at $50.” The program offers scholarship reductions in hardship situations. “Some students pay as little as $10 per lesson, based on a family’s ability to pay. We do provide lessons at a less cost than comparable programs.” I got the impression that no one has ever been turned away due to lack of funds. After all, it is a non-profit and those organizations always seem to find a way when there appears to be no way.

 That brought up more questions. The curiosity of a journalist is eternal. “Did you guys suffer much from the recent recession, and if so, how bad was it?

 “The Center has struggled the past several years. Non-profits suffer when times get hard. Folks don’t donate when it is all they can do is put food on the table. That’s when we are most challenged. It costs to keep up a place like this. Feed for the horses runs high. Luckily, there’s an annual scholarship program to cover feed for horses.”

 He pointed out costs for medicines, plus shoe and farrier services.  Of course, they do not train with thoroughbred horses requiring more expensive upkeep.  “It is our good fortune to deal mostly with older, gentler horses.

 After receiving a new layer to my forever ongoing search for education, I wanted to know what emotional effect his work had on him. Miguel had a ready answer.

 Miguel is the all-American athletic type. I’m sure he’s older than his peach-fuzz traces of a beard indicate, so I naturally wondered how working with, what the average guy might consider hopeless situations, affected him. “No one ever asked me that question.  These kids are never hopeless to me.  I will say that what I deal with every day causes me to appreciate what I have in life. No matter how difficult one’s life may be, there are others with far greater problems who handle those problems as though they might be nothing more than a bump in the road to them. They dwell more on optimism without any self-pity.  Being able to see a student who’s confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak – watching her up on a horse laughing and making sounds that show you she’s excited in that moment. That’s a remarkable experience. I never forget times like that. Every day I am happy to have this opportunity and to be a part of their lives.”

 Even with the challenges of not enough money, horses to feed, overhead and natural interruptions, Miguel plunges on as do all those involved at T.H.E. CENTER.

 My visit left me humbled and not such a know-it-all. Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

 (Look for Part II of this story in next week’s Hemet San Jacinto Chronicle).

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