Guide to Therapeutic Horseback Riding for Disadvantaged Youth

What is Therapeutic Horseback Riding?
It has long been known that relationships with animals can have a healing effect, even if it isn't completely understood why. Some people think there is a kind of positive energy given off by the animals, and as big as horses are they must give have a lot of energy to share. Today this big horse energy is being used to reach out and help kids. The term therapeutic horseback riding originally came to be known back in the mid 1940's. During the polio epidemic after world war two A young woman named Lis Hartel became ill with the disease. She loved horses though, and was determined. With help to get off and on the horse, she kept riding. 1952 was the first time women competed in Olympic equestrian events. Ms. Hartel won a silver medal in dressage .

The success of Ms. Hartel was the beginning of an idea to use horses as a form of therapy that would evolve over time. Over 700 programs for people with disabilities now operate across the United States. Horseback riding is used as a physical exercise and can help to develop balance, stimulate brain communication, and muscle regeneration. Well known non profits such The United Spinal Cord organization and many Autistic programs like Healing Thresholds use horses in their programs for children with disabilities.Therapeutic Horseback riding programs are not used only for the physical benefits derived by patients with disabilities but have also produced amazing results connecting with socially disadvantaged youth.

Who are these socially disadvantaged kids?
Most of the boys and girls that are accepted into one of the many programs come from the inner city poverty stricken areas.These are kids that deal with issues like gang violence, high crime rates, exposure to drug use, Parents with addictions, abusive parents or sometimes no parents at all on a daily basis. Children that have been let down. Sometimes these disadvantaged youths are shy and withdrawn. Others may act out aggressively as a means to releasing their anger. Many of them left them have been left mentally fragile and distrustful by the harsh circumstances in their lives.

So What Can A Horse Do To Help?
Often it is difficult to get these kids to open up, and talk with counselors. That's one way the horse can help. The counselor is the one in the know about the horses, and will often find that the quiet, suppressed group of youth at risk that checked in are now chatting and directing questions to them about the horses. Many disadvantaged youth have never been to a farm or riding facility, it's all new. You should see some of their faces the first time they come in contact with a horse for the first time. As they hesitantly reach out a hand to touch a velvety nose or stroke a warm wither some might find their fear and trepidation comical. Overcoming these fears is no laughing matter though, as it is a step towards helping to overcome other fears.

I recall one little boy in particular that came out to our small farm this past summer. We had a hard time getting him to overcome his fear of the new smells and animal sounds, and those oh so big horses, just to get him to come into the barn. Some of the other kids in the group offered encouragement. I smile when I remember him putting back his shoulders and with a very determined look, and a little hyperventilating entered the barn with us, the whole time repeating " Ok I can do this, I can do this." Trust building is another benefit of taking these kids to this environment. He had to trust us to come in, and trust us to make sure he wasn't going to get hurt.

Confidence Building and fitting in
Have you ever seen the movie where Sandra Bullock is in rehab? The counselors used horses in the movie as a confidence building exercise. Youth at risk often talk big , but many are actually hiding low self esteem and confidence problems. Sometimes feeling like they don't fit in anywhere in society. Kind of like some of the horses in the youth at risk programs that pair up horses from abuse and adoption scenarios with the kids participating. If the horses can rehabilitate and fit in, the child can too. Often showing improving in leaps and bounds with the animal assigned. Two such facilities are Saving Wild Horses In West Falls N. Y. and Healing Winds in Brush Prairie, WA. The similar circumstances of life often help form a bond between the child and the horse. Yet Other facilities offer programs for inner city kids that are financially disadvantaged. These are kids that may be doing well in school and have solid families and they are doing all the right things. For them the program is a well deserved fun outlet. City to Saddle.org was founded in 2003 by Barbara Zenker and Kim Summers in 2003. This N.Y based facility was created specifically for economically disadvantaged youth. Therapeutic Horseback riding programs have different goals, so it is important to connect with a facility geared towards what you would like to accomplish for your child. Whether it be confidence building, a well deserved recreational outlet, or behavior therapy, a therapeutic horse program in your area could be just what your child needs to succeed.