Riding Programs
SARI Therapeutic Riding provides opportunities for people with special needs to move towards greater independence and freedom through their connection with horses. Today, SARI serves more than 100 children and adults.
SARI provides regular riding lessons during the school year as well as summer horse camp.
Therapeutic riding offers many benefits:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Social
- Educational
All the lessons are tailored to the riders’ ability and goals. Students participate in games and exercises that build their riding skills while providing therapeutic benefits.
Physical Benefits
The motion of riding a horse uniquely parallels human walking. A person’s torso moves in the same way while riding a horse as when walking. On horseback, the rider’s muscles constantly react as the body responds to the horse’s movement. Each stride strengthens the riders’ muscles and helps improve balance and co-ordination in a way that no other therapy can provide.
Riding has been shown to increase physical fitness and stamina in participants. Individuals with tight muscles benefit from the relaxation caused by the warmth of the horse’s body.
Maintaining balance on a moving horse also develops the trunk, thigh and leg muscles of the rider. For many participants, therapeutic riding is one of the only physical activities available to them.
Emotional Benefits
Imagine being able to climb out of your wheelchair, leave your parents behind and take control of a 400 kg. animal. That’s the freedom and independence SARI fosters in children who today struggle to walk, to play, to speak.
Horseback riding frees children from assistive devices (such as wheelchairs, walkers and canes) and provides a sense of independence. Controlling a large animal builds confidence and self-esteem, while the mastery of skills is a reward in itself. The sight, smell and feel of a horse is an exhilarating experience. Riders share a special bond with their horse and with the volunteers who help them each week.
“I’m going horse back riding,” sounds a lot more exciting than “I’m going to a physical therapy session.” For many children, their experiences at SARI can make interesting conversation for their peers. It makes them special and unique because most children do not have the privilege to be able to ride horses.
Social Benefits
During lessons, riders interact with volunteers and other riders, increasing their confidence in social situations. Language skills are improved through verbal commands to the horse. The behavioral and social skills riders learn at SARI carry over to many aspects of their lives.
Educational Benefits
Working with our occupational therapist or physical therapist, riders and their families set specific goals each session. The therapist can use the horse as a motivator to increase language skills, improve a rider’s ability to follow instructions, increase attention span and increase sensory stimulation. These new skills and attitudes are carried over into everyday life.
Often, riders don’t realize they’re learning because they’re having so much fun!
