Horseback Riding For The Handicapped

Horseback riding for the Handicapped AG WORLD Ag World 10-1-20 Some near-miraculous things are happening to a very special group of physically or mentally impaired young people, as well as some grownups in western Ohio. The group of 70 or so participate in the Equestrian Therapy (ET) Program, a nonprofit organization that helps handicapped children and adults through the experience of horseback riding. The ET Program operates at the Briarhedge Farm near Lima. Accredited by the North American Riding-for-Handicapped Association, the ET Program is the brainchild of farmers Joe and Ann Fassett. What started out as a barn for boarding horses has been expanded to include an indoor riding arena, an outdoor ring, pastures and riding trails ù all donated by the Fassetts. They developed the idea for the program from Ann's love for horses and her time spent as a volunteer with the Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Lima Memorial Hospital. "Through my work with the clinic," she notes, "I began to see how useful horseback riding therapy might be. The program is working wonders for so many of the children. The mentally handicapped children lengthen their attention span and concentration, while the physically handicapped get the sensation of being in control. It relaxes their muscles and, for the first time, they're having four legs take them places they can't go themselves. It's just great for improving their self-image." Established in 1983 as a three-month pilot venture, the ET Program served 56 students in 1984, and now works with 70 of them. Although aimed at helping children, some handicapped adults, as well, have found new hope by participating in the riding therapy. One of those adults is Jeannette Wood. An eighth grade teacher, she became involved in the program during the summer of '84, and now believes in miracles, too. "To me, this program has been a lifesaver," she says. "I was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis in 1977. I was confined to a wheelchair 90 to 95% of the time. My doctor thought I would never be up and walking again. Now I am walking with just a crutch, and the MS is in remission." ET students must be recommended by their physician or physical therapist. The program operates on a limited budget of $16,000 a year, raised mostly from contributions through the community. This covers the cost of equipment, safety gear, instructors' salaries, labor, hay, grain and bedding for the horses. All the horses and ponies used in the program have been donated. There is no cost to the children, except $18 per year for insurance. No one is refused for the inability to pay. Since its inception, the ET Program has grown to include 14 ten-week classes, conducted from March through November. The program shuts down during the winter months because of the cold. New riders require one to three attendants, depending on physical limitations. Standard English type saddles are used, primarily because they're hornless, forcing riders to develop balance without a horn to hold onto. All riders wear helmets, and a special waist belt which has a handle on each side which attendants can grab onto when necessary. For many of these children and adults, involvement in the ET Program means the difference between inactivity and a life of hope and accomplishment. Smiling faces attest to newfound strength and signs of self-confidence. It's heart-warming to see them sit up in the saddle aboard Corky, Marybelle or Trigger and leave their wheelchairs, crutches or walkers behind. (Editor's note: If you'd like to explore the possibilities of an Equestrian Therapy program in your community, the Fassets will gladlyshare their experiences with you. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Joe and Ann Fasset, 1566 Fairway Dr., Lima, Ohio 45805 (ph 419 991-6311). You'll also want to contact the North American Riding For The Handicapped Association (NARHA) which has 330 accredited center throughout the U.S., all staffed by specially trained instructors and volunteers. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Leonard Warner, Executive Director; NARHA, Box 100 Ashburn, Va. 22011 (ph 703 471

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