THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994 TAG: 9408040196
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
VIRGINIA McBURNEY WEARS worn jeans, scuffed boots and a worn, brown cowboy hat. To her friends, she's known simply as ``McBee.'' She's petite, sparkling and so soft-spoken that her friends once gave her a yellow megaphone so she could be seen and heard.
Like a lot of kids this time of year, she rises early every morning and heads for summer camp. But McBurney is not a child. The Virginia Beach resident is a ranch hand at Triple-R Ranch and a 73-year-old grandmother.
By the time she gets to the Chesapeake Christian camp, McBurney is ready to teach horseback riding for beginners, pitch hay, clean animal cages, saddle a horse or chat with teens - all without missing a beat.
During the last seven years, McBurney has gone horseback riding almost every day. She also has become a certified riding instructor, a summer camp riding teacher and a volunteer with a recreational riding program for the handicapped and disabled.
McBurney said she began looking for activities after she was widowed.
``I needed a reason for being here,'' she said.
At first, she tried sales and different types of volunteer work, but it just wasn't for her.
Then, a childhood passion for horseback riding resurfaced. When the opportunity came up to volunteer with handicapped and disabled people, she went for it.
McBurney grew up in Camden, N.J., where she and her sister rode horses as often as they could. But when she married, horseback riding became a thing of the past.
``My husband was uncomfortable around horses,'' she said. ``And I tried riding with my children, but they never developed an interest, either.''
McBurney settled into a contented life as a Navy wife and mother, raising her children, Robert and Jinny. She kept away from horses for more than 30 years.
But when her husband Robert died, there was too much empty time.
A friend told her about a riding program for the disabled sponsored by Hope House. She checked it out and then spent two years helping disabled people discover the joy of being on horseback.
A lack of funds closed the doors of Hope House. But Sandy Fuller, the program originator, wouldn't give up on the riding program. The search for a new home landed them at Triple-R Ranch in rural Chesapeake.
McBurney's eyes lit up as she described the program.
Triple-R hosts an eight-week riding program every spring and fall. Riders ages 4 to 70 have participated.
``For most it's a new experience,'' said McBurney. ``And for me it's always a wonderful experience.''
It takes three volunteers for every rider. A ``buddy'' always greets the rider and stays during the entire lesson and ride. The other two volunteers stay on each side of the horse to encourage, support and protect the special rider.
``There have been riders with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, an autistic boy, a number of mentally retarded young people and a 70-year-old stroke victim who have joined in the fun and exercise,'' McBurney said.
``Laughter just fills the air when we trot off down the trail,'' she added. ``It's such great therapy for all of us.''
When there is any free time, McBurney like to saddle Casey and go for a leisurely trail ride.
But when she's not working with the handicapped program, McBurney is an instructor and ranch hand for the regular summer camp. She also helps with the pony rides, hay rides, barn tours, horse grooming and with the smaller animals like the rabbits, chickens, sheep and goats.
Several years ago she took Max, the rabbit, home for the winter holidays. ``Now he's so spoiled he can't go back to camp,'' laughed McBurney.
``I'm truly blessed with a loving supportive family, '' she said. ``And while some people only get a week of camp a year, I get to go almost every day.'' MEMO: For more information about the handicap riding program, call the
Triple-R Ranch at 421-4177. No experience is necessary to be a
volunteer.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Virginia McBurney is a ranch hand and riding instructor at Triple-R
Ranch and volunteers with a riding program for the handicapped.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE
by CNB