ROAD TRIP to: Horse Sense for Special Riders!



Trail Ride at HSSR



This week we had a change from our normal classroom atmosphere by jumping in the car and going to visit Horse Sense for Special Riders. Click here to view there site and learn more! Anyways, we met with the lead instructor, Chris Gruendeman, who is a Physical Therapist and has been with HorseSense since ~2003. Chris explained to us the services that their facility provides and what some of the benefits of riding horse may include for populations with additional needs. Some of the skills that one might work on at Horse Sense could be, but are not limited to, balance, communication, an increase in self confidence, following directions, motor control, sequencing etc. Their facility has very skilled staff members and can accommodate a wide variety of disabilities and as long as the participants get "OKed" by a doctor. I really enjoyed visiting this facility and would love to volunteer there sometime. I have never assisted with any type of animal therapy and think it would be a great thing to experience!

LifeStriders Therapeutic Riding Center

After researching other therapeutic riding programs in Wisconsin, I discovered that they are few and far between, which means that many people do not have a program that could serve them in their area. Click here to view the therapeutic riding programs offered, according to county, in Wisconsin. I further looked into a program in Waukesha County called LifeStriders Therapeutic Riding Center. Similar to HSSR, LifeStriders is a non-profit organization that " provides life-enhancing, physical and psychological experiences and services to individuals with special needs." I think it is amazing how much horses and therapeutic riding programs have the ability to make such profound change in an individual's life. After being exposed to this type of therapy, I know that it is definitely something that I would like to know more about and experience for myself.

Until next time,

Katie