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.