The Joy of Sharing the Smiles: 4H Therapeutic Riding (Horse) Program

In hopes of allowing persons with disabilities to feel the joy of horseback riding and of sharing their smiles, our family, the Fishers, has been volunteering with the 4H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County (Maryland) for the past eight years. We smile when we talk about the program and are always encouraging others-riders and volunteers-to become part of the fun.

“Safety first” is our main priority. Each rider must have trained assistants who accommodate his/her specific needs. The assistant may be one of the two “side walkers” who provide physical support, if needed, at the rider’s heel or thigh. As side walkers, we encourage the rider to control and guide the horse to the best of his/her ability, repeat directions from the riding instructor, lead beginning exercises, and praise accomplishments. An additional assistant also serves as the “head walker” whose sole responsibility is safe horse handling, providing emergency steering and braking, and keeping the horse safe horses.

So that all riders will have personal attention from the riding instructor, the number of riders in the one hour/weekly group lesson is small and includes riders who have achieved similar riding abilities. Colored reins, with the primary colors changing every few inches, help to remind riders to “hold the reins on the blue”, for example. Blind riders may not need both side walkers in close proximity, but may need a trained horse to follow the head walker around the arena without the use of a lead rope. Someone who is a “little person” can compensate for his/her shorter leg length by using a bat (a small whip) to give the horse instructions. One of the riders in the program is a person who does not have hands but is a very accomplished rider and uses a special set of reins crafted with loops that she can hold.

Having fun is the second priority! We look forward to the riders coming back week after week, session after session. Group games, such as Follow the Leader, moving the horse around the arena, and balancing in the saddle while moving arms overhead or feet out of the stirrup help to teach riding basics. Another game, Red Light/Green Light, teaches the riders to coax the horse to a halt or walk on command. A trail ride is a great way to spend time together on a beautiful day and learn different body positions for walking a horse downhill and uphill. Halloween is always a big hit with lots of laughter and colorful costumes, including horses dressed as circus ponies, Indian ponies, bumblebees, hobos, and racehorses. Riding games include balancing a bat on the rider’s helmet and a pumpkin on a spoon.

We have assisted youth and adults as they prepare for the Maryland Special Olympics and other horse shows. These riders work as hard to overcome their personal obstacles and ride their best as did the athletes heading to Sydney this past September. They also are seeking Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. A few from our program have even attended the Special Olympic International Games. The smiles continue as riders, parents, and volunteers share in their accomplishments. Horseback riding is great physical therapy. It helps to improve balance and to strengthen muscle control and condition.

We assist every rider with opening exercises to stretch and increase range of motion. Physical and/or occupational therapists and riding instructors provide individual exercise plans. There are many testimonials from parents to the benefits they observe, including some reports from older riders of sore muscles from working muscle groups that otherwise had limited activity.

The total program is a team effort. In addition to our family, there are other families and many individuals volunteering. Most of us are also involved in feeding, brushing, tacking, transporting, and cleaning up after the horses, as well as maintaining the property and coordinating lessons, events, and shows. Even the horses are volunteers. Our favorite is Tiger, a 26-year-old Chestnut Quarter Horse. He has a Superior Quarter Horse rating and is now in his second career as a Therapeutic Riding Horse. Tiger has undergone special training to be comfortable around wheelchairs, the hydraulic lift (that brings a rider from his/her wheelchair onto the saddle from above), canes, side walkers crowding close, riding double, and sudden movements and sounds. We welcome Tiger to our farm in the off season for a well-deserved rest.

Our family is happy to be a small part of the team empowering persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to ride a horse and smile.