“I started writing in 1989 after a life-threatening illness,” Jan Scarbrough told me. The multi-published author continued, “When you’re lucky to be alive, you soon decide it’s time to make your dreams come true.”

 

With just those words, I knew Jan Scarbrough was a very special person, and I was in for a treat with her interview.

 

Jan has written medieval and contemporary romances. She’s even written a “contemporary reincarnation Gothic.” Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

 

Through her career, she’s branded myself as writing “Home, Hearth and Horses.” Her Bluegrass Reunions series is set in Kentucky. The series’ the first three heroines are single mothers. The tag line is: They thought the boys they loved were out of their lives. They were wrong.

 

Her September novella is part of a Christmas anthology set in the fictional town of Legend, Tennessee. Jan’s novella is “A Groovy Christmas.” It’s set in 1968, and the sweet heroine and hippie hero are the parents of Jan’s hero in the “Reunion Game,” the first novella she wrote for the Legend anthology.

 

 

Jan, thank you so much for joining us on the Novel Hearts blog to talk about The Luci Center. Could you tell us how you learned about this therapeutic riding facility and how you assist the nonprofit organization?

 

I guess it was in 2005 that I interviewed Paula Nieto, the current executive director of The Luci Center, for an article in the Louisville Thoroughbred Club newsletter. After meeting Paula and seeing the facility, I took the next volunteers class and have been volunteering since then.

 

Today, I participate in one of the lessons. I lead the horse for a riding student. Each student needs a leader and two side-walkers—three volunteers—or the lesson does not happen. The Luci Center depends upon its volunteers.

 

I also donate my time at events where The Luci Center has an informational booth. I’ve worked at the Kentucky State Fair and the Shelbyville Horse Show. I’ve donated furniture to the center when my mom died, and occasionally I will do barn work on weekends.

 

My husband has created promotional videos for The Luci Center.

 

Wow, Jan. You donate a great deal of time and energy to the center. That’s very generous of you. What motivated you to volunteer with The Luci Center, and how long have you done so?

 

Since 2005. I love horses, as a look at my Web site, www.JanScarbrough.com, will attest.

 

I’ve always just given money to charities. I’ve never given time. Giving time means you must sacrifice of yourself, and in this day, none of us has enough time to give. But I’ve found volunteering this way is very rewarding and better than just giving money.

 

I can believe what you’re saying. What exactly does the facility do and why do you think its work is important?

 

From the Web site: The Luci Center is a nonprofit 501c3 organization located in Shelbyville, Kentucky, providing therapeutic riding and hippotherapy for individuals with disabilities. The mission of The Luci Center is to enrich the minds, bodies and spirits of individuals through horse-related activities. Founded in 1997 by Paula Nieto, the current executive director, an enriched therapeutic environment is offered to clients from a multi-county area in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Housed on a 26-acre farm, The Luci Center offers volunteers and participants a beautiful, peaceful environment where the unique experience of interaction and learning about horses takes place.

 

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic riding uses all that the horse encompasses – riding, care, interaction – to assist the disabled individual in developing skills, both physical and emotional.

 

The ability to ride and care for the horse and equipment builds self-esteem and confidence, patience and discipline as well as body strength, balance and coordination. Individuals aged three and older with a variety of disabilities can benefit from therapy received in this non-clinical, sensory-rich environment.

 

Individuals with the following medical conditions could and have benefited from interacting with The Luci Center team – both human and equine.

• Autism
• Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental Delay
• Down Syndrome
• Functional Spinal Curvature
• Learning Disabilities
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury

For the past three years, my “student” has been a woman with Multiple Sclerosis. This year, we have three women riders in one class (nine volunteers). All have Multiple Sclerosis. At the beginning of the class, they do stretching exercises on top of the horse. By the end of class, if they do the same stretching exercises, their range of motion has increased. These women have trouble walking. On horseback, they feel empowered, and they are getting beneficial exercise. They all three enjoy their lessons and seem appreciative of the experience, and the volunteers and instructors.

 

I take riding lessons once a week. There’s nothing for clearing your head after a hard day at work like taking a riding lesson. I’m sure these women experience the same rush of feeling that I do once I dismount after a good lesson.

 

The example you’ve shared of your student is beautiful, Jan. Through that example, I can really understand the benefit The Luci Center provides to the community it serves. I’m sure our readers can understand the benefits, too. How can we find out more about The Luci Center.

 

The center’s Web site is http://www.thelucicenter.org. And my husband created this video for a 2007 The Luci Center fund raiser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY0xAwK9T2Y

 

I can’t wait to watch the video. Jan, how can readers get in touch with you?

 

My Web site address is www.JanScarbrough.com, and my e-mail address is Jan@JanScarbrough.com.

 

Jan, thanks again for joining us at the Novel Hearts blog to share information about The Luci Center.

Novel Hearts is a forum to raise awareness of the charitable causes some of our favorite authors support. Each month, we’ll chat with one or two authors about the nonprofit organizations they help, either with time, money and/or materials.

 

If there’s an author you’d like to see featured on the blog, please send me the author’s e-mail address and the name of the nonprofit organization he or she supports. You can reach me at BooksByPatricia@Yahoo.com.

 

Thank you!