Loren Spiotta-DiMare - Therapy Horses: Horses That Heal

CARING AND SMART

In Therapy Horses: Horses That Heal, read about Michelle, who has special needs, and the therapy horses that helped her. Discover the history of therapy horses, what breeds are used, what being on the job is like for a therapy horse, the training involved, and what happens when therapy horses retire. Learn how these amazing animals help heal people with physical and emotional challenges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An avid animal lover, Loren Spiotta-DiMare has been writing about her favorite subject for more than thirty years. She has had fifteen books published for both adults and children. Loren and her husband, Lou, live in the New Jersey countryside with their beloved dogs and pet birds. Elwood, Loren's quarter horse, lives nearby. To learn more about Loren, visit www.lorensreadingroom.com

About the American Humane Association

Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets, and farm animals from cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine, and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training, and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies, and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit www.americanhumane.org today, call 1-866-242-1877, or write to American Humane Association at 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036.

The Horses That Help series is dedicated to my sister, Sheryl, and niece, Katherine. We are so lucky to have each other and horses in our lives. Id also like to extend a special thank you to Rozina Smith for contributing so many beautiful photographs to the series. Loren Spiotta-DiMare

Horses are large, beautiful animals that are fun to ride. Some people enjoy trail riding. Others like to compete in horse shows. But you do not need to own a horse to enjoy them. Many people start out by taking riding lessons.

When Michelle was five years old, she joined a program at Mane Stream, a therapeutic riding center in New Jersey. Michelle has special needs, so her mother thought learning to ride would be a good form of exercise to strengthen Michelles body. During a lesson, an instructor gave Michelle directions while a volunteer guided her horse using a lead line, which is like a dog leash. Two volunteer side walkers stayed on either side of Michelle to make sure she would not fall off.

This type of program is called adaptive riding at Mane Stream. It means the person moves the horse. Students, also called participants, ride as independently as they are able with their special needs. They are giving the horses directions with their legs, hands, and voices just like any other rider. Program participants are taught to move with their horses as they walk, trot, canter, and sometimes even jump. Trotting is almost like human jogging. Cantering is faster than trotting but slower than galloping, a horses fastest speed.

In time, Michelle became strong enough to ride without the horse leader. She loved being around horses, and she also became very fond of Bob, one of her side walkers. She still remembers him, more than fifteen years later.

This photograph shows a very young Michelle taking an adaptive riding lesson at Mane Stream with her two favorite side walkers, Bob and Jane.

I think one of the most important parts of therapeutic riding for Michelle was the compassion shown by the people involved and the horses themselves, Michelles mother says. Riding did help Michelle strengthen her muscles and balance. And with her small group lessons, she was also able to enjoy a wonderful activity with other children.

Although Michelle was involved in art, dance, swimming, and yoga classes at the time, riding was her favorite activity. She is especially proud to have received an award for Exceptional Performance in Vocal Commands and Trail Riding.

As an adult, Michelle takes lessons on the authors quarter horse, Elwood. Michelle has wonderful posture and balance and keeps her heels down in the stirrups as riders should, says Michelles riding instructor, Tiffany. She loves to ride Elwood and has a special relationship with him.

As an adult, Michelle now takes private riding lessons. Her riding instructor, Tiffany, walks beside her.

Michelle has developed a special bond with the authors horse, Elwood.

Elwood likes Michelle too. He can be stubborn with some riders but is usually well behaved for Michelle. She calls him Cutie. But if Elwood starts being lazy and stops moving, Michelle says, Elwood, dont be silly, gives him a vocal command, and gets him walking or trotting again.

People with disabilities have been horseback riding for centuries. In the early 1900s, the idea of including horses in physical-therapy programs developed in Europe. In 1969, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) was founded in the United States under a different name. PATH supports horse-assisted activities and therapies for people with special needs around the world.

Spending time with horses is a wonderful experience for anyone, but it is especially helpful for those with physical challenges. For example, people with health problems that affect the spine, nerves, muscles, or brain can benefit greatly by participating in horse-related activities. Being on the backs of these large animals in motion moves a persons body in a way that is similar to how we walk, so it can strengthen muscles and improve balance, posture, and flexibility. Those who are unable to mount a horse can participate in carriage driving, where they drive horse-drawn carts. This activity also helps strengthen the body and gives the driver a unique sense of accomplishment.

This man is carriage driving at a therapeutic riding center in Maine. It is part of his physical and occupational therapy to strengthen his hands and fingers.

Therapy horses also help people deal with emotional problems, such as depression. When someone is depressed, he or she feels sad all the time. Participants in PATH programs form a special bond with horses. Over time, becoming friends with these beautiful, kind animals makes people feel better about themselves and their lives.