Therapeutic Riding Program
Mission Statement:
Healing Horses Therapeutic Riding Program is dedicated to providing equine therapy and enriching lives of individuals of all ages through equine assisted activities, while providing a safe and healthy environment.
Our Goal:
To reach out to individuals with disabilities and give them the chance to discover how equine assisted activities can enrich and inspire their lives.
What is Therapeutic Riding?
Therapeutic Riding incorporates the use of a horse and equine-oriented activities to achieve a variety of benefits. Horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body similar to that of the human gait. It is considered a form of physical and mental therapy for participants.
Who Can Benefit from Therapeutic Riding?
This program offers benefits to riders of all ages and all disabilities. It can also offer benefits to those with emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical challenges that have not been diagnosed as disabled.
What are the Benefits?
The simple act of riding a horse promotes exercise and strength. A horse’s rhythm and gait mimics that of the human gait, and the horse’s body heat helps to warm-up the rider’s muscles and joints to make them more limber. Some individuals with difficulty communicating with people may find it extremely easy to bond with the horse. Some benefits include:
Physical Benefits: improved balance and strength, improved coordination, stretching of tight or spastic muscles, increased range of motion, improved respiration and circulation, stimulates the senses, and much more.
Emotional/Cognitive/Behavioral: improved self-confidence, risk-taking abilities, enhances the ability to trust and connect with others; develops patience, control, self discipline, and provides for the development of respect and care for animals and people.
Equine Assistants:
Our horses are chosen based on temperament, conformation, age, ability to perform specific tasks and overall nature and personality. We follow a strict policy that is in place through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
Instructors:
Instructors must be trained and certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International or must be actively pursuing certification through this organization.
Volunteers:
This riding program relies heavily on volunteers to assist with leading, side walking, and helping the participants and horses before, during, and after lessons.