The Magical Moments
By Marianne "Bunny" Steelman
LIRHA - NARHA Registered Instructor

I am proud to be a part of the Long Island Riding for the Handicapped Association since 1978. This program is the only therapeutic horseback riding program in NY State that offers lessons at no charge. We all are proud of this accomplishment and thank all those in the equestrian world for supporting us all these years to make this possible.

Horseback riding is widely recognized as one of the most beneficial forms of therapeutic recreation the handicapped can receive. It is a pleasurable activity and fun for all involved. Riding is particularly beneficial for people that have impaired mobility. The action of the horse (whose gait is similar to the human walk) relaxes and stimulates those unused muscles; building muscle tone, strengthening spine and pelvic muscles, improving posture, balance and coordination. It also improves eye contact, encompassing everything that comes into the student's field of vision.

For those students that are mentally or emotionally impaired, the benefit through discipline in the concentration that is required develops a self-awareness and an incentive for learning.

The riding instructor is the nucleus of a very important team. They must be knowledgeable, sensitive and have great patience with the student and the horse. They utilize a positive approach to motivate and influence our student's potential. Key qualities to good teaching are enthusiasm, caring and communication. The teachers must know the aspects of disabilities of each student, and know the temperaments and gaits of each horse by riding every horse and pony that enters the program. It is important that each horse and pony are compatible and best fit the physical needs of each student. (A smooth gaited horse would help to relax and activate the hip and lower back of the rider, giving a little more joint mobility.)

Our classes create a special bonding between student, horse and our special and trained volunteers. Our pre-requisite is to build confidence and put aside their worries and concerns. We begin with warm-up exercises with our physical therapists. Instructors find many challenges within each class. A lesson plan will be used to suit each individual student, so the instruction will have proper adaptation for each rider, so they can perform better riding skills.

We demonstrate each step slowly and repeat often so the students can absorb their lessons through repetition. There are games that the students love and they are a challenge to their riding skills. These games enlighten the instruction and make our classes full of fun and motivation.

With the assistance of special equipment: hand-holds, ladder reins, neck straps, and peacock safety stirrups - our students, horse and equipment (if needed) are joined together with their volunteers, and enter the riding ring to start their lesson that we hope will be a learning experience with the help of a warm fuzzy and friendly horse or pony.

Our goal is for the students to go home feeling it's the ability not the disability that counts. They have a new found freedom on a horse, where wheelchairs, braces and crutches can never go. Whether the handicap is physical, emotional or mental the individual accomplishment of mounting and riding provide such a boost to their confidence and self worth. The instructor and student both benefit from these Magical and Wonderful Moments!