Straight from the Horse's Mouth December 2017 | Page 9

Out of the Saddle
Therapy pony Amiga, led by volunteer Sue, client Ron and caregiver Mel
You don’t have to ride a horse to experience their
healing nature. Interacting with them face-
to-muzzle proves to be just as rewarding. This
past year 46 people, non-ambulatory and with
significant intellectual and physical disabilities,
partook in Unmounted Activities a newly
expanded service at Ride On St. Louis. Each
week groups of six from Pony Bird residential
care facility would visit Ride On St. Louis for the
two hour experience that operated up close and
personal with staff, horses and residents in our
indoor arena. The specialized dust free and easy
to tread footing in the arena makes this precious
experience possible with ease of navigation for
the residents who all require wheelchairs for
mobility. Inquisitive horses sink their faces into
laps or wait quietly for their guests to reach
up for a pat or a bit of brushing. Clients in
Unmounted Activities see, smell, hear and touch
their way through horsemanship with activities
that cover equine diet, grooming, caring for
hooves, education in coat colors and breeds, and
demonstrations of gait patterns and riding.
The program provides a refreshing atmosphere
alleviating boredom and revitalizing the mind
and body. It is highly engaging and motivating,
and we often see participants who don’t typically
lift their heads, hold their heads up, reach their
hands and even feet to feel the soft coat of a
gentle giant, and feed them a variety of equine
treats. “The Pony Bird staff who have worked
with these individuals for decades, were blown
away with how well the individuals responded
and how patient and kind the Ride On St. Louis
staff were,” shares Nicole Kyle, BSE, Program
Manager at Pony Bird. “This unique opportunity
gave the individuals at Pony Bird a chance to
expand their world and interactions. It [was]
something extraordinary and for that I will be
forever grateful to the donors and staff at Ride
On St. Louis.” Unmounted Activities is designed
to transfer benefits and encourage personal
discovery, behaviors and skills to promote human
growth, development and quality of life.
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