Teaching
Riding as an Access to Independence & Learning
What is T.R.A.I.L.?
T.R.A.I.L. is a therapeutic riding
program providing riding services to improve the lives of those who are
challenged physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.
Therapeutic riding is a passive form of riding where the rider reacts to
the three-dimensional rhythmic movement of the horse, a unique and
holistic approach to therapy, rehabilitation and recreation.
Our T.R.A.I.L. program provides
assistance to children who need help with emotional and/or physical
healing, confidence, social skills, and ways to make positive changes in
their lives. When riding a horse, our children are given the
opportunity to feel freedom and power through movement. As the
horse walks, the movement is transferred to the rider providing a
combination of sensory, motor, and neurological stimulation. This
translates to stronger muscles, better balance and coordination,
improved gait and, just as important, greater self-confidence and
self-esteem.
Therapeutic riding emphasizes the
learning of functional riding skills as a means of improving the
physical and/or mental well being of the participants. It
encompasses disabilities categorized as orthopedic, neurological and a
broad range of others. The riders who are involved in the
T.R.A.I.L. program range in age from 5 to 19 years of age and have a
wide variety of both physical and developmental disabilities.
Children who may benefit from our program are inflicted with cerebral
palsy, spina bifida, down syndrome, spinal cord injury, amputees, brain
damage, blindness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder, global developmental delay, autism and
children who are at risk.
Some of our riders are confined to
wheelchairs or dependent upon walkers. Their minds and bodies
sometimes tell them they can't do something. But when they're on
the back of a horse, they often discover that they can achieve the very
things they thought were impossible. In our program, the rider
begins to learn to influence the horse at his or her own level, assisted
by up to three volunteers per rider. By focusing on each rider's
abilities rather than disabilities, we have enjoyed a high rate of
success in areas such as improved balance, coordination, muscular
strength, social skills, and self- confidence. This enables our
riders to safely participate in a challenging, physically active sport.
We structure lessons to include riding skills, exercises, trail or field
rides, games, as well as equine care.
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T.R.A.I.L.
Our T.R.A.I.L. program provides
assistance to children who need help with emotional and/or physical
healing, confidence, social skills, and ways to make positive changes in
their lives. When riding a horse, our children are given the
opportunity to feel freedom and power through movement. As the
horse walks, the movement is transferred to the rider providing a
combination of sensory, motor, and neurological stimulation. This
translates to stronger muscles, better balance and coordination,
improved gait and, just as important, greater self-confidence and
self-esteem.
Some of our riders are confined to
wheelchairs or dependent upon walkers. Their minds and bodies
sometimes tell them they can't do something. But when they're on
the back of a horse, they often discover that they can achieve the very
things they thought were impossible. In our program, the rider
begins to learn to influence the horse at his or her own level, assisted
by up to three volunteers per rider. By focusing on each rider's
abilities rather than disabilities, we have enjoyed a high rate of
success in areas such as improved balance, coordination, muscular
strength, social skills, and self- confidence. This enables our
riders to safely participate in a challenging, physically active sport.
We structure lessons to include riding skills, exercises, trail or field
rides, games, as well as equine care.