Founded in 1982, We Can Ride, Inc. has made it their mission to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities or special needs through equine assisted activities and therapy. Starting out with just a handful of clients, today they have grown and helped over 6,000 families around the Twin Cities. The heart and muscle behind this organization is its volunteers, with nearly 500 helping out each year. “We are so grateful for the support that our community gives us, we really couldn’t do it without them,” says Mary Mitten, Executive Director. “The impact they make on the program and the clients cannot be measured.”
Therapeutic riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of people with disabilities. It also provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport, recreation, and leisure.
There are various programs offered and lead by experienced PATH certified therapeutic riding instructors, and physical and occupational therapists, all in tandem with the volunteers. These programs are helping children and adults from the age of two and up; as long as it is safe for them to participate.
Equine Assisted Programs
Therapeutic Riding is one of the biggest programs offered. The PATH certified riding instructions teach the individuals about the horse, riding skills and zero in on any specific goals they may already have. The main goal is to make a difference in their lives that will transfer out of the barn into the real world. An example is learning the skills of riding and being around the horses. This is a big emotional benefit for individuals with disabilities. They are taught how to control a 1,000- pound animal where they may feel like they don’t have much control in other areas of their life. Riding the horses gives a self-esteem boost and grows confidence, teamwork and social skills that can be transferred to socializing and making friends. The individuals also get to participate in a sport, giving them a unique experience to share with friends and family.
Hippotherapy uses the movement of the horse to achieve physical and occupational goals. Individuals work with a therapist one-on-one along with the riding instructor to maintain safety around the horses. The movement of the horse is one of the most important and beneficial things. When an individual is on the horse and it walks forward, it moves the client’s pelvis back and forth and side to side, giving the input of a normal human walking gait. This also improves balance, muscle strength and hand-eye coordination. Hippotherapy also works on cognitive sequencing, memorization, communication and speech improvements. “This particular therapy is fun for the children to be on a horse,” says Mitten because “It’s not the typical environment for therapy.”
EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) works with a group of individuals that all have the same goals. This program focuses on lessons off the horse and is very beneficial for all ages. For example, this program might benefit adolescents with a disability who may be graduating high school and needing to learn skills for the workforce such as communication, teamwork, taking direction and asking for help when needed. Simply grooming a horse improves order and memorization of a sequence while working with others to get the task done. Learning how to approach and lead a horse works on communication and problem-solving skills, especially learning to read the body language of the horse to figure out what works and what doesn’t to achieve the goal.
Equine Connection is a new program that is currently offered to adult community members who are experiencing stress in their life. This therapy can be very beneficial to front line workers such as doctors, nurses and EMT’s. This connection work is done off the horse and gives them an hour and a half to step away from the stress of their jobs, learn new skills, and work as a team. “We have seen big drops in blood pressure, which makes a huge impact on people,” says Mitten. “This also gives them something to draw on a later date when they are feeling stressed. Just being around the horses brings enjoyment.”
As a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization, We Can Ride depends on the generosity of the community to keep the programs going and offers scholarships for children and individuals who may not be able to afford it. Donations extend the program to reach those who have never participated and could potentially benefit from equine assisted activities and therapy. It also provides additional equipment, shelter and care for the horses. Each donation small or large makes a difference.
To learn more about We Can Ride programs, volunteer or to donate, visit www.wecanride.org.