Testimonials

Rush Ranch provides a new lease on life

It wasn’t the sight of the horses that triggered something inside Brent Satterlee’s brain. It was the smell of manure and earth that started to bring back memories, says his wife, Kristi Satterlee. “It was like a fog lifted, and he just woke up.”

Brent spent 20 years in the US Army as a combat medic, but towards the end of his successful career, the otherwise strong and healthy man started showing signs of early on-set dementia.

Kristi and Brent have been good friends for thirty years, but she rarely saw him. Three years ago, they were reunited at a birthday party for Brent and she was shocked to see how much he had declined due to the disease. He was dangerously thin and was headed toward assisted living because he could no longer care for himself. Determined to turn things around, the couple married and Kristi went to work to get him healthy again. Her strategy included walks in open spaces. She wasn’t a hiker, so it took some research to discover Lake Herman, Pena Adobe, Lynch Canyon and Rush Ranch.

Memories of the land

The Satterlees

Kristi knew that Brent spent part of his youth on a large ranch in Northern California. On their first visit to Rush Ranch, Kristi saw something spark in Brent while they were standing in front of the stallion barn. She talked to Monatte, the Rush Ranch Steward, who told them that Access Adventure has a wounded vet program. They signed up.

Now Brent comes to Rush Ranch twice a week, where with Kristi’s help he feeds the horses, mucks the stalls, and works with Virgil. Visits to Rush Ranch have given Brent something to look forward to. “He started feeling like a man again. Everything about him sparkled, and he became alive,” says Kristi. Sometimes the connection is quiet. On sunny days, Brent likes to nap in the grass outside of the paddocks and put his hand inside the fence. The mares and their foals watch him nap and nudge his hand. One day he had a water bottle in his back pocket and they playfully tried to take it.

His renewal is evident at home, too, Kristi says. He puts on his on shoes, takes out the trash, helps with dinner, and is generally more independent. Before spending time at Rush Ranch, Brent was headed for palliative care, one step before convalescence. He was losing his language skills and on a downhill slide.

“We can’t change the outcome of his disease, but we can change our outlook on it,” says Kristi. “Being here lights him up, and he’s not in the gloom of his horrible diagnosis. It gives him hope, and his quality of life has gone through the roof.”

We are encouraged that this chance encounter at Rush Ranch gave Brent a new lease on life, and hope that others will connect with nature as well. We are grateful for the generous support of donors and volunteers who contribute to the quality of lives, often without realizing the impact.

Article written by Aleta George and published in the Spring 2018 Solano Land Trust VISTA Newsletter. Photos in this blog post provided by Access Adventure volunteer, Tom Muehleisen.

Stefanie Putnam’s First Ride

Our daughter, Stefanie Putnam, has been pursuing the therapeutic driving program at Access Adventure for the past year following an injury in late 2009 which left her a C4-5 quadriplegic at the age of 25. This program, and the wonderful, dedicated staff at Access Adventure have been without question the single most important positive factors in Stefanie’s life and outlook post-injury. Access Adventure has given Stefanie the opportunity to experience the restorative powers of being in nature and working with horses which would have been impossible in other types of therapeutic equestrian programs given her level of disability.

She is able, for a precious moment in time, to enter a world where her disability is not a factor – which allows her to feel normal, joyful, and connected again. Stefanie has commented that when she is driving the team of horses, it is the only time when she is so totally engrossed that she can forget the physical limitations and constraints that she now has to deal with on a 24 hour basis.

I cannot stress enough the impact, the importance, and the credibility of the work that Access Adventure is doing in the community through its many different programs and initiatives. I get a small insight every week into the impact of their work seeing the beaming faces of so many wonderful individuals who are participating and benefiting from this outstanding program – gaining in self-confidence, learning teamwork, and rising above adversity.

Michael Muir’s leadership and visionary skills, his expertise and passion have attracted great interest from other groups across the United States interested in developing similar driving programs. This is a remarkable organization which is truly making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, but also in the lives of all who have the good fortune to be associated with them.

By Marcia Putnam

Stefanie Putnam came to Access Adventure after suffering a terrible accident that left her quadriplegic.

This beautiful young woman was an accomplished equestrian who deeply missed her connection to horses and life outdoors.  The innovative techniques of Access Adventure brought Stefanie aboard our carriages in her wheelchair and allowed her to learn to drive horses, despite her profound disabilities. Michael gently guided her away from getting back in the saddle and encouraged her to learn to drive horses.  Under his care she began competing in Combined Driving, enjoying an exciting life. She has never looked back and is now setting her sights on trying to qualify for the US Team for the World ParaEquestrian Games.

In her own words: “I cannot express how much I cherish and appreciate the help that everyone and of course Michael gave to me.  Access Adventure and Michael offered me the incredible reconnection with horses which I so desperately needed in my life.  This reconnection with such an important, life-sustaining part of my former world – horses, enabled me to begin moving forward with my life after this horrendous injury. I just needed horses in my life again and carriage driving has given that back to me. After I was injured I was repeatedly told that horses would never be a part of my world again. The sense of loss is enormous. Now I am able to come out of myself, to move beyond the confines of my wheel chair and my disability, and to feel that life might be full and rich and exciting despite the challenges I face.  I am learning how to communicate with my new body, how to better use and strengthen my remaining functionality, and how to feel “normal” again, in a sense. When I am carriage driving, people do not even realize that I am disabled and I can forget about it as well.”

William Stewart was a student from Golden Hills School.

Living with Cystic Fibrosis he was not expected to see his fifteenth birthday. He learned several new skills including handling, grooming, harnessing and riding horses. It was therapeutic for him because of the severity of scoliosis in his back.  According to his teacher skills William learned are not easily taught in the classroom setting and he was given “access” to his own sense of self-esteem.  He thrived in the Access Adventure environment and graduated from Golden Hills School and 2008 was our Volunteer of the Year. Using his work experience with Access Adventure he obtained a job that he loves in the wine industry in the Napa Valley where he works today.

Thank you so much for a very enjoyable afternoon at Rush Ranch!

When we visited the ranch we weren’t sure what to expect. Our experience couldn’t have been better-from the very first and positive impression of the ranch, to the terrific volunteers, to meeting Michael.  We had a beautiful ride! When we saw Jamie’s face when he felt the reins in his own hands…it was all fantastic!

Your vision for Rush Ranch is a beautiful one and we wish you continued success!  I we all want to visit Rush Ranch again and again. Jamie is looking forward to driving a team again! Honestly, we can’t wait to come back!

From Jeremy White’s mother, Deb Kappler.

Twenty year old Allison Angove has joined her friend Mario Scharmer as an Access Adventure Therapeutic Driving student.

In April 2009 Allison was competing in a three-day equestrian event in the Stadium Jumping warm-up arena, when for some unknown reason her horse fell with her. The helmet she wore was not enough to protect her from a severe traumatic brain injury.

The doctors had to remove a large portion of her skull in order to relieve pressure from the swelling. After surgery they gave her parents, Terri and Grant, little hope. Allison’s mother, remembers one doctor saying, “Do you want your daughter to live like this? “The doctors were seeing the medical side and we were seeing the spiritual side as well. Where there is a will, there is a way! Our faith is going to bring her through. We know that there are other possibilities and potential for her brain to heal.”

Mario first met Allison’s parents at a Traumatic brain injury Support Group Meeting, and shortly thereafter at a book signing for Christine Scharmer’s book, “Raising Mario Twice.”  Allison’s parents were inspired after reading the book and made arrangements for Mario and Allison to meet.

When asked how this experience has changed her life Terri says, “We could not do this on our own. We have learned to appreciate the little things that we didn’t pay attention to before. We have learned to celebrate every little milestone in life. It’s the little miracles in life that keep us going.”