NOVEMBER 5, 2009 ISSUE
Pursuing a Passion, Providing Therapy
Live United Volunteer Spotlight—Jamie Fish
Editor’s Note: High Country Press is supporting the High Country United Way’s Live United campaign by spotlighting volunteers in our community. For the duration of the series, volunteers come into our office, pick up their Live United T-shirt and tell High Country Press their views on volunteerism and what they contribute to the community while encouraging others to make a local impact, as well. This week, we focus on Jamie Fish of Blazing Saddles, which is a United Way funded partner.
Jamie Fish has volunteered with Blazing Saddles for the past six years, helping children and adults with special needs develop both physical skills and a sense of accomplishment by interacting with a horse. “Because I don’t just wear the shirt, I live it.” Photo by Corinne Saunders
A former analytical chemist for the food industry and an avid bagpipe player, Jamie Fish sold her lab in Monroe and moved to the High Country upon retiring 12 years ago. For the past six years, she has volunteered much of her time to Blazing Saddles, a local nonprofit that provides therapeutic riding for special needs students of all ages.
“Horses were a big part of my life growing up,” Fish said, “and I agree with Sir Winston Churchill, who said, ‘there’s something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man.’ To be able to share that experience with those who have challenges in life like cerebral palsy or autism is what keeps me coming back.”
The students are both children and adults, who have physical, mental or emotional challenges, Fish said. Some are developmentally challenged; others have been victims of abuse.
“It often seems to me that we get more smiles per mile than anything else I’ve ever been involved with,” Fish said of Blazing Saddles, adding that she enjoys interacting with the students and watching them grow in physical strength and confidence as they develop riding skills.
“For people who often have little control in their lives, it is very empowering for them to be able to manage a huge animal like a horse,” she said.
Fish, the treasurer for Blazing Saddles, has been on the board of directors for the past three years. She volunteers 20 to 30 hours each week from mid-April to mid-October, when lessons are held, and 15 to 20 hours a week during the winter, when there are no lessons but plenty of administrative responsibilities, such as fundraising.
Blazing Saddles offers students riding lessons for $25—about half the cost of riding lessons anywhere else, Fish said, for $25.
Eighty percent of the Blazing Saddles students, however, are from low-income families and, after going through a screening process, are given lessons “on scholarship,” which means for no charge.
During the lessons, students perform the same types of tasks—grooming the horse, helping put on the saddle and bridle and learning correct riding posture—that would be indicative of a riding lesson anywhere, Fish said.
The students receive therapy subtly and may or may not be aware of it, Fish said.
The grooming helps improve hand-eye coordination and the actual riding builds core strength and develops better balance. The very motion of a human body on a walking horse stimulates the same nerve impulses from the hip to the brain that come from a person walking, which is especially beneficial to students with cerebral palsy, Fish explained, since the disease directly affects their brain-to-motor nerve impulses.
Autistic children, who often have better relationships with animals than with people, are able to transition from their interactions with the horse and consequently better their relationships with people, Fish said.
Blazing Saddles is a High Country United Way funded partner. In addition to the financial support, Fish said that Blazing Saddles benefits by interacting with other nonprofits with ties to the United Way—especially hearing how other organizations have tackled problems they have encountered.
For those interested in contributing to Blazing Saddles, an easy way to do so is by mailing in proofs of purchase for Southern States horse feed. Blazing Saddles can mail in proofs of purchase to Southern States, and the company will donate to the nonprofit, Fish said.
Proofs of purchase can be mailed to P.O. Box 3082, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Volunteers are needed year-round to check phone messages and help with other administrative duties, and volunteers to walk alongside horses are needed from mid-April to mid-October, Fish said.
She encourages anyone interested in making a donation to or volunteering with Blazing Saddles to call 828-295-3335 or click to www.blazingsaddlesnc.com.
Terry Garland Performs November 13
Terry Garland, a noted blues musician who was born in Johnson City, Tenn., will give a benefit concert for Blazing Saddles at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 13, at the Hayes Auditorium of Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and children. Purchasing a ticket includes the chance to win one of two handmade quilts made by the Blazing Saddles group.
Concert proceeds will go to the upkeep and medical costs of the organization’s four horses, equipment such as a wheelchair accessible ramp, scholarships for riders and winter projects.
For more information about Garland or to listen to his music, click to www.terrygarland.com.
For tickets, call the box office at Lees-McRae College at 828-898-8709 or Blazing Saddles at 828-295-3335.
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