Trinity Equestrian - Healing with Horses

Join us for an open house!
Learn about volunteering and how, together, we can change lives, one rider at a time.

Download the open house flyer.

Save the date:
January 17th, 2009!

Healing with Horses is Trinity Equestrian Center's NARHA certified Therapeutic Riding Program. We've been the home of TREC-Therapeutic Riding of Eau Claire since 2002. Realizing the growing need for this effective and innovative therapy in the Greater Chippewa region, we decided it's time to expand the program. Thus Healing with Horses was born! This is a new program with new goals but with many of the same people, horses and most importantly, the same mission; To provide a safe, enjoyable, innovative and profoundly effective equine therapy program for individuals with disabilities.

What is Therapeutic Riding?

Therapeutic Riding, also known as Equine Assisted Therapy, Equine Facilitated Therapy, and Riding for the Disabled, is the use of the horse and equine oriented activities to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals, including cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioral goals.

Why a Horse?

It's in the Gait! Horseback riding is widely recognized as one of the most effective forms of recreational therapy for people with disabilities. The physical benefits of therapeutic riding are derived from the gait of the horse, which resembles a human's natural walking movement. It's the only animal in the world that has it and no machine or exercise equipment can simulate all these natural body movements at once.

What can Therapeutic Riding do for you?

Sarah A. — Healing
With Horses Instructor

"Trinity's Therapeutic Riding Program has been wonderful for riders, volunteers, and instructors. As an instructor, I really value the positive emotions and new-found confidence that I see after a rider has learned a new skill or played a fun game on horse-back. Riders gain that confidence through the partnership they develop with their horses and the energy of good volunteers. The best thing about this program is that the skills learned on horse back transfer to every other aspect of the riders' lives.

I have seen more confidence, better attitudes, and better physical improvements with every rider that has come through the program. Not every person is able to connect to an animal the way this program allows and the results are amazing. I love coming to the lessons every week and seeing what can be accomplished in such a short amount of time with a caring attitude and the help of our wonderful horses!"
— Sarah A., Healing With Horses Instructor

Benefits of Therapeutic Riding are seen in ...

The Body

Relaxes, strengthens & tones muscles
Increases joint mobility
Improves posture, balance, coordination and communication.

The Spirit

Develops self-awareness & self-discipline
Builds confidence and reassurance
Improves concentration and trust

The rider must adjust his or her posture to stay balanced on a horse, so equilibrium reactions are stimulated which help with balance, orientation, and body awareness.

The Horse is a Great Equalizer For a Rider

Someone who is unable to participate in other athletics can now participate in equine games and sports.
A person who can't walk gains "legs" and one who is small now has a new "higher" view of life while on horseback.
The immediate gratification of independence and control is accomplished in the therapeutic riding arena.

Riders are encouraged to participate as much as they can in grooming, saddling and guiding the horse. Praise and encouragement are constant from the volunteers. Riders' successes are acknowledged no matter how small.

Additional benefits for the riders while participating in therapy riding classes include: strengthening cognitive and sequential thinking, problem solving, confidence and self esteem building, exposure to positive role models and mentors, and movement toward achieving individual goals set by schools and therapists.

Therapeutic riding also promotes socialization. Instructors, therapists, volunteers, parents and riders get together. Often the social interaction becomes as important as the riding lesson. Friendships are made, acceptable behaviors are reinforced and unacceptable behaviors are discouraged. A human-animal bond develops between riders and their therapy horses as riders discover that the horses are gentle, friendly, accepting, and do not see disabilities.

For more information on therapeutic riding, view this article published in Wisconsin Horse Digest.

How to Obtain Service?

Individuals interested in Therapeutic Riding may contact Trinity Equestrian Center's Healing With Horses by calling 715-835-4530 or emailing the director, Toni Mattson. An evaluation and registration process must be completed before the therapy can begin.

Cost of the Service?

Typical sessions are 60 minutes and are once a week for 10 weeks for a total cost of $300. Clients may submit the cost of services to their insurance for reimbursement.

Disability	Benefits of Therapeutic Riding
ADD/ADHD	Enhances memory, sequential thinking, concentration, uses mental/physical/tactile skills to focus attention on horse/rider team.
Autism	Physical and verbal activity helps to focus outer awareness on other people and the horses.
Cerebral Palsy	Physical activity helps with balance, posture, and motion in the joints. Interactive speech uses thought and physical processes.
Developmentally Delayed	Riders are applauded for each success, provides a great alternative sport, helps with social and physical development.
Down Syndrome	Helps with self-esteem, use of fine and gross motor skills, thought processing and speech, physical exercise tones muscles, helps with posture and balance.
Emotional Disability	Riders are given sincere encouragement, helps with self-esteem, builds self-confidence, must concentrate outside of self to develop horse management skills.
Eye Disorders	Physically enhances gross and fine motor control, develops muscles and symmetry. Requires attention to sequencing, thought process, communication skills.
Head Injury	Helps to rebuild physical/mental skills, improves, posture, balance, fine and gross motor skills.
Learning Disability	Enhances skills needed to learn, sequential thinking, eye-hand coordination, attention span, physical skills strengthens balance, fine and gross motor skills. Interaction with horse, staff and other riders uses language skills.
Multiple Sclerosis	Provides an individualized recreational program, social stimulation, physically enhances muscles and balance.
Speech Disorders	Enhances skills needed for communication with other people and the horses in alternative sport activity. Builds self-esteem in caring environment.
Stroke	Helps to re-acquire symmetrical use of body, strengthens muscles, balance, motor skills and improves speech processes.
Traumatic Brain Injury	Provides caring atmosphere to try new skills and interact with people and horses. Physically helps with balance, motor skills and posture. Mentally requires use of perception, sequencing, and speech processes.

Downloadable Documents

Healing With Horses Testimonial

Karen Rushmore — Healing
With Horses Instructor

"I was blessed to be born with a passion for horses. As I became older, I realized that passion grew to include working with adults and children with mental and physical challenges. It was a wonderful thing to learn that I could combine both passions when I became a volunteer for a "We Can Ride Program". What a terrific experience. Since then, I have pursued my passion by becoming a therapeutic riding instructor at Trinity Equestrian Center. What a beautiful facility with simply awesome students. Speaking of the students, WOW! What can I say? They are fantastic individuals with a wide range of challenging opportunities. I once had a student who was not only afraid of horses, but was terrified to ride, being totally unsure of himself. After completing several 5-week sessions, he not only saddled his own horse, but groomed and cleaned the hooves as well and rode totally on his own, asking to be challenged even more. He has since graduated from our class and is taking regular riding lessons now. We are all so proud of him. One of our students who experienced trouble focusing on an individual task, is now able to do exactly what they are asked to do and that is a huge step. Another student who could not speak understandably, is now making perfect sense to those she is speaking to. The changes, some subtle and some dramatic, are all amazing and extremely gratifying to the staff and students alike. The smiles, the sense of accomplishment, the laughs and the high-fives make it all worthwhile. I am so pleased to be part of this program."
— Karen Rushmore
Healing With Horses Instructor