Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
In the collection of essays entitled Shaped by God edited by Robert E. Keeley, Sid Hielema writes, “Each of our faith journeys is a ‘jagged line’ of ups and downs, but just as God patiently walks with us, we patiently and hopefully walk with others, keeping our eyes fixed on the goal.”
Lord,
Our lives are filled with highs and lows, good times and bad, times of struggle and times of ease. Help us to remember you are with us through them all. Give us compassion and grace for not only ourselves but also for others no matter where we may be on the jagged line.
Amen.
Announcements
- Beth Duncan announced that half of the slots have been filled for the social trip to the Keeneland horse racing track on October 25, 2023. There will be a chartered bus to take participants down and back. There will be a maximum of 48 participants. Sign up online using the Member Calendar.
- Beth Duncan said that CNO has purchased a table of 8 for the annual Presidents Club of Dayton’s Citizen Legion of Honor award which for 2023 is Cassie Barlow. It will be held on October 5, 2023, from 10:30 AM to 1 PM. If you would like one of those seats, contact Beth Duncan or Paul Boeckman.
- Gail Aiken announced that the Haunted Trail will be held on October 10th and 11th. They need lots of volunteers. Sign up online using the Member Calendar.
- Erin Laurito announced that the annual CNO Officer Installation Dinner will be at Cox Arboretum on September 26, 2023, and will have a Western Theme. No lunch meeting will be held that Tuesday at Yankee Trace. Sign up online using the Member Calendar. The last day to register is September 15, 2023. The annual ceremony will thank president Beth Duncan and welcome president Joan Cordonnier.
- Tom Novak announced that flag retrieval has been pushed back a week.
Hoofprints, Kathy Corbett
Diane Arehart introduced Kathy Corbett, the Co-Founder and Program Director of Hoofprints.
From Diane Arehart:
Kathy has served those with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges for over 30 years as a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor at various centers across the country. She has always been passionate about the physical benefits of horseback riding and the emotional and mental wellness that comes from being around horses.
She is a certified PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and certified through EAL Academy to partner with mental health professionals and, of course, horses.
Kathy is still learning from the horses and her students and is often amazed at witnessing the human–horse bond and its effect. Seeing the mental health struggles of people in her community is what led her to found Hoofprints.
Mission
Hoofprints aims to foster physical, emotional, and behavioral growth through equine assisted activities.
Vision
A community where all people are empowered, encouraged, and nurtured to lead healthy and balanced lives.
Slides
The slide deck has more information than is listed in this article.
You can view the slide deck of the presentation here.
Healing with Horses: The Power of Equine Assisted Therapy
“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” -Ernest Hemingway
The organizations full name is, “Hoofprints on the heart, mind, body and spirit.”
Since the age of 19, Kathy Corbett has been involved with horses. Horses can help with physical issues like cerebral palsy. It’s not just physical ailments that horses can help with; they are increasingly playing a crucial role in addressing the mental health challenges faced by both children and adults.
Kathy said that before the industrial revolution, horses were an integral part of our daily lives, assisting with everything from farming to transportation. Now, they are helping us in a different way. Horses are teaching us essential life skills.
One of the lessons Hoofprints teaches clients is the concept of “It’s not about you.” In the realm of social media, where self-absorption can run rampant, equine therapy encourages clients to realize that it’s not always about them; sometimes, it’s about the person behind the screen.
Kathy said you might wonder, why not use dogs for such therapy? Horses and dogs have distinct qualities. Dogs are predators, and occasionally, they might chew up your favorite shoes. Horses, on the other hand, are always in a state of self-preservation and protection. They possess an uncanny ability to read human body language in over thirty ways, from a clenched jaw to an elevated heart rate. In their world, “I’m fine” doesn’t cut it; they can sense when something is amiss. Horses don’t negotiate. They react to what is happening right now. They know that your outside matches your inside. Kids learn they must hold their shoulders back and be confident or the horse won’t go.
Kathy once worked with a group of adult counselors, asking them what they were struggling with and what they could control versus what they couldn’t. One of them confidently declared, “I’m fine, I’ve got this.” However, the horse had a different perspective. It gently nudged her in the chest, revealing that she was attempting to control something beyond her control – a powerful lesson in recognizing our limits.
For children, horses teach that it is not just what you say but also how you say it. Through their interactions, horses help young minds understand the importance of communication beyond words.
About Hoofprints
People are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Hoofprints offers a unique solution: Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), a scientifically proven therapy using horse interactions. Equine Assisted Activities can help clients with depression, anxiety, ADHD, conduct disorders, addiction, trauma, eating disorders, spectrum and health difficulties, dissociative disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other mental health difficulties.
EAL is a well-documented method for improving mental well-being. Hoofprints provides EAL programs for various groups dealing with issues like bullying, grief, and stress. These programs boost confidence, promote mindfulness, and reduce anxiety, with potential for combining counseling and experiential learning.
What Makes Hoofprints Special? Unlike programs focused on physical and cognitive disabilities, Hoofprints collaborates with mental health professionals to integrate EAL alongside clinical therapies. It’s not a counseling replacement but a supportive addition. This approach helps participants develop life skills and behaviors to enhance well-being and quality of life.
Who Benefits from Hoofprint Programs?
Traditional therapists are overwhelmed, and the rise in anxiety and depression among children and teens since 2009 necessitates new preventive measures. The goal is to reduce future crises.
Being with horses provides a non-judgmental and safe space for self-reflection and self-awareness, fostering trust and connection. Given that nearly half of all US adults will experience mental health issues, and many disorders start at a young age, equine therapy offers a valuable resource for people of all ages, helping address mental health challenges and potentially preventing crises in the future.
Why Use Horses for Therapy?
- Skill Development: Equine Assisted Activities help individuals develop vital life skills such as confidence, self-sufficiency, communication, trust, perspective, social skills, and impulse control.
- Overcoming Anxiety: Horses, like humans, can be fearful, but they also demonstrate the ability to self-regulate when they feel safe. This can be a valuable lesson for those dealing with anxiety, teaching them to confront their fears and regain control.
- Building Confidence: Planned activities involving horses provide clients with opportunities to confront unfamiliar tasks and gain confidence. It empowers them to feel a sense of control over their fears.
- Physical and Mental Benefits: Research emphasizes the physical and mental benefits of play and physical activity. Horses, with their inherent curiosity and love for play, provide an ideal avenue for such activities. Their natural herd dynamics encourage interpersonal connections.
- Learning Through Play: Both children and adults benefit from play. The barn environment promotes learning through play, offering a sense of freedom while maintaining control over one’s safety.
Incorporating horses into therapy programs can be a transformative experience, helping individuals develop essential life skills and tackle anxiety while enjoying the physical and mental benefits of play and connection.
Community Partnerships
Hoofprints collaborates with agencies, schools, practices, and individual professionals. They can put together specialized programs that fit the needs of specific populations. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Foster Care Agencies
- School Systems
- Mental Health Practices
- Behavioral Health Specialists
- Professional Groups
- Rehabilitative Service Agencies
- Youth at Risk
- First Responders
- OH Rise (Flex Funds Accepted)
Programs may be developed in various formats: 1 Day Workshops, Retreats, Short Sessions, or Field Trips.
Hoofprints Finding Your Inner Unicorn Program
Kids between 8 and 12:
- Understanding Emotions – Self & Others
- Effects of Actions
- Tools to Express Self
- Self-Regulate
- SelfConfidence
- Self Esteem
- Bullying
- Social Media
Hoofprints Strides to Success Program
Kids between 13 and 18:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Expression
- It’s Not About You
- Setting Boundaries
- Body Image
- Confidence
- Self-Esteem
- Social Media
- Relationships
- Parents
- Mindfulness
Hoofprints Horses for Adult Wellness Programs
Adult workshops and 1 to 1 sessions:
- Unbridled Wellness
- Stronger Partners
- Stronger Families
- Horses for Mental Wellness
- Private Sessions
Hoofprints Group Programs
Offered to groups:
- Horsepower – Team Building
- Horses Healing Helpers (CEU’s for Social Workers/School Counselors)
- Designed for Your Group
Thank You
Thank you, Kathy Corbett, for educating us about how Hoofprints uses Equine Assisted Learning to help our community.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Christie Sanderman | Carol Smerz |
| Jacque Dunn | Julie Walling Noeth |
| Kathy Corbett | Speaker |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Karen Collins | Bob Collins | 2nd Reading |
| Steve Rudisill | Mike Bevis | 3rd Reading |
| Rebekah Buck | Emily Duke | 3rd Reading |
| Keith Weiskittle | Stan Fronzaglia | 3rd Reading |
| Joan Schiml | Mike Bevis | Induction |
| Tyler Clark | Cameron Langer | Induction |
Happy Bucks
| Member | Reason |
| Evelyn Griffin | Very happy to receive a thank you note from a Skilled Trades Scholarship recipient who is attending Sinclair. He loves the internship at the Centerville Service Center which has offered him a full-time job upon graduation. He is on track to graduate with an associate degree in fall of 2024. He said, “I truly appreciate the support I have received from the Centerville Noon Optimists.” |
| Erin Laurito | As a Centerville High School graduate, is proud of her alma mater. She feels blessed to have graduated from the school that is nationally ranked again as a top 10% school. |
| Bob Collins | Beat his goal of riding his bike to raise money for cancer research by 1 mile. He road 82 miles and turned 81 on 9/4/2023, the day of the ride. |
| Kelly Stone | Ellie Parker told the story of Kelly Stone’s mother, Gaye, telling her about how Kelly Stone went to see Jimmy Buffet the day after breaking her leg. Gay was a little freaked out at the time. |
| Stephanie Llacuna | Proud 1996 graduate of CHS which is nationally ranked again as a top 10% school. |
| Stephanie Llacuna | The Stetsons and Sterling event at Therapeutic Riding Institute has sold out with 300 tickets. Many are CNO members. Thank you so much. |
| Stephanie Llacuna | Happy to hear from Kathy Corbett’s of HoofPrints. There is a huge need for them along with TRI and others. |
| Dennis Dockins | Illinois State (his Alma Mater) beat University of Dayton in football over the weekend. |
| Cindy Gaboury | Is going to the invitation only fashion week event in New York today. |
| Paula Kalaman | Celebrating 58th Wedding Anniversary with John. |
| Paula Kalaman | The CPD golf tournament named in honor of her son started 25 years ago. It has given over 66 young people scholarships topping $370,000. It was originally to be held just once. |
| Joe Madden | Glad Cindy Gaboury will see him on the runway in New York. |
Sergeants at Arms
| Member | Infraction |
| Jerry Stahley | Lost his name badge, probably in his truck somewhere. |
| Jon Wesney | Took the magnet from another name badge since his was gone. The stolen magnet was replaced with the one found on the ground near where Jon put his badge on. |
| Julie Noeth | Did not meet her guest in the hallway. |
| Mike Thonnerieux | Took up valuable sergeant time by asking them to find his name badge. |
| Luke Neff | Late to meeting. |
| Bob Burkman and Bob Collins | Wearing neon green shoes and having the name Bob. |
| Dave Kay | Wearing a neon pink shirt. |
| Everyone wearing white | Crimes of Fashion: Wearing white after Labor Day. |
| Jim Mogan | Told a gaseous joke to sergeant Karen Charnesky. |
| Greg Griffin | Told a sketchy joke to sergeant Karen Charnesky. |
Membership Anniversaries
No Club Anniversaries this week – this is rare.
Birthdays
| Paula Harrison | September 7 |
| Roberta Taylor | September 7 |
| Doug Reno | September 8 |
| Karl Frydryk | September 8 |
| Ron Rearick | September 9 |
| Sam Pfabe | September 11 |
CNO Donations – 2013 through July 2023
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
CLICK HERE to see the Thank You Notes received this week