Horse Sense

It isn't a secret that I love animals.  About a month ago, I got on a horse again for the first time in over ten years.  It was just an hour trail ride, but I immediately started dreaming about having my own horse someday.  Horses are a lot of work, and since I don't have a yard, it soon set in that my dream wouldn't happen anytime soon.  I started thinking about volunteering at a horse stable while trying to learn all I can about horses.  I searched the Web and soon came across an organization called We Can Ride.  It is a local organization here in Minnesota.  It is a horse therapy program for children, adults, and veterans with cognitive, physical, emotional and behavioral disabilities.  They offer weekly classes in which the rider can improve their balance and strengthen muscles.  It also gives them more self confidence and freedom that a wheel chair can't. 

Tuesday was my first class and I must admit, I was a little intimidated.  The leader told me to go get my horse, Snickers, who was barely taller than me.  I couldn't believe that with no training someone was going to let me go get a horse from the stall and lead him around the barn.  I was in heaven.  As I warmed up Snickers and walked around the barn, the stress of the day suddenly went away and I thought of nothing else than this horse that I was in charge of.  I knew the kids would be arriving soon and wasn't sure what the class was going to be like.  I offered to be a horse leader the first couple of times just to get used to how classes were run.  There are a variety of horses that have been donated to the organization over the years.  Some were champion race horses while others were trail horses.  Some are old and some are stubborn, but all have something in common.  They have an excellent demeanor with children and some you just know were born to be therapy horses.  These horses put up with kids pinching them and pulling their hair, all the while keeping their cool.  Animals have an amazing impact on people and evidence of this is seen over and over while in class.

The first kid to ride Snickers was a little five year old boy named Elliott.  With his helmet on, he hopped up on the horse and couldn't stop giggling.  His laugh was contagious and echoed through the barn.  About five minutes into the ride, Elliott decided he wanted to get off the horse and without warning jumped off.  I was suddenly glad that I was the horse leader and not the side walker but soon realized this was a great reminder that anything can happen with kids.

The second rider went on without a hitch, but it was the third rider that truly touched me.  Her name was Kayla.  A ten year old girl with no visible disabilities.  We all saw the connection she had with her horse right from the beginning.  Kayla smiled as her horse sniffed and greeted her, while the rest of us held back tears.  It was amazing to me how much of an impact a horse can have on someone.  Kayla was talkative and wouldn't stop smiling.  She was very knowledgable about horses and had shared with us her history of going to horse camp.  To me, she seemed like your average ten year old.  Just another girl on a horse.  That is what is so great about this program.  It doesn't matter if these kids are in a wheelchair or can get around on their own.  In class, they are all the same - just a kid on a horse.  They are responsible for steering and commanding their horse to go where they need to go.  For that hour every week, they are just like every other kid. 

The best part of this class for me, was the ability to forget about everything else that was going on in my life.  For the first time in longer than I could remember, I didn't think about work.  I didn't think about my to do list or what I needed to get done this coming weekend.  For those three hours all I thought about was the horse next to me and the kid riding it.  It was absolutely fantastic.  I wasn't stressed out, I was thrilled.  Finding an organization where I get to work with horses and kids is the perfect place for me. 

When I got home, I was full of dirt, smelled like manure and was pretty exhausted.  But those three hours had more of an impact than anything I have done in longer than I can remember.  Eight more weeks of class and I can't wait for next Tuesday!

M

We Can Ride
http://www.wecanride.org/