Program

Trinity Equestrian Center's Therapeutic Riding Program is a member of NARHA - National American Riding for the Handicapped Association, which provides structured horseback riding sessions to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Our instructors are nationally certified in therapeutic riding through NARHA and our volunteers and horses have been carefully selected and trained for their roles. Our mission is to partner with our horses to positively and permanently change the mind, body and spirit of the rider

What is Therapeutic Riding?

Therapeutic Riding 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.

Look at the Therapuetic Riding Forms

Benefits

Depending on the disability, benefits of horseback riding include improvement in joint mobility, balance and coordination, relaxation of spasticity, increased muscle tone, self-confidence through enhanced self-image, improved learning, concentration, spatial awareness, and motivation to set and achieve goals. Riders also benefit emotionally, through the unique bonds they form with their horses and our incredibly dedicated volunteers. Most important is that riding a horse is fun! From the beginning, riders learn balance, coordination and self-assurance while receiving therapeutic muscle stimulation. As a result of carefully planned lessons, poise posture, strength and flexibility improve. A strong sense of responsibility develops as the rider learns to take part in the care of the horses and equipment.

What's the science behind the therapy...? "It's about Neurology and Bio-Physics and how our brain is constantly communicating with our body. The brain is always assessing it's surroundings, making adjustments and compensating. Sometimes thru injury or illness, those assessment and compensation pathways are impaired or changed and don't work right... creating a disability. Those pathways need to be strengthened and rehabilitated.

Why a horse...? It's because a horse has a very unique walking gait. In fact, it's a movement that most closely resembles that of a human. So when you put a person with disabilities on a horse, the movement, motion and rhythm of a horse's walk IS therapy to those damaged pathways and the body begins to change.

It starts with relaxing and strengthening the muscles and improving balance and coordination. Then it begins working on the spirit and attitude. Riders begin to have a sense of empowerment, self-confidence and a renewed sense of ability and hope! Their view of themselves changes...that's life changing." Toni Mattson

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.

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.

For more information on therapeutic riding:
Look at "Healed with Horses"
Look at "Horses Aid in Therapy"
Look at this article published in Wisconsin Horse Digest

Click Here to see how Therapeutic Riding can aid Wounded Veterans'

Trinity Equestrian Video - Healing with Horses

Classes

Classes are approximately 50-60 minutes in length and are held on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Classes take place in an environment that emphasizes ability, not disability. There is a NARHA certified instructor that conducts the therapy session and depending on the rider's individual needs, there may be up to 3 assistants per rider.

Therapeutic riding lessons may be private or a group of 5 or less. All potential participants undergo a comprehensive in-take process that includes completion of registration forms, which includes a physician's release form and an evaluation. Horses and students are matched to compliment both personality and ability.

Questions

Who can ride?
The minimum age for becoming a Healing With Horses participant is 3 years (with very limited exceptions). Prior to this age, there is some evidence that micro-fractures can occur from the repetitive motion of riding. Also, children under this age rarely fit into a safety-riding helmet. There is no maximum age for participating in our program.

For the well being of our horses, we currently have a weight limit of 220 lbs. We accept riders that are not listed as NARHA contraindications.

What happens after the Initial Evaluation?
After the initial evaluation, goals are set for the rider for the current session. These may include physical, cognitive and/or behavioral goals. They may also include riding skills and competition goals. An appropriate method of mounting and dismounting are described and put in the rider's chart, along with the evaluation results. Suggestions for appropriate horses and tack are also included. The evaluation information is then used by our instructors to design lesson plans and objectives for each lesson. At the end of the session, the rider is reassessed to see if the goals have been met, and to set new goals for the next session.

What is a typical lesson like?
There are really no "typical" lessons. Lessons are designed with the individual rider's goals and needs in mind. Group lessons are approximately one hour long, and usually include stretches and warm-up exercises, activities designed to reinforce and meet the goals and objectives, and games that reinforce the day's lesson. As the rider advances, ground skills such as grooming and tacking may be added to the lesson.

How do I sign up?
The first step is to call Trinity Equestrian Center at 715-835-4530 to see what openings are available. If there is an opening, you will then be asked to download, complete and submit all forms prior to the first week of the chosen Session.

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

What does it cost to participate?
Healing With Horses Therapeutic Riding Program offers three annual seasonal sessions; Winter, Spring and Fall.

Group sessions approximately 1 hour each week. The fall and winter sessions are 10 weeks long, while the spring session is 5 weeks in length.
Program fees are $400 per 10-week session
(scholarships available for qualifying families)

Private sessions range from $60 to $80 based on the number of staff members required to conduct the session.

Testimonies

I was at this week's session on Monday, and I witnessed the beginning of a miracle with my son, Eric. He was sitting on Gambler, and as they walked the arena, I saw ALL of the tension, leave his body. His arms relaxed, his shoulders dropped, and with a peaceful confidence - he had a look of enjoyment and satisfaction I have never seen before; but this is only part of it...

When Eric was a small child, he had a giggle,and a smile that could not be put into words. When he and Gambler trotted, I finally heard that giggle again, after many years. I brought a tear to my eye, as I watched my misjudged, and misunderstood child feel whole again. He had confidence. He believed he was valuable and competent!!!

Thank you for Healing with Horses. You may have seen Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer? it appears to me that at least for Eric ~ Gambler is the Child Whisperer...

May you be richly blessed in your endeavors to touch, inspire and enrich the lives of others.
— Sincerely, Chris Williams

Toni, I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful time Ryan & I had today @ Healing with Horses. It was an absolutely amazing experience for him and I. I'm still seeing his smiles and hearing his laughs while he was on Fancy. What a gentle and beutiful horse she is. I've never really experienced horses, but I must tell you it was very profound looking in her eyes... it was a feeling I've never felt before and will never forget.

I think it was probably evident by my phone calls to you that I was so excited about today! It far surpassed any of my expectations. As a mom of a child with special needs those are the moments you so desprately want for your child and cherish like no other! I am so thrilled to be able to bring Ryan back the week after next for the remainder of the lessons! I think that this experience will not only help Ryan "heal" but it will help me "heal" as well.

So ultimately, I just want to say thank you for doing what you do!
— Shannon Spaulding (Ryans mom)

"Alyssa began therapeutic horseback riding when she was four years old. She is now almost ten. Alyssa began with Healing With Horses in the summer of 2008 at the Trinity Equestrian Center. The staff, volunteers, parents, and other riders have been wonderful. They are kind, caring, and are an inspiration to talk to. The horses used for the program at Trinity are so mild mannered, that Alyssa loves talking about them and riding them!

Alyssa was diagnosed with apraxia, dysarthria, low muscle tone, and severe sensory issues when she was a baby. She didn't know where her body was in space, and her balance was almost non-existent. Therapeutic horseback riding has given Alyssa so much. For starters, it has given Alyssa a sport she can participate in despite her disabilities. We have watched her go from needing two people walking on either side of the horse, to Alyssa independently trotting on the horse. It is truly amazing!

The horseback riding has done so much for her disability too. It has helped her balance tremendously. She went from consistently falling over while walking, to now independently running. It has helped with her speech and coordination of all of her muscles. Her low muscle tone in her trunk has increased dramatically. In fact, one of Alyssa's first phrases that she learned was "walk on." There is not one other therapy out there that can do so much for a child, and at the same time not be seen as therapy by the child. Alyssa spends a lot of time talking about her horse Dancer, and loves every minute she gets to spend with her. Horseback riding gives a child with a disability a chance to be like their peers, which is something every parent hopes for. To see the smiles, to see the confidence it gives them, and to see them interact with the horse, volunteers, and their peers is a wonderful gift. Over the years, we have started and stopped speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy often, but the one consistent therapy we have kept intact is the horseback riding. So thank you to Trinity for allowing Alyssa the chance to ride.
— Jenny and Gary Pekula

Volunteering

Who Can Volunteer?

Volunteers are the heart and soul of our therapeutic riding program and all that we do at Trinity! Anyone at least 14 years old can volunteer in our Therapeutic Riding Program. There are many opportunities for volunteering in our program including help riders participate in classes, groom and tack horses, assist on a committee such as fund raising, special events, long range planning, take pictures at classes and events and many other tasks! Knowledge of horses or disabilities is not required. Training is required and provided.Volunteer Information Form

What Do Volunteers Do?

Volunteers aid the riders in mounting horses and help provide support to the riders, called side-walking while doing exercises, play games, going through obstacle courses, and other riding activities. The volunteers also give emotional support to the riders for their efforts. Many volunteers assist with tack and grounds maintenance as well. Volunteers with equestrian experience or those who want to learn may help to groom and tack horses, and serve as horse leaders. Fund-raising, grant writing, or serving on a committee are some other ways to volunteer.

How Do I Get Started Volunteering?

The first step is download and fill out our Volunteer Application and Emergency Information Sheet. All forms must be completed and a mandatory training session attended before volunteering with Healing With Horses. Please contact our Karen Supple our Volunteer Coordinator via email to find out when our next training session will be held.

Donations

Healing With Horses relies on donations, foundation and corporate grants, and rider tuition fees to provide programs. Rider fees cover less than half of the cost of services. The difference comes from fundraising, and the support of generous members, sponsors and donors like you! Your donations go to support and provide for the program, the horses and the specialized equipment needed to provide an effective and safe therapeutic riding lessons to our riders. All donations are tax deductible as Trinity Equestrian Center Kids Kamp, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Forms

Instructors

What can Therapeutic Riding do for you?

Amy Pranger — Healing
With Horses Instructor

"Hi, my name is Amy Pranger!

I am a PATH, International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and thoroughly enjoy working with riders out here at Trinity. When I first considered getting involved with the therapeutic riding program at Trinity, I was skeptical, like so many others. Before the first session, all I could think was 'How much can it really do for the rider?' I learned fast in that first hour that I was strongly underestimating its impact. It took my rider about 2 minutes to work his way into my heart, and it took his horse half that time to begin to affect him. From then on, I've enjoyed a grateful passion for the therapy.

As I am sitting here writing, I am trying to find the right word to describe the riders, but am at a loss. They each leave their marks on our hearts. It's a privilege to be able to watch the transformation the horses bring on, physically, mentally, and most of all emotionally. I look forward each season to enjoying the students and their stories in the making. The person running the session may be called the 'Instructor', but I can vouch for the fact that there's a much more valuable instructor on the back of each horse in the arena."
— Amy Pranger, Therapeutic Riding Instructor