Services

Who Can Benefit from Therapeutic Horseback Riding?

Riding has proven effective as recreational therapy in the treatment of the following diabilities: Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Spina Bifida, Deafness, Blindness, Amputees, Multiple Sclerosis, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Musclar Dystrophy, Emotional Disturbance, Paraplegics, and others.

A session at Buckboard begins with the riders developing a bond with the horse through brushing and talking to him, saddling their horse with a special therapy saddle, and going through the different therapy activities mentioned above.  Each rider is required to wear a gate belt and a helmet for safety purposes.  They mount their horse from the ground or with the assistance of a ramp or steps, depending on the specific disability.  Each rider also has the assistance of three side walkers.  One side walker leads the horse, while the other two position themselves on either side of the rider to assist them with their activities and with staying on the horse.  The instructor, with the assistance of a therapist, develops a program to meet the needs of each rider and guides them through their activities during each session.  The instructor must be aware of the condition of each rider during her or his session and recognize when the rider’s condition changes and adjust the program accordingly.  At the end of each session, the rider unsaddles the horse, brushes him down, and gives him a treat.  If they are able to so, they then put him back in his stall.

The horses used for therapy riding are usually older horses of medium size.  They must be trained to stand beside a ramp or steps, to stand quietly if the rider screams, has a seizure, flails their arms or legs, or hits them.  They must also learn the patterns used in therapy riding such as a figure-eight, weaving, circles, and zig-zags.  They must tolerate the aforementioned activities with the different balls and rings.  They must also be able to walk, trot, and canter at an even pace with the side-walkers.

Buckboard accepts referrals to our program on an on-going basis, so if you or someone you know might benefit from Therapeutic Riding, please contact us today!