The past month has been one of graduations here at NCEFT. While not uncommon to have a horse in training, rarely do we happen to have three of those horses at one time. First came Buddy, a Quarter Horse gelding purchased by our Program Director, Chris. Then Honey arrived, a Paint mare donated by a local trainer. Finally, we came across Janie, who’s being leased to the program by her owner, Sara. All of a sudden we had a trio of young horses (none older than 7) who needed training in Therapeutic Riding (TR), Hippotherapy, and general exposure to the craziness that is pediatric equine-facilitated therapy. That meant balls, scarves, loud noises, off-balance riders, and a host of other experiences entirely new to these guys.
Each horse arrived with their own set of quirks and challenges, and the staff was tasked with developing individualized training programs. The last horse to arrive, Janie, was the first to begin sessions, easily stepping in to her role as a TR horse. Then came Buddy, who was desperately needed to carry our taller adult riders (not everyone is suited to a Fjord or Welsh Pony). At 15.3 hands he’s a little too big for lined Hippotherapy, but fills a vital role in our TR program. Though TR is certainly a challenge, it’s mainly learning to be tolerant of beginners as they slowly become riders. In contrast, Hippotherapy requires the horse to learn to ground drive while a team of up to 5 people engage a patient in everything from mounted baseball to a game of catch. So, when Janie made it through her first Hippo session (complete with balls and clanging bells) this week, we were beyond thrilled.
It won’t be long before we’re sharing news of Honey’s graduation. Her expressive gaits and limitless energy will be a terrific challenge for our stronger patients, and her sweet personality has made her an instant barn favorite (though her good looks certainly don’t hurt). If you happen to be in the arena when one of the new horses is working, be sure to say hello and give them a congratulatory shoulder rub!
