Therapeutic Riding
An EquestrianMag Exclusive Article

Physical, Emotional Benefits for the Disabled

It thrills Cindy Ross to see the flash of confidence that lights up the faces of her students in the Special People United to Ride (SPUR) Program. Cindy is a certified therapeutic riding instructor in the program that’s part of New Jersey’s Monmouth County Park System and sponsored by the nonprofit SPUR organization.

Therapeutic riding can benefit people of all ages with a variety of disorders, including muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, Down syndrome, mental retardation, autism, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, emotional disabilities, and brain and spinal cord injuries.

According to the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), the Denver-based organization that certifies therapeutic riding instructors, “For individuals with disabilities, equine-assisted activities have been shown to improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, and motor development, as well as emotional well-being.”

Ross, barn manager and an instructor at Sunnyside Equestrian Center in Middletown, New Jersey, describes how therapeutic riding helps her students. “Therapeutic riding improves muscle tone and balance,” she says. “The benefits are based on the movement of the horse. A horse’s pelvis moves similarly to a person’s – up and down, back and forth, side to side.

“The horse’s pattern of movement is sent up through the rider’s body and brain,” Ross continues. “The person’s body adjusts to the movement and the brain feels this typical walking movement – something that person may not have experienced before.”

In addition to the physical benefits, Ross explains, “There are emotional benefits too. Riding increases self-confidence and self-esteem by giving the rider a sense of freedom and independence and the ability to make his own decisions as he directs the horse.”

The typical program at Sunnyside is an individual, half-hour riding lesson once a week for 10 weeks. A doctor’s prescription isn’t required, but doctors must certify that there’s no reason why a person should not ride.

Ross is enthusiastic about the virtues of therapeutic riding for those who are usually confined to wheelchairs. “When you’re in a wheelchair, you’re always looking up at people. When you’re on a horse, you’re looking down at them.

“Think of how empowering that feels!”

Reader Comments

Submit your comments

Link to this article

----------------------   It's easy! Just copy code below and paste into your webpage     --------------------

<a href="http://www.equestrianmag.com/article/riding-therapy.html">Therapeutic Riding</a> ~ EquestrianMag.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your link will appear like this:
Therapeutic Riding ~ EquestrianMag.com