Well, I don't have any pets (my relatives do though) so instead, I volunteer at a local farm in my town. This farm is used for therapeutic riding for people with handicaps and disabilities, though those people without any physical problems are more than welcome to take lessons. My younger brothers and I go at least once a week to groom each horse, pick their feet, feed them their grain and hay, clean out their stalls, and just play with them. Currently we have 10 horses: Honey (white), Indigo (black), Brewster (dark brown), Ben (light brown), Dante (white), Nic-Nac (a medium brown pony with white spots), Drew (dark brown), Sheriff (dark brown), Lexi (a huge light brown), and Denny (light brown and white). They are all so sweet to work with, and each one has a different personality. They really do get to know you, and each one has a favorite person they like to play with. Some of the horses we used to have include: Nutmeg (medium brown), Comet (a light brown pony), and Calvin (a huge claidsdale sp?). Anyhow, I love what the farm supports, and I don't mind spending many hours each week helping out. I'd recommend everyone else try it if they are given the opportunity.

What a great place to do volunteer work! You are lucky to live near such a place and have that oppertunity. I'm not much on volunteer work, always seems like there is not enough hours in the day to take care of my own personal problems, but if there was a place like that in our area, I think I would be there. It has got to be very rewarding, helping people and being around animals at the same time. I have seen a lot of TV coverage of the near miricals that horseback riding does for handicapped children. It would be ausome to be a part of something like that.

That's nice! I didn't know horses had therapeutic purposes. I thought only small domestic animals like dogs and cats had. I wish I could volunteer in a place like this too. I like horses and it would be meaningful to help people in need.

Volunteering at the farm is extremely rewarding. It's a great time just being around the animals. I love seeing the enjoyment on the faces of the little kids getting to ride their favorite horse. The kids usually make horse noises when they're riding, and it is really cute. This past week, we got another horse whose name is Chester. I have yet to meet him, so I'll post the details when I see him tomorrow. If people want, I can post pictures of some of the horses for you if you're interested.

Oh, yes, horseback riding is extremely therapeutic especially for children with either physical or mental handicaps. Imagine children who cannot even walk on their own and have to be lifted in and out of their wheelchairs, beds, any and every where they want to go to have the oppertunity to feel the tremendous strength of the animal they are riding/controling. Even as a strong, healthy human, I can attest to the ego boost of jumping a straddle of an animal 10 times your size and being able to maintain control of that animal. There is no other feeling quite like it. For children that are emotionally scared and unsure of themselves, the power of riding can be one of the most effective ego boosts that there are. It's really a completely different thing than the warm, friendly, fuzzy feeling and the unconditional love one gets from a small animal pet. (which of course, is also very good) This is like a triple expresso power drink the early morning fuzzy headed dreamer gets.

Just by sitting upon the horse as it walks, handicapped riders experience an enormous benefit. Because of the horse's up and down motion, riders get an extreme workout. Most often, you'll hurt in places where you never knew you had muscles. Horseback riding allows the physically disabled, who cannot build up muscle strength easily, the opportunity to get at least some exercise. I haven't yet seen it, but I've heard from some of the lesson instructors that horseback riding also helps with speech therapy. I'm not quite sure how that works, but I guess it does. The problem is, horses are expensive to purchase and maintain with all of the food they require to eat, horse shoes, and medical bills. A lot of places no longer offer therapeutic riding. My town's state hospital still provides this service but only because it does not have to pay for staff. Everything is strictly run by volunteers.

Oh boy, am I familiar with that one!

I could be wrong, but I would guess that the improvement in speaking comes from the added confidence they would get from riding. Have you ever noticed shy people, how they hang out at the edges of a crowd and don't say much? It's not that they can't speek, it's just that they are too shy to open their mouths.

Maintaining a horse is expensive, but purchasing one sure isn't anymore. Recently passed horse slaughter laws have absolutly destroyed the horse market. I know some folks that took some of their horsed to an acution recently and could not get at $15 bid on an older Arabian mare.

Oh I know all about that. I actually write for my campus newspaper, and I recently did an article on North Country Ride, which is the organization that offers thereputic horseback riding. They are currently trying to expand and need volunteers, so I would recommend it to anyone. You just walk along side of the horses to make sure the client doesn't fall off or hurt the horse, and you can also take care of horses. If you like horses, people, or both, this would be a great thing for you--especially if you need volunteer hours for school or church. Plus, volunteering always looks good on resumes. The story of where this method came from is also amazing, and happens to be the introduction to my story. Here it is for anyone interested:

Liz Hartel was stricken with Polio when she was in her early twenties. At first paralyzed from head to toe, doctors told her she would eventually walk with canes, but would never again be able to do the one thing she loved—horseback riding. Hartel did eventually walk with two canes, but was determined to ride again. Falling off of her horse several times at first, she continued to ride. Over time, the horseback riding actually seemed to be making her stronger, and in 1952, Hartel proved it by winning the silver medal for Grand Prix Dressage at the Helsinki Olympics(www.ozhorses.com and www.narha.org).

Medical professionals took notice of Hartel's story, and soon centers for therapeutic riding sprang up in Europe. Canadians and Americans studied what was happening in Europe, and soon formed what is known today as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, according to www.ncride.com.

“North Country RIDE(NCR), located in Esko, Minn., is a non-profit corporation that offers horse-facilitated activities for children and adults who are challenged by a wide variety of special needs which include physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral issues,” said the North Country RIDE Web site, www.ncride.com.
Clients who have participated in North Country RIDE programs have a variety of special needs. According to their Web site, they include but are not limited to: Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Brain Injury, Schizophrenia, Partial Paralysis, Language Delays, and Developmental Disabilities.

“Through horseback riding activities,” said their Web site, “riders strengthen and relax muscles and improve posture, core strength and balance. These activities also help increase coordination and joint mobility.”
It may sound questionable or unconventional—horseback riding to help with disabilities—but it has proven to be very beneficial.
“The improvement of the riders was amazing, from the first lesson to the last,” said instructor Lisa Witanen. “Hearing kids verbalize, when they were previously non-verbal, was amazing. The confidence of the riders was also visible."
Cindy Martins, board chair of NCR, said that there is definitely a benefit from the physical strengthening of the core muscles, but that there is also mental healing from the animal-human relationship.
“The children connect with the warmth of animals,” said former program director and instructor Maggie Salo. “I feel that the warmth and movement of the horse is the closest the kids could get to being in the womb—the riders seemed to have a feeling of safety.”

NCR is currently planning to expand the organization, and looking for more volunteers to help accomplish this.
“Not enough people know what we do and how we do it,” said Martins, “and volunteers are critical to the service we offer.”
There are a variety of things to do as a volunteer, such as horse maintenance and lawn care, but the two main jobs for volunteers are “leaders” and “sidewalkers.” According to their Web site, leaders lead the horses and look out for its well-being, and sidewalkers walk along side the horse to look after the well-being of the client.

According to the Web site, volunteers need to be comfortable around large animals, open to participating as a team member, and ready and willing to learn. Martin also said that volunteers can serve for one or several seasons, and can even work their way into a paid position.
Volunteer orientation and hands-on training for the 2008 riding season is April 12th. If anyone is interested in volunteering for NCR, there is a “volunteer” link on their Web site that gives contact information and additional details.
"I work with all ages--I love that.” said one volunteer on their Web site, who is also a rider. “I love the atmosphere and all the people at NCR. I recommend it to anyone who wants to help others and wants to be around horses."