Why is Horseback Riding Therapeutic?
Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship provides participants with many opportunities to develop valuable life skills. Riding can be therapeutic through the movement and interaction with the horse.
The movement of the horse is a dynamic, rhythmical, 3-dimensional movement that is similar to the human walk and stride frequency. The vestibular and proprioceptive input to the body helps individuals with disabilities integrate sensory information.
The movement engages the core and diaphragm, improves circulation, and can help the participate speak or use and coordinate some of the muscles required in speech.
Every time the horse takes a stride, the rider must adjust themselves back to midline.
Why Horses?
The horse is a very social animal and uniquely is willing to have humans apart of their herd dynamic. The horse can provide a very safe means for individuals to learn social rules and interactions as the horse gives very honest immediate feedback.
Our instructors teach horsemanship skills, many opportunities arise to self-assess and practice speaking, interacting, and behaving in a way that builds partnerships and lasting relations ships.
The positive inclusive environment built at the Center and with the horses, volunteers, and instructors encourages riders to build their strengths and challenge their disabilities.
What can I expect out of a lesson?
During a riding lesson, students will groom their horses, tack, and lead them. Grooming, tacking and leading the horse to require many gross and fine motor skills and incorporate many sensory experiences. Working around the horse and leading requires the rider to interact and manage themselves in the space of the horse. In order to do so independently, the rider must demonstrate confidence and communication skills so that the horse will allow them to lead.
Mounting onto the horse requires confidence, strength, coordination, ROM, and balance to do so independently the participant must work to achieve these skills. While riding a horse, balance and coordination are required.
Motor skills like holding the reins, placing feet in the stirrups correctly, and communicating to the horse through using the entire body can not only develop strength, but social and communication skills necessary to influence and direct the horse.
Who Can Ride?
Many physical, cognitive, and social-emotional disabilities can benefit from therapeutic riding.
A rider must have the following abilities: the ability to sit with the balance and head control of a 6-month-old. Be with-in the weight that the staff, horses, and volunteers can safely manage. Riders over 180 pounds with physical limitations may need further assessment to ensure they can be safe while mounted on the horse. All clients are assessed by our Center and a Physician’s Referral is obtained to make sure none of the medical issues that are contraindicated for riding are present.
Some diagnosis’s that benefit – ADD, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, many Syndromes, Cerebral Palsy, TBI, CVA, Multiple sclerosis, Anxiety, and PTSD to name a few.
How do I get registered?
Contact Discovery Riders Inc. to schedule an assessment with our staff and receive a registration packet. During a 30-minute assessment, we will learn about you or your child, challenges, goals in life, likes/dislikes, and important medical information. Most participants join a group lesson and learning all about you helps use to appropriate assign you to a lesson with individuals with similar goals and abilities.
Once we feel you or your child is appropriate for our program, we will take you through a short orientation, and take some time to interact with the horses. When possible assessments are schedule when classes are going on so that you can observe a therapeutic riding class.
Individual Lessons 30-minute lesson.
Group lessons 45-minute lesson.
What is the COST?
Cost: $40 per lesson.
Lessons follow an 8-week session beginning in January 2021.
Financial assistance for those who qualify.
