Virginia
Summer campers sit tall in the saddle at a unique Virginia program – WTOP News
The sessions at Cloverleaf Equine Center in Clifton, Virginia, this summer are providing those experiences in a very special setting for kids with a range of disabilities.
Summer camp experiences let kids make friends, learn new skills and have fun. And the sessions at Cloverleaf Equine Center in Clifton, Virginia, this summer are providing those experiences in a special setting for kids with a range of disabilities.
On Tuesday, Operations Director Christina Germinario stood at the center of an indoor riding ring, where fans whirring overhead provided an extra breeze.
She called out to the young campers, who range in age from 5 to 14 years old, encouraging them to connect with the movement of the horses.
Each rider follows along as a group of volunteers lead the horses while others walk along on each side, to make sure each rider is secure in the saddle.
Germinario called out to each rider, “Nice balance!” or “Good voice!” as a rider told their horse, “Walk on!”
At the end of the riding session, Germinario explained that each part of the lesson — from having riders drop their reins to flapping their arms like birds, or leaning into a forward crouch in a jumping position — has a purpose. The riders develop core strength, improve their balance or develop verbal communication skills — all while enjoying the company of the horse they ride.
Roger Messersmith has been volunteering with the organization for about three years, but has a connection to Cloverleaf that goes back decades.
When his son, who has cerebral palsy, was younger, he was a client at the center, just like the child Messersmith currently helps in this summer camp. Messersmith seems to sense when a rider needs more physical help and when a word of encouragement is needed.
Messersmith said his son, Mike, had a brother who was into rowing, but for Mike, “Riding was his special thing and it was something that was important to him.”
Mike rode at the center for nearly 16 years.
Messersmith said the therapeutic riding gave his son confidence and improved his muscle tone: “It provided him with core strength, the ability to ultimately stand.”
A slogan on Cloverleaf’s webpage reads, “Horses Helping Humans Thrive.” That extends to a range of clients, from the children in the Ponies and Paintbrushes Summer Camp to adults in a recovering service member and veterans program. Services for the different groups include physical therapy, psychotherapy and social and emotional learning.
When asked to describe the best thing about her job, Germinario said with a broad smile, “Probably the joy on their faces when they get something … even as simple as someone just looking at me and giving me a smile after I tell them ‘good job’ makes it all worth it.”
Germinario said the horses “absolutely” enjoy the sessions. She called the horses at Cloverleaf “unicorns,” chosen for the work because of their empathetic natures.
“They’re people horses. They want to be around the people, they want to be pet, they want to be loved on,” she said.
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4 things to know about the weather:
- A much more comfortable day is ahead with highs only in the lower to middle 80s across the DMV.
- Most of the day will be dry, but a few spotty showers or thunderstorms could pop up during the afternoon.
- Humidity will be a tad lower than recent days thanks to an easterly breeze and slightly drier air moving into the region.
- Monday looks even better with comfortable temperatures, lower humidity before hotter weather returns later in the week.
A welcome change is finally settling into the DMV. Sunday won’t be perfect with some clouds around and the chance for some showers, but most areas should stay dry. Cooler temps than we’ve been used to lately, with afternoon highs staying in the 80s.
Great days to start the week as Monday and Tuesday are shaping up to be comfortably warm with noticeably lower humidity (thank goodness) bonus days for summer. Enjoy it while it lasts because heat and humidity arrive by Wednesday with temperatures climbing back into the 90s and continuing to build late in the week.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
SUNDAY
Mostly cloudy with a few showers and thunderstorms
Brief downpours remain possible, especially during the afternoon
Humid, but noticeably cooler
Wind: East to northeast 5–10 mph
Chance of rain: 20-30%
Highs: 84°–89°
SUNDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy with a few lingering showers
Mild and muggy
Light winds
Lows: 71°–74°
MONDAY
Humidity levels lower than the past several days
Cooler than average for mid-July
Sun & Clouds; looks dry
Highs: 82°–86°
TUESDAY
Sun and clouds and the humidity stays in check
Close to normal temps
Highs in the upper 80s to around 90°
WEDNESDAY
Mostly Sunny & HOT!
More humid with Heat Index 100+
Highs in the upper 90s
THURSDAY
Staying HOT!
Humidity sticks around and the Heat Index stays above 100
Isolated afternoon thunderstorms possible might cool it off a bit late day
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
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MIDDLEBURG, Va. – Vice President J.D. Vance is eyeing a multimillion-dollar estate in Middleburg, Virginia, to serve as a part-time home for his family, according to a report from the Washington Business Journal.
The second family is leasing two of the four properties at Wolver Hill Farm, a sprawling, nearly 500-acre estate situated about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Washington, D.C.
What we know:
The historic property was acquired five years ago for nearly $9 million by Chuck Kuhn, the owner of J.K. Moving.
According to Michael Neibauer with the Washington Business Journal, there are four homes on the 500-acre property which backs up to the Salamander Middleburg Resort and Spa.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if the Vance family maybe takes advantage of some of those spa facilities that are celebrated out there,” Neibauer added.
Requests for comment regarding the lease agreements were sent to Kuhn’s company, which has not yet responded.
The potential move comes at a busy time for the Vances, as Second Lady Usha Vance is currently expecting the couple’s fourth child.
The news has quickly traveled through the heart of Middleburg, a historic town known for its vibrant strip of mom-and-pop shops and popular resorts along East Washington Street.
What they’re saying:
Business owners along the main thoroughfare were universally aware of their potential new neighbor, though several declined to talk on camera.
The reaction to the Vice President’s potential arrival has been mixed.
“Well, I figure J.D. is going to—the vice president, excuse me— is going to want to play some golf, and I’m a member of Creighton Farms. So, Mr. Vice President, if you’re watching, you’re always welcome on my tee time,” Upperville resident Luke Mahoney said.
When asked if he has concerns about having a potential Secret Service presence in the community, Mahoney said, “No, it can’t be worse than the people that drive 35 miles an hour on Route 50 during commute times. I think they’re very professional; they do a great job. I’m not really that worried about it.”
The Source: This information is from the Washington Business Journal and FOX5 DC reporting.
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