Human Interest Human interest Horsin Around: therapy on four legs
Horsin Around: therapy on four legs
| Human interest |
By LeRae Haynes
Kids living with developmental challenges found the playing field leveled this week through an innovative program at the Child Development Centre called ‘Horsin Around’ where children enjoyed seeing the world from the back of a horse.
(Emily, ‘Harley’, Laurin, Dude’, Sidney, Bea, ‘Turbo’ and Brandon are some of the volunteers and horses in the program.)
The program, in its ninth year, runs for two weeks every summer in the Trail Riders Arena. Young volunteer ‘handlers’ work with the horses and the kids during ‘Horsin Around’, taught by Jane Folka from ‘Horse M Powered.’
Jane and the volunteers work one-on-one with the kids and the horses, giving the kids all the support they need to help them feel safe, while giving them the opportunity to interact with a horse.
“The kids have a lot of fun—we see huge changes in the kids from the time they first see ‘their’ horse to the time they’re riding around the arena with confidence,” Jane explained.
“They meet their horses and handlers, get ideas about how to saddle and lead a horse safely. They get to ride, control and rein the horse. We do warm up exercises and then turn the learning into games. We go and stop, weave around pole, and ‘drive for success’ where they learn to do things like parallel park their horses and back up. They use their new horse skills and their imaginations,” she continued. “The last day is ‘pajama day’ with things like ‘egg and spoon’ races and cookie games with the horses.”
She said that horses are so therapeutic. “Every last one of us has been touched by a horse,” she stated. “They make you feel good about yourself and powerful.”
“If you’re in a bad mood and can just go sit with your horse they’re come up to you and they just know,” teen volunteer Sidney Goward said.
“You’re free on a horse—you forget the crutches or the chair,” stated ‘Horsin Around’ volunteer and former participant Sandra, who has been riding since she was about three years old.
“If there’s anything different about a kid, a horse can tell,” she said. “They know if you’re afraid of them or have something wrong. They just know.
“For kids who face different challenges in their day-to-day life, this ‘normalizes’ them. The horse doesn’t treat them like they have autism. The horse will deal with it, but won’t treat them differently.”
Jane Folka said that she met Sandra when she was about 10 years old and is a big part of the reason she teaches ‘Horsin Around.’
She added that some of the teen handlers have their own horses, and that they all love them. One young volunteer comes from Victoria to work with the kids and the horses every year, taking time off work to travel to Williams Lake.
“What surprises me is how fast the young kids change. You’ll see a little girl crying her eyes out and not wanted to get on the horse, and by the next day she’s riding around like she’s done it all her life,” she said.
Jane said that she feels truly blessed to be able to do the Horsin Around program with the Child Development Centre. “I wake up every morning and can’t wait to get started here,” she said.
Sherry Carter, Supportive Child Development Worker at the Child Development Centre said that there are a lot of great programs for kids at the CDC, adding that this one is especially close to her heart. “I love horses. And it’s awesome to see the kids get the opportunity to be around them. The kids come away with confidence and big smiles,” she said.
This is the 9th year for the program. Sherry said that some of the teen volunteers start phoning her when the program is getting close. She has two of her own horses in the program this year for the first time: ‘Jenny’ and ‘Two Ton.’ She said the horses are amazing with the kids—showing patience and compassion.
“This gives the kids a chance to touch base with something at the heart of the Cariboo—seeing the world from the back of a horse,” she explained. “The parents who come love to see their kids getting to do something they never have before.”
Shannon Newman was one of the parents at the arena for ‘Horsin Around’ this week: his 10 year old son Zachary, diagnosed with autism, thoroughly enjoyed his ‘horse’ time this week.
“The only time he’s ever been around horses was last year during this program,” Shannon said. “Every night this week he was excited and couldn’t wait to go back.”
He said that it was so amazing to watch the kids change so much around the horses. “One kid was kind of loud—kicking things and being noisy—but once he was on the horse he quieted right down,” he continued. “One little girl cried and refused to get on the horse at all. I thought it would never happen, but once she got on she took right to it.”
The first day, Zachary used the high platform when getting on the horse, according to his dad. “The second day he used the step stool and the third day he just hopped on.
“I learned so much about horses, myself, just watching,” he explained. “The horses were very cool—very gentle and responsive with the kids.
“Zachery had an awesome time.”
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