It’s not just fun and games. Sure, it looks that way, but when you are horseback and shooting a basketball, blowing bubbles, or carrying a plastic egg on a spoon (sometimes with both hands) the fun part is merely disguising the fact that you are increasing core strength, balance and confidence all while astride a 1000-pound animal.
As a therapeutic device, horses have a long history of demonstrating their ability to accomplish progresses sometimes not realized with traditional techniques in a clinical setting. The physical interaction between horse and rider creates a unique relationship, a friendship perhaps, and offers support and meaningful interactions for all involved. Part of the process at East Point Horspice is to allow these relationships to deepen as the riders are expected to care for their mounts through grooming and preparations before and after their designated ride times. Through the actions of currying fur, cleaning hooves and petting loving faces, the hands-on of the riders cements their bonds; EPH often witnesses situations where the riders refer to the horses they ride as “my horse” and a sense of ownership develops. The riders develop responsibility, empathy and a serving nature as they care for and maintain the horses.
Then the games begin, the riders and their big fuzzy friends tackling the challenges of each new week under the guise of a creative horse-sized event. An example is the proportionately sized ladder ball or xylophone which, due to their increased size, are more to scale for a rider in the saddle. Imagine the coordinated effort required to shoot a basketball from a moving horse, or to successfully swing hula hoops on your body while the horse is walking.
Of course, all this fun requires volunteer support of which EPH continually seeks and recruits. Typically, it takes three volunteers per rider to increase the level of safety for everyone involved. More advanced riders may require less in volunteer support, but the program’s limiting factors have always been the number of appropriate horses and trained volunteers. If you believe you would like to share in the fun and games going on during the therapeutic riding season, you are encouraged to contact EPH at (308) 762-3848 or email eph@bbc.net. Check out www.eastpointhorspice.com for the previous year’s photos of all the great smiles and captured accomplishments.