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Page 6 Local Town Pages www.naticktownnews.com <strong>October</strong> <strong>2016</strong><br />
Learning with Horses at Bina Farm Center<br />
By Via Perkins,<br />
Contributing Writer<br />
There are times when the<br />
bond between a person and an<br />
animal surpasses all others. The<br />
staff at Bina Farm Center (BFC),<br />
located at 207 Union St., know<br />
the transformative power of these<br />
relationships. At Bina, horses play<br />
a vital role in their comprehensive<br />
therapeutic work to assist people<br />
with developmental, physical and<br />
emotional challenges.<br />
Cooperation on the Farm<br />
When couple Coryn and<br />
Babak Bina enrolled their son in<br />
horse-riding lessons, it sparked<br />
an idea. The couple worked with<br />
their son’s instructor, Terry Snow,<br />
to create a center to enrich the<br />
lives of people with disabilities<br />
with a more holistic approach.<br />
“Terry, Coryn and Babak<br />
brought an inclusive program to<br />
the community, where not only<br />
students with special needs could<br />
ride, but their siblings, parents or<br />
friends could ride with them,”<br />
Liz Wilsker, Bins’s executive administrator<br />
and volunteer coordinator<br />
said.<br />
The welcoming atmosphere at<br />
BFC fosters equality and respect<br />
for all those involved (animals included),<br />
which in turn provides a<br />
safe space for clients with disabilities<br />
to learn and grow alongside<br />
their equine companions.<br />
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Riders work together with volunteers and instructors during their lessons, and enjoy experiences outside as<br />
well as inside the riding ring. (Photo/Jenna Kaplan)<br />
Equine Therapy<br />
BFC offers a wide variety<br />
of programs and therapies,<br />
both with and without animal<br />
involvement, but Wilsker has<br />
witnessed the positive influence<br />
horses can have on the educational<br />
experience.<br />
“There is less resistance to<br />
learning when animals are involved,”<br />
Wilsker explained.<br />
“Horses are not interested in how<br />
you look, only that you are kind<br />
and fair. They provide constant<br />
and immediate feedback, which<br />
is nonjudgmental.”<br />
Though plenty of clients ride<br />
horses as a part of their sessions,<br />
unmounted activities can<br />
be equally beneficial. Grooming,<br />
tacking and other equine maintenance<br />
provides opportunities to<br />
practice motor, visual and social<br />
skills in an enjoyable way.<br />
Riding with Ease<br />
For a five-year-old BFC client<br />
who came to the facility with severe<br />
social anxiety, horse-assisted<br />
therapy helped guide her seamlessly<br />
towards self-confidence and<br />
openness to others.<br />
“At her first lesson, she was<br />
hiding behind her mother and<br />
refused to meet the instructor and<br />
volunteers; however, she did want<br />
to meet the horse,” Wilsker said.<br />
Over the next few weeks, the client<br />
became so comfortable at the<br />
center that it would have been<br />
impossible to tell how nervous she<br />
had been on her first day.<br />
“One day, while she was riding,<br />
she said to her mother, ‘You<br />
know, it’s a lot easier to ride a<br />
horse than it is to meet new<br />
people,’” Wilsker recalled. “The<br />
instructor and the rider then<br />
For some participants, forming<br />
relationships in the barn can<br />
be easier than anywhere else.<br />
The horses offer judgmentfree<br />
kindness and can build<br />
powerful bonds with their<br />
riders. (Photo/Jenna Kaplan)<br />
counted all the people that she<br />
had met because of riding, including<br />
the instructors, staff and<br />
other riders.”<br />
Getting to know nearly 20 people<br />
was a major accomplishment.<br />
“The rider felt so proud of herself<br />
that she was able to successfully<br />
meet and interact with so many<br />
new people,” Wilsker said.<br />
Ways to Get Involved<br />
With three program locations<br />
in <strong>Natick</strong>, Wellesley and Lexington,<br />
BFC has room to grow their<br />
team. They are currently seeking<br />
staff and volunteers, including instructor<br />
and administrative positions<br />
and barn workers. Anyone<br />
interested in getting involved can<br />
call the <strong>Natick</strong> office at 508-651-<br />
2462.<br />
For those who are interested<br />
in supporting BFC, the nonprofit<br />
will be hosting their annual Horsing<br />
Around at the Ritz Gala,<br />
which is their largest fundraising<br />
event of the year. It will take place<br />
at the Ritz-Carlton on the Boston<br />
Common on Saturday, Oct. 22.<br />
Email lizw@binafarm.org for<br />
more information.<br />
To learn more about BFC,<br />
visit www.binafarm.org.
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