|
|
|
|
Horses that Heal For most families a riding trek to outer Mongolia is probably not a realistic option, but some of the same benefits that Rowan’s family experienced can be had right here in Minnesota, many without even leaving the metro area. My first exposure to horse therapy was in the 90s when I donated my palomino quarter horse “Little Guy” to We Can Ride, a horse therapy program based in Minnetonka. I was happy to have found a home for my horse where he would be used and showered with attention. We Can Ride is one of several horse therapy organizations that exist in the metro area. All rely heavily on volunteers to help train the horses and help the riders enjoy a safe experience. We Can Ride was started as a therapy riding organization in 1982 by two Minnetonka women. The organization now has several sites around the metro and serves over 250 clients – children and adults with physical, cognitive or behavior disorders. The relationship between horse and rider offers a key to the therapeutic value of a program such as this. The horse gives immediate feedback to the rider. If the rider is tense and squeezes with their legs, the horse will speed up. In order to get the horse to slow again, the rider needs to relax. The horse can help clients be more self -aware. There is no lying to a horse and saying you’re calm when you’re agitated. “The greatest way that horses help is that they mirror people. If you project fear you get fear back. If you have confidence you get confidence back,” explained Andrea Dahl, client co-coordinator and instructor at We Can Ride. When these kids work with the horses they quickly learn to keep their emotions in check. Ms. Dahl spoke of a situation where some of the students got into a scuffle near the horses and one of the horses freaked out. The students realized that their behavior caused the horse stress and they apologized to the horse and used better self -control going forward. One other benefit is that horses are non-judgmental creatures; they don’t care what these kids have done in the past to land in this residential environment. They don’t look at the kids any differently than other kids and that gives the residents a clean slate, so to speak. Most students had never even seen a horse up-close before, but by the end of the program had bonded with the horses and learned to exert a calm energy, which they can use in other situations in life. Riding therapy can also be very helpful for both physical and behavioral disabilities. The rhythmic motion of the horse’s gait has also been shown to have benefits to autistic children. There are cases where children, like Rowan, have uttered their first words while riding a horse. Of course horses are not a magic elixir and there is no guarantee that riding will help every child. There have, however, been many success stories and horse therapies can offer caregivers an additional, gentle approach to working with physically, emotionally or behaviorally challenged children. Experiencing the Bond In an informal meeting on our farm, I experienced first-hand the remarkable bond that can occur between a horse and a physically challenged child. Some years ago a good friend of mine brought her niece, Sonia, for a visit to our home. Sonia is wheelchair-bound and cannot speak as a result of a childhood accident. She had previously been involved with a horse therapy program and loved horses. Among our horses at that time was Lilla, a filly just born to my Icelandic mare, a real cutie and so sweet. They took to each other straight away. The little filly Lilla, with the calm temperament that the Icelandic breed is known for, had no fear of the wheelchair and was very curious about this contraption. Sonia continued to visit Lilla on a regular basis. Even though Sonia could not speak, she was able to clearly communicate her excitement about her visits and would often tear up when it was time to leave. After a year of trips to our south metro home, Sonia’s aunt approached me about buying Lilla so she could be boarded nearer to her niece. I agreed to sell the filly at a fraction of her value and we agreed if Sonia ever tires of keeping Lilla, she will be returned to us. Though it seems unlikely that this will happen any time soon – Sonia’s mother told me that having Lilla was the best thing that has ever happened to her daughter. Horse ownership, while certainly not for everyone, can be another level of bonding. Knowing that the horse is yours and depends on you can be a huge source of pride. Luckily for those not in a position to own a horse and who don’t have friends with cute little fillies like Lilla, there are many non-profit horse therapy programs available right here in The Twin Cities area. Check out horse therapy for someone you love and consider volunteering to support these programs. That is another way to feel good thanks to a horse. Minnesota Equine Assisted Therapy Programs Freedom Farm Hoofbeats & Heartbeats, Inc. Midnight Sun Enterprises Mounted Eagles Natural Connections Learning Center RideAbility Project ASTRIDE River Valley Riders Rising Stars Therapeutic Equitation Inc. Turning Point Stable
|
