Therapeutic Riding

When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk; He trots the air; The earth sings when he touches it; The basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes; He is pure air and fire.

William Shakespeare

Our Program

In 1974, we got in on the ground floor of therapeutic riding with the establishment of our Therapeutic Riding Program. Carolyn Bailey, our Head Instructor, is certified by Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) and Cheff Center for the Handicapped. For over 40 years, The Riding Centre’s Therapeutic Riding Program has successfully served physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged children and adults in group and private lessons. Regional agencies and private physicians refer individuals for therapy. This treatment has earned worldwide respect as an excellent alternative therapy.

The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.

Arabian proverb

The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding

The physical and psychological benefits of horseback riding for physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged children and adults are enormous. Only specially trained, gentle horses can provide such therapy. The horse’s slow, rhythmic motion helps work the muscles around a rider’s spine and encourages gentle movement of arms, shoulders, head, trunk, and the rest of the body. Students enjoy improved balance, coordination, and muscle tone, and doctors have identified benefits that can only be obtained by this alternative therapy.

The benefits are not only physical in nature or reserved for individuals with physical disabilities. There are emotional and psychological benefits as well. Horses are non-judgmental; they do not laugh when told secrets. They provide a strong shoulder to lean on, and they do not shun people who are a little different.

Mentally challenged students increase confidence, concentration, and retention. Instructor Carolyn Bailey remembers a particular class of four mentally challenged adults, who progressed from being led by volunteers to walking, trotting, cantering, and negotiating small jumps on their own. Carolyn was especially pleased with their ability to retain what they had learned from year to year.

“When people think of riding and having horses, they often think it’s expensive and elitist. It is expensive, but at The Riding Centre, we throw elitist out the barn door. Horses don’t judge. They don’t care about the color of your skin or which gender you identify with. They don’t care if you can or cannot afford your ride. They don’t care about your talent, although they prefer you don’t pull too hard on their mouths. They don’t care about your ability to walk or talk. They accept you always.

They really only care about the treat they receive at the end of the ride. Horses are kind, patient, and, as one of my adult autistic riders said—generous.

Therapeutic riding started decades ago and has evolved into many facets of therapy too numerous to discuss, but it all entails a kind and healthy horse. Behind every hour of therapeutic riding, there are hours and hours of hard work. Whether it’s cleaning stalls, throwing hay, mowing pastures, or checking on a sick horse, someone is working every day of the year.

We are fortunate to have dedicated staff members and many, many volunteers, who see to the various jobs that need to be done every day. We have tremendous veterinarians and farriers, who keep our horses healthy and sound. We have the generous support of several area farmers, who provide us with the 2,000 bales of quality hay we feed annually. All so people can ride.

I really believe that any ride on a horse is therapeutic, whether you have an IEP from a school or a diagnosis from a doctor. I’m sure the riders in this room would agree, and if you’ve never been on a horse, but ride a Harley— it’s much the same— power, leather, and speed.

I could bore you silly with statistics of how riding helps people with disabilities, but the best thing I can offer is an invitation to come watch a classroom from one of the local schools. Come see the excitement, the smiles, and the concentration of the riders to get their horse to turn, walk, stop, and even trot. Any words I share pale in comparison to seeing this amazing program in person.”

—Carolyn Bailey’s remarks to The Springfield Rotary Club