Equine Therapy

By Mary Paine

Hello Everyone,

I’ve posted often about my own horses, which I loved dearly, but today I’d like to post about some very special horses and riders I’ve had the honor to be associated with. My husband and I do fundraising whenever possible for an organization called Equine-Assisted Therapy and I volunteer there when possible. They offer therapeutic riding to persons with physical and metal disabilities. The instructors and volunteers are among the most giving, caring people I have ever met and the horses seem to know the importance of their job.





These instructors and horses guide the students through games and activities designed to help muscles relax and muscle tone improve. I’ve seen riders start where they were bent almost parallel with the horse and after a few months they would be sitting almost upright in the saddle. The look of unconcealed joy in the eyes of these students melts my heart. The simple movement of the horse simulates the motion of our own walking. The feeling of freedom they have on the back of the horse is unparalleled for them.

Besides working on fine and gross motor development and core strength, they work on cognitive and psychosocial factors as well. The instructors go through extensive training. They have great kindness and ingenuity in the way they incorporate therapy into fun games. I’ll never forget my first sight of a horse that had been painted by a very happy little girl. He stood with such dignity while painted an amazing array of fluorescent colors!



The instructors use puzzles, rings, reining, scavenger hunts, beanies on shoes, rings on toes, egg n’ spoon, and an almost endless variety of fun activities, all on horseback. For many of the special needs children in this program, being a horseback rider and bonding with the horses is the highlight of their week.

I am always in awe of the consummate courage of these children and their families and the amazing way they achieve great things every day. If anyone is interested in volunteering or making a donation, their web site is http://www.equine-assistedtherapy.org.



My sincerest admiration goes out to the people and horses of Equine-Assisted Therapy and most of all to the riders. You are all heroes to me.

Sincerely,
Mary

Here’s a video from the barn and a second from a local television interview about the program.

Exploring Alternatives

I've made the decision to cut back on my showing or eliminate it altogether. I have one more show this season and no plans to enter any others. This decision left me with a void to fill. I'm still going to take regular dressage lessons in an effort to advance my horse and myself, but I want to explore other avenues of horseownership.

So with the being said, I signed up for a holistic clinic next weekend, titled "Emotional Healing Through Horses." I'm not totally sure what that means, but the price was right, and I've always been interested in alternative therapies for horses and with horses.

I loved reading "The Tao of Equus" by Linda Kohanov. It outlines the author's experiences with using horses in emotional therapy. It's a fascinating book, that goes deep into the horse/human connection, and what these animals try to tell us if we'd only listen. Ms. Kahonov talks about the damaged souls in her book, humans and equines, and how they came to heal each other in profound and magical ways.

That brings up an on-going interest of mine and the subject of a future book. A few years ago I read an article in a national magazine about a center that uses equine therapy to healed emotionally abused children. One story, in particular, struck a cord with me. It was about a little girl who had been sexually abused by her father then sold to his friends. She hadn't talked in a few years. They teamed her with a pony and within a short time, she was talking aloud to her new best friend.

I'm a former high school teacher with an interest in psychology, and I felt impelled to write a story in which the heroine works in such a center. If you know of such a place, where I can get information, or perhaps remember the article I'm referring to, I'd love to hear from you.