Therapeutic Riding

Why Horseback Riding?

The benefits of therapeutic riding fall into three categories - physical, mental, and emotional. The content and scope of the lessons vary according to the type and degree of disability, ranging from traditional riding lessons to back riding. Back riding requires four volunteers and features an experienced rider sitting behind and holding the student upright on the horse. Most lessons utilize exercises and games to keep it interesting for the riders, but is actually a form of therapy.

Riders also experience certain physiological effects. Since horseback riding is exciting, adrenaline flows and endorphins are produced in the body which causes the riders to experience feelings of well-being which may last for days. This effect can be said to enhance the quality of life for our rider.

Physical Benefits

The rider's muscles constantly react as the body responds to the horse's side-to-side movement while moving forward through space. This process helps the rider to develop balance and coordination and leads to increasing physical fitness and stamina. Wheelchair bound riders and others with tight muscles also benefit from the natural warmth of the horse's body.
The horses gait is the closest to the human gait; the pelvic movement is the same. Riders must use upper body muscles and leg muscles just to stay on the horse.

Mental Benefits

We work with teachers, parents, and the riders to set specific goals. The horse is then used as a motivator to increase language skills, improve ability to follow instructions, increase attention span, and other similar goals. These new skills and attitudes are carried over into the school, home, and the workplace.
Games such as Red Light/Green Light incorporate eye hand coordination, verbal skills (we require the riders to give verbal commands such as WALK, WHOA, TROT), and lots of laughing!

Emotional Benefits

These benefits are available to even the most severely disabled person. Horseback riding gives freedom from crutches and wheelchairs and provides a sense of independence. Just sitting on such a large, fuzzy animal builds confidence and self-esteem, while the mastery of skills is a reward in itself. For all, the sight, smell, and feel of a horse is an exhilarating experience which can create a joy of living not otherwise attainable.

Community Benefits
We work with organizations such as 4-H, Boy & Girl Scouts, and the BCC Service Learning Center to provide education in horsemanship as well as opportunities for community service and volunteering. We also provide off site training for occupational therapy students from Keiser College.
We are the Brevard County Coordinator for the Black Stallion Literacy Project, started by Mark Miller from Arabian Nights. This is an educational process to encourage kids to read using the horse as the motivator.
We accommodate field trips from area schools and libraries, and vocational training for local programs for the disabled.

We encourage everyone to visit our center and see our program firsthand. Contact us to participate in this rewarding experience.

	Physical Benefits The rider's muscles constantly react as the body responds to the horse's side-to-side movement while moving forward through space. This process helps the rider to develop balance and coordination and leads to increasing physical fitness and stamina. Wheelchair bound riders and others with tight muscles also benefit from the natural warmth of the horse's body. The horses gait is the closest to the human gait; the pelvic movement is the same. Riders must use upper body muscles and leg muscles just to stay on the horse.
	Mental Benefits We work with teachers, parents, and the riders to set specific goals. The horse is then used as a motivator to increase language skills, improve ability to follow instructions, increase attention span, and other similar goals. These new skills and attitudes are carried over into the school, home, and the workplace. Games such as Red Light/Green Light incorporate eye hand coordination, verbal skills (we require the riders to give verbal commands such as WALK, WHOA, TROT), and lots of laughing!
	Emotional Benefits These benefits are available to even the most severely disabled person. Horseback riding gives freedom from crutches and wheelchairs and provides a sense of independence. Just sitting on such a large, fuzzy animal builds confidence and self-esteem, while the mastery of skills is a reward in itself. For all, the sight, smell, and feel of a horse is an exhilarating experience which can create a joy of living not otherwise attainable.
	Community Benefits We work with organizations such as 4-H, Boy & Girl Scouts, and the BCC Service Learning Center to provide education in horsemanship as well as opportunities for community service and volunteering. We also provide off site training for occupational therapy students from Keiser College. We are the Brevard County Coordinator for the Black Stallion Literacy Project, started by Mark Miller from Arabian Nights. This is an educational process to encourage kids to read using the horse as the motivator. We accommodate field trips from area schools and libraries, and vocational training for local programs for the disabled.