Therapeutic Riding Horses are Special !

Being a good therapeutic lesson horse is more than just safely carrying the rider around in circles, either being led by the leader and accompanied by side-walkers, or guided by the rider. There are so many more reasons why a certain mount is chosen for a rider and just as many reasons why a therapy horse requires special care and attention.

Horses are not only screened based on size and temperament but also on movement. Some of our riders, due to their particular disability, require sensory stimulation. In that case, a horse is chosen that, at a walk provides a lot of movement to the hips, trunk and lower back to provide the rider the needed stimulation to relax and strengthen. Other riders become overwhelmed with large amounts of stimulation so they need a smoother horse, so as not to overload the system and send them into a shut down mode.

Depending on whether a rider has low or high muscle tone, a certain type of horse movement would be chosen. For someone with low muscle tone generally a horse with large motion would be too much for their body to physically handle. For someone with high muscle tone they would need a horse with a bigger rhythm of gait to begin to loosen and relax the muscles.
As a rider progresses their mount may change due to their changing abilities with their body in order to best meet their needs.

Riders with an attention disorder will, at times, need a horse that will challenge them. Putting these riders on a horse that has memorized the routine, the rider detaches and their attention wanders. Using a mount that will challenge them requires the rider to learn to stay focused in order to learn control and give them a place of concentrated activity.

Some of the participants in the therapeutic program are unable to ride but can still benefit from the sensory input of grooming a horse. A therapy horse must be accustomed to a wheelchair being parked very close so the groomer can brush, touch and smell the horse. Others are able to walk with mechanical aids such as crutches or walkers- again the horses must stand quietly when being approached by those who may walk with awkwardness and not be bothered by the odd noises and sounds of the aids.

These are just a few of the qualities we look for when matching our horses and our riders to reach a goal. In addition, our horses are asked to perform in a way that the average riding horse is not.

The therapy horse must always stand quietly regardless of the behaviors of their rider. Often the rider is clumsy when mounting, even with the help from the volunteers. They must remain steady at the mounting block, while many helpers surround them. Some disabled riders have a natural imbalance when astride their mount, some will move or bump in inappropriate ways. Some of our riders are non-verbal but do make lots of unusual noises- either vocalizing pleasure or anxieties. This can be stressful for some horses.

Therapy horses also need to have a strong bond and trust in the instructor and leaders. They are often given false body cues from a physically challenged rider. An individual with high muscle tone may be squeezing in to the horse existentially due to the tightness of their hips, thighs and calves- the cue to move faster for many horses, which the horse has to ignore, listening to the leaders instead. The rider may be unable to pull back on reins or verbally cue the horse. In these cases the horse looks to the leader and instructor for their cues in order to not do something wrong. This requires a greater than normal bond of trust and confidence on the part of the horse and handler.

Many of our riders have a detachment disorder and we find this is a definite stressor for the horses. They sense the lack of attachment and inter-relationship that would, in normal circumstance, take place between horse and rider/groomer. Horses are sensitive to their riders and look for relationship feedback. We, as the handlers, must be able to re-assure the horse in these situations. Horses must be chosen that can perform without the emotional connection they are used to and still “give” to the rider. This can be a tall order and not every therapy horse can deliver in this situation.

Therapy horses are asked to step up to the plate in many challenging ways. In return, they need special care and respect. We need to care for our lesson horses in ways that help them perform in ways that ordinary riding horses are not challenged. We look for ways to reward our lesson horses. Sometimes it may be a quick and refreshing trot down the road or on the trail. Sometimes they need a vacation from their “riders”. Our therapy horses are truly rare and remarkable animals and they deserve all the praise and rewards possible. We are so fortunate to have such a unique and wonderful group of horses well suited for this job of carrying their precious cargo. It is also incredibly special and noteworthy that all but one of the therapy horses at Dream On Curls Riding Center were bred, born, raised and trained here at our facility at Top O’ The Hill Farm !

It's a wonderful thing when we can create smiles like this ~ and it's really the horses that do it.. we just stand by and help a bit.

Since the start of our therapeutic riding program, the main group of lesson horses has stayed pretty much the same. They are an excellent choice for many reasons- Keri Orla, Lilly, Sudie Bee, Winter Dancer and Camille. This spring, Tall Trees Sassie was added to the group, as she is all done raising her colt and ready to get to "work". You can see most of the "group" here on the Dream On Curls web site.

Last week, we decided to add 2 new horses to the group- OYY Sweet Bee, a wonderful curly mare and OYY Pal's Job, an outstanding smooth coated gelding. Each of these new additions are perfectly suited to the program-- their size, their personality, their patience just a few of the pluses.

Sweet Bee was born here- out of Sudie Bee and Mead's Chocolate Chip. She was trained and sold.. recently we had the opportunity to bring her back to the farm. She's an awesome little mare- at a chunky 14.1 hh. As we brought her up to the indoor, it occurred to us-- she is a THIRD generation lesson horse !

Here she is as a newborn !

Her dam, Sudie Bee, is a much loved exemplary lesson horse, who carries riders of all levels of abilities.

Sudie's dam and Sweet Bee's grand-dam is Teena, a "grade" mare, meaning she had no known pedigree- but she was anything but grade, unless you classify her as Grade A-one ! Teena helped teach my own children how to ride and drive. We even used her to haul out logs and firewood on many occasion. When we began to give lessons, she was a natural choice as lesson mount. She is pictured here with one of her riders- at the time she was in her very late 20's. Sadly, Teena became quite old and with no teeth- we made the difficult decision to euthanize her at age 33. We still miss her- but her legacy continues with her many daughters. She has quite a few "children" and "grand-children", all of them inherited her remarkable qualities. She was surely a grand old mare.

Sweet Bee's first lesson with her happy rider ~ She lives up to her name - sweet ! Sweet Bee is a very versatile mare as she has competed in many shows and won lots of ribbons- she is a fun trail mount-- and the PERFECT therapy horse ! Just like her grand-mother and her mother.

OYY Pal's Job was also born and trained here. This fellow is also extremely versatile- a super driving horse, great steady trail mount, and lots of potential for shows. However- like Sweet Bee- he has earned his biggest awards as a therapy horse, with his quiet honest demeanor. His dam, Pal O' Mine, is a fabulous little pony- who has been used in lessons, but is not an American Curly. So far, Job has carried independent riders in the therapeutic program and riders with disabilities that require leaders and side-walkers. He is the model lesson horse- suited for both situations.

Job and another smiling rider.

We are very proud of our lesson horses- most of them bred and trained at Top O' The Hill Farm. They all have a challenging and special job and always are ready to rise to the occasion !

Enjoy your day ~

Our Instructor At Dream On Curls Riding Center

At the heart of every successful therapeutic riding center is the instructor. The skills required by a therapeutic riding instructor are more than "just" teaching riding. A great instructor is a multi-faceted combination of coach, mentor, educator, counselor, co-ordinator, program developer, insightful horse keeper, manager, a good mind for business, secretarial skills, with a natural people oriented disposition, combined with a comprehension of disabilities and the body, and an innate understanding of the horses and the creative ability to form lesson plans suited for each individual. This instructor has the gift to put together the horses and the riders and facilitates the MIRACLE !

Zoe Lirakis is the certified therapeutic instructor at Dream On Curls Riding Center- and she embodies the combination of skills, qualifications, and passion for the job ! She is an able riding instructor and possess that special gift to be able to work with a wide range of disabled and at-risk children and adults. Having grown up with horses, her intuitive knowledge of horses is a key component to making our Therapeutic Center a huge success !

Her journey began at age 11, with her little Curly gelding- Sunshine Alec-Xander. Born on a farm full of animals- this was her start with serious riding. Over the years, astride many different Curly horses at Top O' The Hill Farm, taking part in competitions and riding for pure pleasure- Zoe acquired much knowledge and an understanding of how riding skills could be applied to all the varied challenges of life.

After graduation from high school, Zoe pursued a career in the educational field, continuing to ride every chance she could. Zoe's calling appeared to be assisting that often forgotten and ignored population of students that struggled within the "traditional" learning environment. Zoe took a job teaching at an alternative high school for the at-risk students and truly enjoyed it. The "at-risk" group continues to take a special place in her heart. It was here that she gained experience with adventure based educational techniques and challenge by choice methods. 'Challenge by choice' encourages respect for one another, the skill of making one's own choices free of peer-group pressure and promotes an experience where everyone contributes to each others choices and self esteem development. Adventure based education is learning by doing. Zoe was able to plan programs which took students "off campus" and join up in activities such as rock climbing, ice climbing, repelling, hiking-- all pursuits which challenge the body and the mind. Within the scope of these non-traditional concepts, you are encouraged to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, all by choice, learning and growing.

It was a natural transition for Zoe to begin thinking about ways to combine horse back riding with this teaching style to help the population left out of the mainstream. Just another step in creating reality out of an idea and a dream ! As the goal became more of a concrete reality- Zoe added skills and certifications along the way to add to her expertise as an instructor- a yearly certification in first aid and CPR, both required by NARHA standards. Zoe is also certified in CPI, which is a non-violent de-escalation technique used by many human service or social work professionals. When working with a population that, due to their disabilities, life events and/or trauma, often and unpredictably communicate their frustration and confusion with explosive behaviors, the instructor must be prepared with relevant, practical behavior management skills. CPI teaches responsive listening, compassionate understanding, and proper restraint methods when it becomes necessary.

Our lives are so guided and enhanced by our personal journeys, our experiences help form who we are and become. Life is the grand teacher, we are the students who go on to teach. These paths we are taken on often send us in directions we would not have chosen-- but add to our talents and facilitate our ability to use those skills in a richer way.

While pursuing her career goals, Zoe delivered a 10 week premature daughter who was ultimately diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, spastic diplegia. This is a disability which affects muscle control, growth, and balance from the waist down. This event threw Zoe into the world of disabilities first hand. Finding proper treatment modalities, coping skills, and advocating for benefits, navigating through the maze of handicapped laws and rights- Zoe gained knowledge that would ultimately benefit all her riders and their families/care-givers. Over the 11 years of raising her daughter, Zoe has learned numerous techniques, skills, and ideas which are applied in her vocation of therapeutic riding instructor. What stands out clearly - the way to truly help the individual with any disability is to focus on the whole, not the disability. Thus, we have chosen the slogan for our center-- 'we focus on what our riders CAN DO, not on what they can't'. We are teaching people, not a disability. There is a lot more going on with disabled individuals other than the physical handicap~ which is often overlooked in the quest to improve movement. Our riding instruction does address the external physical aspects and benefits of riding- but also the internal spirit of the rider. Regardless of how our riders enter our doors, once inside, the focus is always based on ABILITY !

With the at-risk group of riders- there are even greater challenges. Their disability cannot always be seen with the eye.. it is within- but just as disabling. As Zoe continued to work with students in different settings, traditional and non-traditional- tutoring and teaching- She always felt there was a missing piece. She desired to give her students an activity which would teach life long skills. Her own personal enjoyment of riding- the release and ease of self she feels - it was a natural progression to use the horses and riding to offer all of those feelings and opportunities of growth to the difficult group of "at-risk" children and young adults that hold a very special place in Zoe's heart. Dream On Curls Riding Center is one of the few world-wide which offers unique programs for this challengin group of children and young adults.

Dream On Curls Riding Center has experienced expanding success due in part to our wonderful instructor, Zoe ! She is well loved by all our riders.