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Wednesday, November 25 2020 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Confidence for All With Standing Tall Life Skills Program

By Britney Grover

Shortly after retiring, Michelle Cannon and her husband, John, moved to Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, looking forward to a quiet life. Then, Michelle saw a classified ad in the local paper for a stable lease. Little did they know, when they got the contract, that their horse adventure would change not just their family’s life but the lives of many others as well.

Standing Tall Life Skills Program is unique. Unlike an equine-assisted therapy program, the only therapists at Standing Tall are the horses themselves. Unlike therapeutic riding, Standing Tall is tailored to help kids and adults with physical or learning challenges as well as emotional difficulties, side-by-side.

The Standing Tall program, totally free to participants, teaches horsemanship as well as yoga and meditation, relationship skills, communication and more. The horses offer holistic healing and growth as students establish a bond with the horse they’re assigned to work with through the six-week course.

The results are so profound, the program can’t expand fast enough to keep up with the demand. For Michelle Cannon, the results are personal.

Right Place, Right Skills

Michelle has a special relationship with her grandson AJ. AJ was born prematurely, and Michelle took care of him for the first year of his life. She took him to therapy to improve his balance, core strength and range of motion. The therapist suggested therapeutic riding — but they couldn’t find a program that fit his needs.

“Over the years, I looked at several models for therapeutic riding but none exactly fit the needs of kids with physical and learning challenges along with other kids struggling to be kids,” Michelle said. “My vision was to support both.”

As co-owner of Wildwood Stables in Crossville, Tennessee, which had horses used for public trail riding as well as boarders, Michelle was in the right place to start a hybrid program of her own. She also had experience teaching things like de-escalation techniques, communication and relationship skills from her career training staff at the Federal Bureau of Prisons — experience that added depth and value to her program.

“Soon after announcing the program, it became clear there was a void of services for struggling kids,” Michelle said. “Mothers called asking for help, and I responded by developing the Life Skills Program using horses to help students easily understand how to navigate being a teenager in today’s world.”

Standing Tall Life Skills Program launched in 2018, 11 years after Michelle and AJ first started seeking a program. Now, AJ is a thriving 13-year-old and Standing Tall graduate. He’s not the only one whose life has been impacted by the program.

One young boy had suffered a stroke at birth, and didn’t use his left arm. By the second week of the program, he began brushing his horse with his left hand without even realizing it. Each week, his home life improved with his parents and siblings.

“As he began riding, his seldom-used left arm became his hand on the reins,” Michelle said. “The last class, he took a trail ride with his classmates. Then I knew we were on the right track.”

Another little boy arrived one class and proudly announced that he had wanted to hit his sister, but instead went to his “happy place” and did his deep breathing, as Michelle teaches every class before approaching their horses.

“All ‘my’ kids are special!” Michelle said. “My heart skips a beat when one of them runs up to me at the grocery store and gives me a big old bear hug. No better way of saying, ‘I love you.’”

Programs for All

In addition to youth courses, Standing Tall offers adult learning programs and seminars and a leadership skills class that enables students to become junior leaders. Students and volunteers are both given the opportunity to ride and help out at Wildwood.

Michelle believes no one should be excluded because of money, so there’s no cost to participate. “It’s only possible because of our 40-strong wonderful group of volunteers, as well as generous donations from individuals, businesses and foundations,” she said.

They’ve been able to add a handicapped-accessible meeting room, an outdoor arena, a greenhouse, new “kid” saddles, and helmets through such contributions. As the programs expand, however, so do Standing Tall’s needs.

Other than one donated horse, Standing Tall currently utilizes the Wildwood Stables trail horses. Their goal is to acquire at least six horses to be used exclusively for the programs, and volunteers are already willing and able to care for them.

Michelle would also like to be able to offer year-round services, either by covering the arena or moving to a new, permanent location, as well as to finish the inside of the meeting room and add water and electricity to the building.

With those goals in mind, Wildwood Stables held its annual Parade of Breeds in September, benefiting Standing Tall. Normally, the event is held each Memorial Day weekend, but was postponed this year due to COVID-19.

The community came out in support of Standing Tall and enjoyed more than 20 breeds of horses presented by boarders at Wildwood — as well as Standing Tall graduates — and raised $2,563. “Many thanks go out to our friends and neighbors that generously give to help the kids,” Michelle said.

Expanding Influence

Now, Standing Tall hopes to heal not just individuals but families. On September 18, Standing Tall began the first Adult Life Skills Program. The new program is tailored to women battling drug and alcohol addictions so they can reunite with their children and stay clean and sober.

The program is held in conjunction with the Sarah Myers Ministry in Crossville. Sarah herself is an addiction survivor whose daughter Lilly recently completed the Standing Tall children’s program. In addition to the skills taught in the youth course, the adult program will include parenting, financial management, working with a life coach and living a life of excellence in Christ.

While Standing Tall’s influence and reach expand, Michelle’s life may take a different course. She recently learned that she is allergic to horses, and undergoes weekly shots to help her cope. “Sometimes you just have to laugh at life’s ironies,” she said.

At 67, Michelle’s goal is to retire — again — and have more time for art and writing. But just as AJ will always be a part of her life, “her” Standing Tall kids, the horses and the Standing Tall mission will always be a part of her heart.

“We are just a small operation, working on a shoestring budget, with local donors and businesses, but we are abundantly blessed,” Michelle said. “With the help of our horses and the vast experience of our volunteers, our kids have hope, purpose and self-esteem.”

For more information, visit www.standingtallcrossville.com

Photos courtesy of Standing Tall

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Tagged under: charity, skills, standing tall

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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