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Cowboys and Roses Renegade Ranch, Inc.
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Therapeutic Riding
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We urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians
5:14
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What is Therapeutic Horseback Riding?
Therapeutic horseback riding is therapy that provides the psychosocial benefits of riding a horse as well as many physical
benefits. This therapy has proven to be very beneficial to children with disabilities. Unlike more traditional physical therapy
sessions, horses provide a richer, higher motivating therapeutic environment, combining fresh air and the outdoors with the
emotional contact and movements of a horse. The motion and heat of the horse aid the rider's blood circulation and reflexes,
and gently exercise the rider's spinal column, joints, and muscles. The horse's three-dimensional movement provides a combination
of sensory and neurological input that can be used to address a variety of disabilities. These movements cannot be duplicated
by traditional exercise or by exercise machines, which typically only work on one muscle group at a time and cannot produce
body movements in a natural, rhythmic, and progressive way. Horseback riding exercises a wide variety of muscles groups and
can exercise portions of the body that often remain unused or are not working properly. For children with disabilities, the
movements of the horse simulate motions that able-bodied individuals do normally. The synchronization of the horse's rhythmic
gait and pelvic movement with the rider's muscles create the same sensations as walking. This can be a wonderful feeling for
those who cannot walk.
Riding a horse also moves a rider's trunk, arms, shoulders, head, thereby improving one's posture, as well as toning
the muscles in the stomach and arms. All of these movements result in increased strength, flexibility, and mobility. They
also result in improvements in balance and coordination, especially since staying atop a moving horse serves as such a high
motivator for maintaining one's balance and posture. Riding a moving horse can also improve one's spatial orientation skills,
as well as fine motor skills, especially for those also involved in grooming or controlling the horse independently.
A therapeutic horseback riding session combines traditional therapy exercises and the natural movement of the horse for
maximal benefits. It focuses on the increases in balance, coordination, and strength that result from therapeutic riding,
thus therapeutic programs differ from recreational riding for the disabled programs because they do not teach riding skills
or emphasize the riding for pleasure aspect of recreational riding. Rather therapeutic riding uses the rhythmic movement of
the horse to influence the rider's postural reactions, balance, function, and sensory processing. Therefore it serves as more
of an adjunct to treatment. Instructors may also have the rider ride backwards on the horse. This movement gets the individual
out of flexion and activates extension and trunk control. Lying down on the horse is a third popular exercise performed in
therapeutic riding.
Therapeutic riding is "fun" therapy!
NOTE: Our horseback riding programs have closed for the summer. Families may complete the riding
application to be added to our waiting list. Riding will resume in the fall.
View/download Renegade Rider application (PDF)
Physical Benefits
Improvements in:
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Psychological Benefits
Improvements in:
- Self-Confidence
- Patience
- Concentration
- Expansion of Interests
- Risk-Taking
- Freedom & Independence
- Responsibility
- Emotional Control
- Trust
- Teamwork
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Cowboys and Roses Renegade Ranch, Inc. •
Copyright © 2009
145 Myers Hill Road • Brunswick, GA 31523 • Office (912) 279-0440
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