Article by Joy Ufford from the Jackson Hole Guide Wednesday, July 14, 1993
After only three sessions, kids taking part in the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association’s summer program are reaping rewards- and making new friends.
The purpose of the program is to provide physical and emotional therapy for people with handicaps and disabilities- from cerebral palsy to mental retardation to emotional problems, according to co-chairman Robin Lightner.
“The four-beat gait of the horse’s walk is supposed to help almost anyone, physically, who has a handicap,” she said. “And emotionally, what the horse does is, it’s a great big huge animal that shows love- and the kids need a lot of love. They also feel a sense of accomplishment- ‘hey, look at me!'”
Jonathon, who is severely mentally retarded, approached “his” horse before the first riding session in July but became upset and tried to pull off his helmet.
“We tried to get him on a horse but he wouldn’t have anything to do with it at first,” Lightner said.
Eventually, he was coaxed into the saddle and rode the horse, with volunteers leading the horse and walking beside him, around the arena.
“The next time, he went right over to the horse – without a saddle on it – and lifted his leg to get on.”
Last week, Jonathon couldn’t wait to ride – and gave his horse a few careful pats under the guidance of instructor Jody Roche. Volunteers and instructors received two days of training before the program began. For this session, C Bar V students are riding; next session, Learning Center students will show up twice a week at the arena.
Physical therapist DeDe McDonald co-chairs the program and is present for each session, and Kay Northup acts as administrator. Although it took several years to get the riding program off the ground, they all believe its success is already clear.
Like Jonathon, the other riders show more confidence as they feel their horses’ movement. Horses with names like Moose, Whinny and Big Deal, donated for sessions by valley owners and trailered to Carolyn Edgecomb’s arena near Wilson, are patient and willing to go through their paces.
At the beginning of each bi-weekly session, riders groom the horses, learn about tack and pet their mounts.
During the class, Jenny smiled from ear to ear with a wave for everyone she passed. Kenny and David beamed with pride as Roche praised their posture; Leslie was brave enough to stand in her stirrups. Dusty, an experienced rider, followed volunteer Allen Lainhart on a mini-trail ride through a nearby field.
From time to time, Roche led the group through games like Red Light, Green Light, Simon Says, and follow-the-leader, and encouraged them to lift their arms or touch the horses’ ears.
“What a good job you’re all doing,” she called out.
Lightner makes it clear that the program works because of generosity – the Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Program runs on volunteers and donations of time, money, trailer and horse use, and tack. Long-time Jackson resident Florence Lamb donated six saddles, and Sue Dunlap offered her arena for the second four-week session.
But the real value of the program is evident at the end of each session when the riders get to give their horses a carrot for jobs well done. As Kenny prepared to leave, he reached up and put his arms around his horse’s neck in a big hug.
“Bye – see you next Monday,” he whispered, and gave his horse a kiss.
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