3 4 P A R K S ^ R E C R E A T I O N

O C T O B E R

2 0 0 7

with disabilities can form

special relationships with their horses that can
boost self-esteem and lead to increased levels
of patience and trust
By Chelan David
^ '^ herapeutic horseback riding
I
I provides benefits to children
I
with disabilities of all types.
I
The horse's soothing
B_
rhythm, which moves a
rider's body in a manner similar to a
human gait, helps children with physical disabilities strengthen muscles while
improving balance and flexibility. Those
with cognitive disabilities soak up the
rich sensory stimuli associated with the
riding experience and learn to focus
and follow directions. Youngsters with
emotional disabilities form special relationships with their horses, which can
boost self-esteem and leads to increased
levels of patience and trust.
Of course, therapeutic horseback riding isn't only for children; people of all
ages can benefit from such therapy. The
list of disabilities that may benefit from
equine-facilitated therapy and activities
includes: muscular dystrophy, Down
syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, visual
impairment, paralysis and attention
deficit disorder.
Therapeutic horseback riding, which
has been used in Europe for more than
50 years, is now improving the lives
of individuals with disabilities in the
United States. Programs across the
country have sprouted up to provide
those with disabilities an opportunity
to improve themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and socially through
horseback riding activities.
Fun Therapy
The gencsiii of Hearts and Hooves, a
therapeutic riding program offered by

the Recreation and Park Commission

for the Parish of East Baton Rouge
(BREC), began with a series of community surveys and public meetings. Discovering that there was a need for a
service that catered to both children
and adults with disabilities, the horse
riding program was launched nearly
10 years ago. Now the program boasts
approximately 100 participants and is
so popular that a summer session was
recently added.
One ofthe reasons for the popularity
of Hearts & Hooves is that the primary
focus is on making sure participants
have fun rather than being forced to
labor through intensive therapy. "We
focus on the fijn aspect rather than the
intense therapeutic aspect. Most t)f our
participants go through intense therapy
already so all they really want from the
program is to have fun," explains Troy
Gros, BREC's marketing manager. "But
even though the program focuses on
having fun, because ofthe movement
ot the horse it is providing them with
therapy that they need."
BREC's core mission for the Hearts
& Hooves program i.s to promote the
well-being for people with disabilities
by enabling them to enjoy therapeutic
riding activities and to promote the
public's awareness of the advantages
presented to those who participate.
The advantages can be significant.
Mary Sue )ackson, program manager
for Hearts & Hooves, recalls a participant that started the program unable to
walk without the use of his leg braces.
"By the end ofthe program he could

P A R K s d ^ R E C R E A T I O N

O C T O B E R

2 0 0 7

35

provided for all lessons, although riders

are expected to report in proper riding
attire, consisting of long pants and
closed-toe shoes. The cost of the program is $90 for six weeks of instruction
(total (f six classes). Self-sustaining, the
program pays for itself.
The program is made possible by the
efforts of five staff members and a cadre
of nearly 50 volunteers. Finding the
right mix of staff personnel and volunteers is crucial for any park and recreation department interested in starting
a therapeutic riding program says Jackson. "Hiring a staff that has experience
working with [people with disabilities!
is very helpful," she advises. And she
points out, participants get attached to
the volunteers so it helps to have volunteers who are committed and dedicated.
As far as the future of Mcarts Sc
Hooves, Jackson envisions the program
becoming even larger to accommodate
metre peopie with disabilities in the
community. "The sky is the limit!" she
exclaims.

An Approach of Inclusion

Therapeutic riding can boost self-esteem and levels of patience and trust

get off of his horse and walk to his

brace5 and put them on. This is the best
reward you could ever receive from a
program," she says.
Families of the children who are participating in the program are grateful
for the opportunity that Hearts &
Hooves provides. "We have had parents
say that they are thankful for BREC and
programs hke this because it focuses on
the child's ahility^^not their disability.
These are very powerful words which
make you realize exactly why we are in
the field of recreation," says Gros.
To get the word out about Hearts &
Hooves, BREC uses an e-mail database
categorized by interest groupsto
contact individuals who may want to
participate. The program is advertised
on BREC's Web site, in a newsletter and
in the local newspaper's weekly events
section. However, Gros says the best
3 6 P A R K S < ^ R E C R E A T I O N

form of advertising is word of mouth.

"When a participant or parent enjoys
the program, they tell others. The program tends to fill up qulcky," he says.
In order for individuals to participate
they must submit a medical history and
provide a medical release form from
their physician staling that they are
capable of ridinj; a horse. Riders are
usually mounted for up to 45 minutes,
hut at the discretion of the instructor,
may be mounted for a shorter period
of time. Horses & Hooves follows the
guidelines set forth by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Prior to working
with any participants, staff members arc
required to study materials provided by
NARHA, a national nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in
equine-assisted activities.
Horses and riding equipment are

O C T O B E R

2 0 0 7

The r.R.A.I.L.S. program offered by

the Somerset County Park Commission
Therapeutic Recreation Department in
New Jersey was established in the mid1980s in response to requests from families for an adapted riding program.
Because the Park Commission
already had a stable, and was offering
riding lessons to the general public, the
process of launching the therapeutic
riding program went fairly smoothly.
"Generally, we didn't have any difficulty
starting the program. The stable staff
worked with us and we had waiting lists
the first time we offered the class," says
Dina 'Irunzo, manager of the Somerset
County Park Commission Therapeutic
Recreation Department.
Offered in the spring and fall, there
are a total of five classes available: four
beginner classes and one advanced
class. Each class accommodates five riders and runs for a total of 10 weeks. For
the beginning class there is one instructor and three volunteers per rider. Two
volunteers are side walkerswho pro-

vide support, balance and reinforcementand one is a lead walker. Riders

in the advanced class have one spotter.
The program is designed to teach
riders the basics of riding while helping
participant.s improve strength, balance,
coordination and communication. The
goal is to have the riders progress to the
point where first, they need only one
spotter, and then eventually move to a
beginner class for people without disabilities. "Ultimately, we want inclusion," Trunzo says. "We encourage them
to be included in riding classes with
others without disabilities when it is
appropriate."
This approach is having a powerful
impact on the children involved with
the program as well as their families.
"One child with autism had little or no
vocabulary," rclatts Trunzo. "When the
viikinteer asked him to say 'walk on,' the
parent turned to her and said 'Oh, he
can't talk. He won't say it.'The volunteer persevered and within minutes out
of this child's mouth came the words
'walk on.' It brought the parent to
tears."
The success ofthe program has been
due in large part to volunteers, who
working with trained staff members,
help provide support to the students.

n addition to the emotional benefits

that participants are gaining from the academy,
r

there are physical ones as well

Recruiting volunteers is the biggest
challenge the program faces. Volunteers
do not need previous equestrian experience, but must be 18 years of age. Each
season, says Trunzo, the search for volunteers usually lasts until the first day
of class.
Because the park commission has a
stable the only fee the therapeutic recreation department incurs is an instructor fee and the ribbons the riders
receive upon the completion of their
classes. The instructor fee is approximately $1,100 for 10 weeks and the ribbons are $60. The program is funded
through rider fees. Riders are charged
$175 for a 10-week session although
there are scholarships for those with
financial need.
Trunzo suggests that park and recreation departments wanting to start a
therapeutic riding program, but who
don't have a stable facility, look at forming a partnership with a nearby stable
and obtain grants to get funding.

In the future, she believes there will

be an increased demand for such services. "In my county there arc a growing
number of children being diagnosed
with autism and I receive calls weekly
from parents asking for riding programs because their doctors arc recommending they get their children
involved." she says.
Giving Back
Susan Warren always wanted to give
back to the community she grew up in:
Henry County, Va. Following college,
she traveled with her husband who was
in the military for eight years. Upon the
end of his duty he let Warren choose
where she wanted to live. She iumpcd at
the chance to return home and decided
to establish the Tackfully Teamed Riding Academy, a therapeutic riding center, in Henry County.
Her mission is to help others with
disabilities. "I am ADHD and horses
were my salvation growing up. They

Programs, like this one at the University of New Hampshire, provide the opportunity for children
of all abilities to interact with horses and enjoy riding.

PARKSCr'RECREATION

OCTOBER

2 0 0 7

37

children now have something to do just

like their able-bodied siblings."
The heartwarming stories emanating
from the academy are plentiful. Many
children with physical disabilities in the
area, says Warren, are limited in their
recreational activities due to lack of
accessibility. The Tackfully Teamed Riding Academy, however, has a sensory
nature trail that is accessible. "One rider
said, 'Look at me. I am in the woods, on
a horse, for the first time in my life,'"
relates Warren. The boy was 17.

Horseback riding improves emotional and

physical well-being for riders.

A mother of a child with cerebral

palsy told Warren recently that for the
first time in her life, she was able to
watch her son participate and compete.
She was grateful for the opportunity to
experience what other parents and children feel on a regular basis.
In addition to the emotional benefits
that participants are gaining from the
academy, there are physical ones as well.
"Focusing, coordination skills, sequencing, body awareness, trunk control,
speechall these and more show a

could calm me down and help me

focus," she says.
Since opening in 2003, the academy
has grown from two riders to 21. With
a waiting list of potential participants.
Warren takes pleasure in the fact that
children at the academy have developed
greater levels of self-confidence and are
enjoying the camaraderie involved with
horse riding. "Riders, their families and
volunteers support each other and
cheer each other on," she says. "These

marked improvement after therapeutic

riding," says Warren.
Classes run four days a week, usually
with two riders at a time. Each eight
week session has specific goals and
objectives. "Lesson plans are planned
and implemented to help meet goals.
We have a consulting occupational
therapist and I consult a physical therapist as needed and before new riders
begin," says Warren. The academy was
accredited by NARHA last year.
With no paid staff and free lease
agreements, the annual expense to
operate the academy is approximately
$30,000. Funds are secured through
grants, individual donations, fundraisers and rider fees of $20 per lesson. Riders and their families help out with
publicity and fundraising.
Currently, Warren is approaching
companies for corporate sponsorships
so 'we can be less worried about finances." The ultimate goals are to trim
the waiting list, pay full-time staff and
establish a summer camp. P(/r1l

Training Workshops Available

^ -Training^
Accessibility Guideiines
for Play Areas

New

NRPA in partnership W\Xh the U.S. Access Board

15 pleased to announce the launch of a new
training workshop, Accessibility Guidelines for
Play Areas (AGRA), aimed at providing a basic
understanding of accessibility requirements
under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This workshop can be offered through local park
and recreation agencies, state-based
organizations, home owner's associations, faithbased organizations, community centers, day
care centers, and other entities that house,
maintain, or build play areas.
To host a workshop in your community, or
to find a 2007 workshop location near you,
log on to www.nrpa.org/agpa. Or, contact
800.626.NRPA (6772) or certification@nrpa.org
for more information-

National Recreation
f^P' and Park Association

3 8 P A R K S ^ R E C R E A T I O N

O C T O B E R