MAGIC HAPPENS HERE!
Something truly magical happens when our special riders and our horses come together. Therapeutic horseback riding challenges individuals to improve and achieve both physically and mentally. The horse becomes a trusted ally and the rider responds with progress in areas that had been difficult before they rode.
Benefits
The riders sit up taller, they speak more clearly, their self-confidence increases....the improvements are wide and varied. We have had so many parents tell us that their son/daughter would not do their stretches at home, but that is the first thing they do when they are mounted. Or that their balance, or their upper body strength is sooo much better! But the common denominator for all our riders is that they have so much fun! The children in our program get to do something that most of their friends have only dreamed of---they ride a horse! And they do it very well.
Accomplishments
Our riders grow and flourish in our unconventional therapeutic milieu. One Mom stood at the rail in tears as she heard her 11 year old daughter say; "Walk". This was her daughter's first intelligible word! Or a tactically defensive, doesn't like to touch or be touched, young man that reached out and touched a volunteer. An autistic child that interacted for the first time, participating in a game on horseback. The little girl that tried for 4 years but did not have the courage to participate, but once she finally took the step and found the courage to start riding, her confidence and self esteem grew exponentially. We will showcase different riders periodically so you can see what we mean.
