Horses make you think....
After listening to the song Today by John Denver, I thought that if horses had CD players they would probably like this song. Horses live in the moment - right now. They don't live in the past; they don't hold grudges. Horses don't plan for the future; they don't have agendas. Have you ever been able to fully live in the moment for more than a few minutes?
That's a good challenge for us two-legged horses and this is yet another way horses can teach us to be better humans.
excerpt from Today by John Denver
I can't be contented with yesterday's glories,
I can't live on the promises winter to spring.
Today is my moment,
now is my story and I'll laugh, I'll cry, I'll sing.
The following is a quote from Buck Brannaman:
Knowing where you want to go with your horse is important, but it sure helps to know where you are with them, first.
This speaks to the importance of groundwork with your horse. On the ground is the place to work out the bugs - not in the saddle. Everything you do on the ground translates directly to under saddle. In fact, at times it may seem counter intuitive when you play with your horse on the ground, but these activities do everything to continue your relationship with your equine partner and make a stronger, safer bond. Some people refer to a pre-flight check before you ride to make certain you and your horse are on the same page; wouldn't you check the pressure in your car's tires before taking a trip?
Just a few thoughts about the therapeutic riding here at EPH
It’s not just fun and games. Sure, it looks that way, but when you are horseback and shooting a basketball, blowing bubbles, or carrying a plastic egg on a spoon (sometimes with both hands) the fun part is merely disguising the fact that you are increasing core strength, balance and confidence all while astride a 1000-pound animal.
As a therapeutic device, horses have a long history of demonstrating their ability to accomplish progress sometimes not realized with traditional techniques in a clinical setting. The physical interaction between horse and rider creates a unique relationship, a friendship perhaps, and offers support and meaningful interactions for all involved. Part of the process at East Point Horspice is to allow these relationships to deepen as the riders are expected to care for their mounts through grooming and preparations before and after their designated ride times. Through the actions of currying fur, cleaning hooves and petting loving faces, the hands-on of the riders cements their bonds; EPH often witnesses situations where the riders refer to the horses they ride as “my horse” and a sense of ownership develops. The riders develop responsibility, empathy and a serving nature as they care for and maintain the horses.
Then the games begin, the riders and their big fuzzy friends tackling the challenges of each new week under the guise of a creative horse-sized event. An example is the proportionately sized ladder ball or xylophone which, due to their increased size, are more to scale for a rider in the saddle. Imagine the coordinated effort required to shoot a basketball from a moving horse, or to successfully swing hula hoops on your body while the horse is walking.
Of course, all this fun requires volunteer support of which EPH continually seeks and recruits. Typically, it takes three volunteers per rider to increase the level of safety for everyone involved. More advanced riders may require less in volunteer support, but the program’s limiting factors have always been the number of appropriate horses and trained volunteers. If you believe you would like to share in the fun and games going on during the therapeutic riding season, you are encouraged to contact EPH at (308) 762-3848 or email eph@bbc.net. Check out www.eastpointhorspice.com for the previous year’s photos of all the great smiles and captured accomplishments.
Are you able to see it from their perspective?
After listening to the song Today by John Denver, I thought that if horses had CD players they would probably like this song. Horses live in the moment - right now. They don't live in the past; they don't hold grudges. Horses don't plan for the future; they don't have agendas. Have you ever been able to fully live in the moment for more than a few minutes?
That's a good challenge for us two-legged horses and this is yet another way horses can teach us to be better humans.
excerpt from Today by John Denver
I can't be contented with yesterday's glories,
I can't live on the promises winter to spring.
Today is my moment,
now is my story and I'll laugh, I'll cry, I'll sing.
The following is a quote from Buck Brannaman:
Knowing where you want to go with your horse is important, but it sure helps to know where you are with them, first.
This speaks to the importance of groundwork with your horse. On the ground is the place to work out the bugs - not in the saddle. Everything you do on the ground translates directly to under saddle. In fact, at times it may seem counter intuitive when you play with your horse on the ground, but these activities do everything to continue your relationship with your equine partner and make a stronger, safer bond. Some people refer to a pre-flight check before you ride to make certain you and your horse are on the same page; wouldn't you check the pressure in your car's tires before taking a trip?
Just a few thoughts about the therapeutic riding here at EPH
It’s not just fun and games. Sure, it looks that way, but when you are horseback and shooting a basketball, blowing bubbles, or carrying a plastic egg on a spoon (sometimes with both hands) the fun part is merely disguising the fact that you are increasing core strength, balance and confidence all while astride a 1000-pound animal.
As a therapeutic device, horses have a long history of demonstrating their ability to accomplish progress sometimes not realized with traditional techniques in a clinical setting. The physical interaction between horse and rider creates a unique relationship, a friendship perhaps, and offers support and meaningful interactions for all involved. Part of the process at East Point Horspice is to allow these relationships to deepen as the riders are expected to care for their mounts through grooming and preparations before and after their designated ride times. Through the actions of currying fur, cleaning hooves and petting loving faces, the hands-on of the riders cements their bonds; EPH often witnesses situations where the riders refer to the horses they ride as “my horse” and a sense of ownership develops. The riders develop responsibility, empathy and a serving nature as they care for and maintain the horses.
Then the games begin, the riders and their big fuzzy friends tackling the challenges of each new week under the guise of a creative horse-sized event. An example is the proportionately sized ladder ball or xylophone which, due to their increased size, are more to scale for a rider in the saddle. Imagine the coordinated effort required to shoot a basketball from a moving horse, or to successfully swing hula hoops on your body while the horse is walking.
Of course, all this fun requires volunteer support of which EPH continually seeks and recruits. Typically, it takes three volunteers per rider to increase the level of safety for everyone involved. More advanced riders may require less in volunteer support, but the program’s limiting factors have always been the number of appropriate horses and trained volunteers. If you believe you would like to share in the fun and games going on during the therapeutic riding season, you are encouraged to contact EPH at (308) 762-3848 or email eph@bbc.net. Check out www.eastpointhorspice.com for the previous year’s photos of all the great smiles and captured accomplishments.
Are you able to see it from their perspective?
