Therapeutic Riding During a Pandemic Susan Miller

Susan Miller - Sharon, VT

We’ve been dealing with some We have been working hard to come up strange and uncertain times just lately with new programming that can help during with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the odd lifestyle changes we are navigating High Horses had to close its doors for a with family’s home more and the uncerwhile and restructure. We took the time tainty of kids going back to school. We are to revise our services, devised plans for aware that some families may be choossafely phasing back our riders which is ing to home school with the demands of still a work in progress. We are delighted new work schedules. High Horses has two to see that the community has a need for great new offerings. We have virtual lesson our services. Even in the midst of a panprograms where students can learn about demic we are gaining new riders wanting horses by taking a virtual lesson. In a virto join our programming. We are coming tual lesson, you can learn about yoga that back stronger than ever. It is with heartfelt is good for riding, learn about horses’ colthanks to our supporters that we continue ors & markings and enjoy Storytime with to move forward. We have discovered that one of our horses too. Our virtual lesson High Horses is a moving experience in so program continues to expand. many ways, whether riding or bonding This fall High Horses is also planning with the horses and volunteers. It’s more a morning class at the farm where small than just a ride. High Horses is a place of units of school-age children from the inclusion, where its normal to be differsame family or neighborhood can come ent, it’s even appreciated, the barn is a to learn about the horses for hands-on place to come for alternative approaches experience. No more than 6 children at to wellness. a time. There is no riding offered in this program, but many opportunities to interact with the horses and learn about them. We will offer parents a comfortable quiet area with the internet to relax or get some work done while the kids enjoy a learning environment. There will be coffee and water available. We continue to offer our SAGE program on Thursday evening for anyone that is dealing with chronic illness, especially cancer. A group of no more than 8 can sign up each week to explore experiential learning utilizing the power of the horse for regaining strength and a sense of peace. Other modalities like Yoga, music, aromatherapy, journaling, etc… may also be incorporated. We of course are still offering all of our other programs as well. Our Hippothera py program now offers Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy & Speech Language Pathology. We are excited to now be offering all three of these much-needed modalities in an environment other than a clinical setting. Hippotherapy is a service that is prescribed by a physician and is a modality that is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional goals. We continue to offer the Unbridled Freedom Program for veterans. The Vermont Veterans Affairs Department in White River junction can help veterans enjoy time horseback by paying for the first 10 visits and finding other grants. Both our therapeutic riding and Connections Fall 2020

programs can be geared toward veterans with physical or psychological barriers including PTSD.

The Connections program combines equine facilitated activities and experiential learning. This program provides the participant with opportunities to enhance

self-awareness, to practice adaptive behaviors, to explore thoughts and feelings, and experience support. This program is facilitated by a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and an equine specialist.

Our Grey Horse program is open to anyone over the age of 50. We don’t want our aging population to feel isolated. We want them to get out and enjoy mobility & what better way than horseback! Riding quickens reflexes and memory. If you are having posture, balance, or impaired coordination we can help you with this program. No prior horse experience is needed.

Our most popular program is therapeutic riding which can cover a broad range of issues to help participants to achieve goals that enhance physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral, and educational skills for people who have disabilities.

All of our instructors are trained & certified as Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH International) riding instructors and have many years of experience helping those in our community enjoy time with horses whether riding or facilitating a bond with the horse in an unmounted program.

If you have an interest in any of the programs we are offering, please visit our website for further information or email program@highhorses.org or call our office at 802-763-3280. We are also always looking for good volunteers, whom many say they get just as much out of a lesson as the clients do. For volunteer information, please contact Ellen Zaika our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@highhorses.org or 802-763-3281.