Youth After Drug Rehab Program
SpiritHorse Therapeutic provides free, weekly therapeutic
riding lessons for people of all ages with disabilities. We
serve adults with multiple sclerosis. We also have a "Children
Who are Victims of Abuse" and an "At-Risk-Youth" program. Click
on these topics above for more information on these programs.
Lessons are provided Tuesday through Sunday, 730A till 830P.
Scheduling is difficult with 425 riders and an average of 5
applicants each week, but we always find a way. We do not have a
waiting list. Our goal is to schedule a rider within two weeks
of the completion of their application. For applications, click
on Application, above.
We teach riding but our principal goal is therapy. We currently
have 15 therapy ponies and horses in our program. Their average
age is 20 years and they have an average of 15 years excellent
training and experience. They are selected very carefully for
their gentleness, level of training, and love of their work.
Lessons start with the rider leading the pony or horse from the
pasture gate to the barn, to the ability they have and can
develop. Our ponies and horses lead from wheelchairs, walkers,
and canes. Many of our two year-old children with disabilities
lead their ponies independently. If the child is in their mother
(or father's) arms we place the lead rope in their hands and
they lead their pony. All participate.
The rider then assists with grooming to the ability they have
and can develop. They carry their own saddle or blanket or
girth, depending upon their ability at that time, and help
saddle their pony or horse. We have found that this
participation becomes a very important part of the lesson to our
riders. Those with cognitive disabilities learn sequencing, two
step task execution, following instructions, and work-reward.
They also develop a stronger bond with their pony or horse. Many
of our riders look forward to this element as much as to their
riding lesson. The leading, grooming, and saddling portion of
the lesson usually lasts about 15 minutes.
Riders lead their pony or horse to the mounting ramp and the
instructor leads the pony into the ramp. At least one of our
parents is required to be sidewalkers for their child. They
assist the rider up the ramp, where over time we work to have
the rider become self-sufficient in mounting. This provides a
greater sense of control and pride in being able to do most of
the mount on their own.
The ridden portion of the lesson starts with a trail ride down a
wooded road and trail, lead by the instructor and protected by
one or two sidewalkers, depending upon their needs. As the
lesson progresses, and child starts to develop balance we
provide exercises and riding development in a very small ring,
in which the pony or horse is controlled by the instructor using
a rope called a lunge line. When the rider develops sufficient
balance, over time, we begin to have the sidewalker step aside
in the ring so that the rider will further develop balance, and
with its development, safe riding skills.
We proceed in carefully developed and tested steps, with safety
foremost, to develop the rider's balance and horsemanship
skills. It is our goal to eventually have each of our riders be
independent, under controlled conditions.
The ridden portion of the lesson is designed to last 30 minutes,
with shorter times for our smallest and beginning riders, and
longer times for our more advanced riders.
Following the ridden portion, the rider leads the horse or pony
to the barn and assists in unsaddling, grooming, and putting
away the pony.
The movement of the horse or pony stimulates the rider's
vestibular system (inner ear) which not only controls balance,
but all voluntary movement of the body, including speech. Half
way through the lesson, our students who have an
under-stimulated vestibular system (one form of sensory
integration dysfunction) become more active vocally and in body
movement.
In eight years of operation, as the result of our research and development and the faithful application of our methods by our certified instructors, we have heard 62 children speak the first word of their lives, helped 39 children walk their first steps to reach their ponies, and seen 38 children sit up for the first time
. More information is available by calling our office at (940) 497-2946.