By Gail Wood
Perched in a saddle on a horse, the inevitable happens. The child, who is facing a physical or mental challenge, smiles.
At HeartStrides, a therapeutic horseback riding program, it’s one of the rewards for the parents and volunteers.
Since 2010, HeartStrides, which is at Healing Hearts Ranch in Tumwater, has offered therapeutic and recreational horseback riding for children and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. On the trails at HeartStrides, its a place where people get better.
“It helps in a variety of ways,” said Karen Edison, the financial director for HeartStrides. “It helps with physical, mental, emotional and social issues people have.”
It’s on horseback, riding along a trail that a child who is struggling with their mental or physical health, may make an important discovery. In a life where they have little control over what they’re facing, they learn that they can be in control of a situation. Turning and leading a horse along a trail gives the child a new-found confidence.
“Students learn that they can be assertive in a constructive way,” Edison said. “They can learn to control what they can’t control.”
That’s a crucial discovery for someone facing tough health challenges.
“A lot of them can’t control very much at all in their lives,” Edison said. “This is something they can learn to control.”
It’s atop a horse that they gain confidence in themselves.
“It really helps their self esteem,” Edison said. “They learn they can control some things. It’s really positive.”
Hippotherapy – therapeutic horseback riding – was formalized in the United States in 1992 with the formation of the American Hippotherapy Association. It has established standards of practice and formalized therapist education.
The horse’s movement, Edison said, provides physical and sensory input, both rhythmical and repetitive, helping a child who might be having trouble walking. A therapist uses this movement in combination with other treatment. The therapists have seen improvement in gross motor skills for children with disabilities.
Riding horses also provides a workout, working core muscles.
“There are kids who start off with us who have very little core strength,” Edison said. “Just the movement of the horse and the progressions they make we see how they are able to hold themselves straighter.”
There’s a wide range of problems the children face that come to HeartStrides. Edison said they have students with Autism, Down Syndrome and physical issues that impede walking. Being able to help guide a child through a challenge is rewarding.
“Some of the things parents say is so gratifying,” Edison said. “It’s small progress that the student makes, but it’s huge in that student’s life and for that family.”
On that first horseback ride, there can be some anxious moments. Being atop a big, powerful horse can be intimidating and nerve wracking. But that’s part of the breakthrough.
“Some of the parents have said their child was really nervous when they started the program and now they’ve become more confident and assured,” Edison said. “Hearing things like that is so positive, so gratifying.”
The horseback rides are done in groups of three to four. An advanced class, where the riders are more experienced, there are five in that class. With the volunteers helping each group, it becomes a exciting social activity. That encounter, being with and talking with others, is part of the therapy.
“There’s a lot of ways people can be benefited,” Edison said.
One of the students is an 80-year-old rider who is fighting a different challenge – age.
“It’s just keeping the thoughts young,” Edison said. “It keeps them moving and the ability to learn a new task. There’s a brain activity there.”
Another benefit from these horseback rides Edison has heard parents talk about has been better sleeping better at night and improved emotional control.
“Parents say that the outbursts are lessened for students who have emotional outbursts,” Edison said. “So, it helps in a variety of ways.”
For more information, to arrange a tour or to make a donation, go to the HeartStrides website. Volunteers play an important role in the therapeutic riding program. Volunteers range in ages from teen to seniors. Not all of them have had experience with horses, but all have a desire to help others succeed.
“They really get attached to the students they’re with,” Edison said. “And the students can be attached to the volunteers. It can be very rewarding.”
On Aug. 31, HeartStrides will have a BBQ fundraiser, which raises funds to help with scholarships and purchase adaptive tack. The event includes live music, games, activities and photos with the horses. Tickets are $25 for adults and $18 for children.
