Local resident volunteers at Horses for Healing
Because she grew up with horses in Nebraska, it was easy for Tammy Fitzgerald to find a volunteer position that she loves.
“I like to muck stalls,” she said, “I like to turn the horses out.”
When she heard about Horses for Healing, it seemed a good match. Because the one thing Fitzgerald likes as much as horses are kids.
“Kids are great,” she said, but she doesn’t like the term “disability.” The kids who benefit from the therapeutic riding program at Horses for Healing are just kids who have different abilities.
The kids come from various school districts in Benton County, including a few private schools and the Children’s Shelter. The program started in 1991 and in 2004 moved to a 75 acres facility, not far from the regional airport, Riggan Shilstone, Volunteer Coordinator, said.
Some of the kids are terrified when they begin the program, Fitzgerald said, but once they get on the horse, that changes.
“There’s something special about that connection,” she said.
Each group that visits spends some time in a classroom where the children learn about horses and about many other things. They sometimes learn how to make treats for the horses or they may work on basic concepts like left and right. Teachers are always consulted about what lessons are relevant for the kids, Shilstone said.
Meanwhile, another small group spends some time in the barn. They might have the opportunity to pet a horse while they are going over some safety techniques. They may meet a miniature horse, a certified therapy horse, who can help kids who are scared.
Some groups come out just for field trips. They spend all their time learning about horses in the barn and the classroom. They may get to groom a horse. Then there’s the actual riding. The number of volunteers needed per ride varies. Usually, one volunteer leads the horse and sometimes volunteers may walk on either side of the rider for safety. There are usually only four riders at a time, so the instructor can watch all them, Shilstone explained.
Riding, Fitzgerald said, relaxes most of the kids who participate.
Since the gait of the horse mimics the action of human hips, some riders benefit from the physical act of riding as well, Shilstone said. Kids benefit from both the physical and the cognitive aspects of riding, she said.
The center has 18 horses for therapeutic riding, but there are other horses on the farm as well. The center is able to fund its services partly because of the horses that board there. Some of the boarders are used in the program with their owners’ permission.
Horses for Healing also offers private lessons, both for therapeutic purposes and for “sport” riding. The lessons help provide funds to keep the center open.
Some of the clients in private lessons started coming with their schools and their parents were
so impressed with the program, they arranged the continuing lessons. Eventually, they may move from therapeutic to sport riding as they improve, Shilstone said.
The center can always use more volunteers. Some volunteer jobs don’t have much to do with horses. There’s also a need for volunteers to paint fences and maintain the facilities, as well as do office work. To find out more, go to the center’s website at www. horsesforhealingnwa.org.