Just received word that the new director of RSU’s Bit by Bit therapeutic horseback riding program has called at least one of the horse owners who has allowed gratis use of her horses for the program in addition to being a program volunteer (and who also happens to have been one of the more vocal critics of the recent issues with Bit by Bit) and told her that her horses will no longer be needed for the program. She’s on her way to get her horses now.
This leads to some questions:
- With the exit of trained, “old hand” mounts, how many horses are trained and ready to work with classes set to start soon?
- What does Bit by Bit view as the proper ratio of horses:students for the program?
- Was every horse lender who dared utter a word against RSU and/or has criticized the program of late told his or her horse(s) isn’t/aren’t needed?
- Is refusing a gift of horse use from generous people the best response to the situation, and for what purpose was it done?
- Is this an attempt to silence calls for greater openness and accountability from within the program by excluding critics from Bit by Bit?
- Will RSU, in fact, be changing the program to the Little by Little therapeutic stickhorse riding program?
Discuss…
7 comments
Comment by Concerned on October 6, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Guess they think they can work same horses all day long.
Horses get tired and crankerous like people, hope there are
no acciddents. Pity the voice of freedom of when something
isn’t right is censored by those making the bad decisions.
RSU is really beginning to smell!!!!!
I don’t think RSU wants this program to work. Shame the Sanders Trust
can’t take back their land they so freely donated.
Comment by Myra Johnson on October 6, 2009 at 3:52 PM
I’ve been following your regular updates about Bit by Bit. Before we moved to this area, my husband and I volunteered for several years with a therapeutic riding center that is now experiencing some “internal problems.” So these stories just break my heart. The focus should be on the clients who so dearly look forward to their riding days, who become so deeply attached to their favorite horses and volunteers. When it becomes about money, expansion, or individual egos, everyone loses.
Comment by Dorothy Willman on October 6, 2009 at 7:10 PM
How very very sad that so many people with skills to share, and now so many horses already trained and ready for use, are no longer going to be in the Bit by Bit barn. I won’t be there either. The politics and drama have undermined a good program and I have seen enough.
Comment by M. Palovik on October 6, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Well, I was wondering when Ms. England was going to step in and make her first mistake! Looks like she did just that this afternoon when she contacted a very dedicated, long-time volunteer and horse owner, and told her to come pick up her horses. She said “they won’t be needing them this year.” I doubt very seriously if this is a true fact, or another tactic by the admin. to quiet this person. The horse owner had phoned and e-mailed her concerns over the treatment and lack of appropriate care of her horses, and several others. However, I do know that the horse owner had already come to the conclusion that she was going to pull her horses out of the program anyway. This decision was not an easy one for her to make, but due to the ongoing saga at Bit by Bit and the continued mis-management by Brown and Rice, the horse owner could no longer support the program at this time. Actually, she is not alone as many of us volunteers feel exactly the same way, and more than likely will not be participating at Bit by Bit right now. We are not going to give up our fight for justice until someone with a higher level of authority finally steps up to the plate and takes action against the craziness that plagues the program. Unfortunately, we have no idea who this might be as we have sent letters of concern numerous times to Rice and Brown, as well as the OU Regents who are supposed to be overseeing RSU’s administration and programs. To date, not one of these individuals has responded with positive actions. Not only do we have a major issue with the administration and their lack of integrity, but we are now very concerned with the safety of Bit by Bit and it’s participants. If all of the seasoned horses are pulled out by their owners, from my recollection as another dedicated volunteer I’m thinking that they don’t have many seasoned, trained horses that would be appropriate to use. They did get several new horses donated over the summer, but I doubt very seriously if they have the training or even any of the NARHA required traits for their therapy mounts. If this is the case, then they will be putting the riders and staff in an unsafe environment. So, looks like another season of inconsistency, uncertainty, and a horrible lack of concern or support from the “powers that be.” I wonder if the RSU Foundation board members would have any interest in turning this situation around? Thanks for your support Tyson; we need more media attention on this so that Trista, Pam, and Meagan could have an opportunity to bring out the real truth of this whole fiasco. Dr. Brown and Dr. Rice, along with their so-called PR guy have really put a bad spin on their explanations of this mess, it’s time for them to be held accountable for the damage they have caused.
Comment by VLC on October 10, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Well, I agree whole heartedly that something has to be done to bring the truth out in the community regarding Dr. Brown and Dr. Rice. If they don’t have anything to hide why don’t they talk to the public, volunteers, and parents and students whom they are harming with their inconsiderate decisions. With the dismissal of Trista, Dena, Pam and Megan…..the kids now have no one at all that they will be familiar with. Anyone whom knows and works with kids with disabilities know that their must be some one they know personally or have created a bond with………as well as a horse that these youngsters have been riding and have become familiar with such as Chap, and Sierra and Chili Pepper……..what happens now….these kids take such a long time to become comfrontable on these horses and now they are gone……..because they want to hush people up………Well in my eyes this is opening a large can of worms for them,,,,,,,,which will end up with more community people digging for answers and asking many of the same questions wanting more answers and it just continues to blow up in RSU’s face………….RSU, Dr. Brown and Dr. RICE have alot to answer for and they should be ashamed of themselves……SHAME
Comment by Concerned on October 12, 2009 at 8:55 PM
Can’t be enough horses left to ride aprox. 80 students per week.
How many staff and volunteers do they even have left?
Is Dr. Brown going to help with classes?
Is safety number one with this staff and Dr. Brown?
How long will it take to burn the new hires out, working
on over load. SHAME on RSU and PITY for the
children that with suffer because of RSU’s actions.
RSU needs to account for their actions on what they have
done to a great program.
Comment by A Olson on October 19, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Please fill us in as to what is happening at Bit by Bit???
And also with Pam- Megan- Trisha and the former Directors.
Hope things will start to turn around now.