Reflecting on Therapeutic Riding

Last Month, while driving, my two year old daughter yelled, "Pretty horse, I want horse." My son immediately looked at her, and said, "Sissy, a horse is lots of work. They have big poop that you have to shovel. You have to get them dressed and undressed. You have to brush them. You have to clean their shoes. You have to walk them. You have to give them food and water. You have to fix their boo boo and give them a treat. It is a lot of work to have a pretty horse."

I was amazed at what he said. He has learned so much about responsibility and has gained so much confidence through Horses for Healing. It is such an incredible program. It is neat to look back and see how far he has come.

When my son was almost two, he lost his language and began to withdraw after being sick for a couple weeks with high fevers. After speech therapy for a year, he started speaking in phrases again, although, it was hard to understand what he was saying.

It was during this time that we started therapeutic riding. Now, after a little more than two years, he is speaking in conversation and his words are clearer. The movement of the horse helps him pace himself while talking. He is making better eye contact and feels more confident engaging with others after spending time here engaging with the volunteers and other riders.

I am so thankful for this program and the strides the horses are making in the kids lives. With every lesson, my son is getting physically and mentally stronger. The things the kids are learning here, such as, responsibility, confidence, and engaging with others will not just help them today, but throughout their lifetime.