Just uploaded some great videos onto our YouTube account! Most of the videos were used as packages in our December telethon. There are interviews with volunteers and parents of riders, footage of the kids and the horses and an explanation of what Hippotherapy is by Winslow's own physical therapist! Here is one of the videos! Check the rest out at http://www.youtube.com/user/WinslowTherapeutic! Leave some comments and let us know what you think and what else we should have videos about!

Brrr, it’s cold out there! This has been a very chilly start to the New Year! Even though Winslow has an indoor arena, there are still times when we have to cancel lessons because of the weather.
When the temperature drops below about 20 degrees, the Winslow staff must take into consideration all of the factors involved with having a riding lesson. First, there are the horses. These guys are tough and not just when it comes to taking care of, but also when it comes to the weather. They live outside year round and they love it but when it gets cold out they don’t move around as much because they need to conserve energy to keep warm. A riding lesson is exercise for a horse. They need to have a warm up and a cool down period. If they aren’t cooled down properly after they have been sweating, the cold air will make them more susceptible to getting sick.
We do have heat in the indoor arena, but it is radiant heat. This type of heating system isn’t able to heat the arena to a temperature that allows people to be in shorts and tee shirts. It will take the chill out of the air but riders must still be dressed warm. When we do turn on the heating system, we have to be careful if there is snow on the roof. When the roof heats up, it will cause the snow to melt and slide off. The sound of falling snow in a 1,400 square foot arena can make a pretty scary noise, especially to our horses. If the horses become spooked, they could do things they wouldn’t normally do, such as not listening, running, or bucking. Who wouldn’t get a little freaked out if they heard a big noise they couldn’t explain?!
Even though the winter time is beautiful, the weather can be rough sometimes. Things happen and lessons are cancelled. Please be aware of the thought that goes into cancelling a lesson and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask Cathe, Jen or Andrea about why you can’t ride. Our phone systems are set up so when we do cancel, a message will be played when you call (845-986-6686) stating if Winslow open, closed, closed for morning programming or closed for afternoon programming. Everyone at Winslow appreciates those who want to ride no matter the weather! You keep us busy all winter! A special thanks to those volunteers who brave the cold to help us on a daily basis!