Meeting summary by Michael Bronsdon.
Paula Del Giudice has been the executive director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Redmond, WA, for the past four years. Previous to her work with Little Bit, she served as the executive director or regional director of National Wildlife Federation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Seattle Guild, and the Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Education degree from Regis University. She lives in Sammamish, WA, with her small dog. She has two grown children, Kevin who works for the State of Washington’s Emergency Management Division, and a daughter who is a Speech-Language Pathologist in Issaquah. She is an avid golfer, artist, and gardener who loves to bake for family and friends. She is also Secretary of the Rotary Club of Redmond and is a member of BNI–Eastside Excellence chapter.
Little Bit was founded in 1976 by a woman named Margaret Dunlap. Margaret had Multiple Sclerosis and found that being on the back of a horse slowed the advance of her disease. From our humble beginnings of one horse and five riders, we have grown to be one of the largest nationally accredited, industry-leading PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International centers and one of the largest full-time therapeutic horsemanship programs in the United States. We offer Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy, and serve 260 riders and patients each week with 30 horses and the help of more than 350 volunteers.
Little Bit runs three programs
- Hippotherapy: PT, OT, or Speech-Language Therapy: The movement of the horse brings full-body movement for riders, which brings a number of benefits to each rider. Core strength, stretching of muscles, and the bond between horse and rider are key benefits. Many of the clients are also able to have a different view of the world from on top of a horse.
- Adaptive Riding: Similar benefits to the above, but also teaches how to care for and work with a horse. Clients have goals to pursue through recreational horseback riding. Special Olympics Equestrian Team is also a component of the Adaptive Riding Program. Program suspended by Covid; intending to restart
- Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy: Mental health therapy, working with mental health professionals and an equine specialist. This is an ‘unmounted’ program and through the interaction between horse and client includes helpful biofeedback. Equine-Assisted Learning also includes educational and professional skill development, in which clients also have personal learning goals as they develop life skills through working with horses.
Other Programs – Summer Camps! Inclusive camps for children and young adults for kids from 5-12, and young adults ages 18-35. Participants get to ride for an hour a day.
Volunteers: A key part of Little Bit is the volunteer support that enable all of the programs. 135 volunteers weekly, who range in age from 14 to 92! Over 15,252 hours were logged in 2020.
The Horses
30 horses currently on the property. One third are Norwegian Fjord horses, which are stoic and a bred to be work horses. They are also a bit shorter than other breeds. They are easy to work with and very popular. Horses average 419 hours of staff and volunteer care per year.
‘Harvest’ was a Seattle Police horse who retired from the department and has moved to Little Bit. He’s been great for larger riders, as he is 17-hands tall.
Friends of Little Bit
34 different work groups (including some corporate teams) help with cleaning and maintenance issues.
Little Bit sponsors several fund-raising events every year. On September 9, 2021 they are hosting a golf tournament at Redmond Ridge. Registration is available online.