“ These elements added up to a return to riding — something I hadn ’ t done for 35 years — and LTR welcomed me warmly .
“ My Instructor Heather ’ s bare bones approach with me — no saddle , just a bareback pad — has increased my core strength and balance . I ’ m learning not to over think and instead feel and use my whole body more effectively as I regain confidence and become more at ease with my changing body .”
body — with aid of trekking poles — hiked up mountain trails in Africa to sit with gorillas and climbed on and off ships in Antarctica to commune with wildlife . That is , until my mobility changed rapidly over the past three years , which sent me into a deep funk .
“ Nowadays , the challenge isn ’ t so much a humid jungle trail or a small boat rolling on an icy sea — it ’ s a six-inch curb or a countdown timer at a crosswalk I ’ ll never beat . And these things , as you might
photos : Ashley brody
Student , horse , instructor , volunteer : all are an integral part of the team at LTR .
imagine , get in your head : ‘ You ’ ve climbed mountains and now you struggle with a curb ?’
“ I was living in the past and although isolation during lockdown didn ’ t help , I had time to reflect on how my body was changing and how I wanted to address this when the world reopened . I knew I wanted to do something physical , collaborate with others in an atmosphere I enjoy , and , most important , engage in an activity proven to benefit my condition .
Equine Assisted Learning presents participants of all ages and abilities with interactive challenges and learning activities to improved communication skills , recognize and build on strengths , comprehend truth , respect , trust , and honesty , understand natural consequences and focus on accountability , enrich relationships and teamwork , utilize critical thinking , planning , and problem-solving skills .
Horses require work . Whether caring for them or working in partnership with them they require people to be engaged in physical and mental work to be successful , a valuable characteristic in all aspects of life . Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals with defined roles within their herds . Just like humans they would rather be with their peers , they have distinct personalities , attitudes and moods , and most importantly , they have the ability to mirror exactly what the human body language is telling . They are honest which makes them especially powerful messengers . They like to have fun , yet they can also be stubborn and defiant . The horses
42 wander I fall • winter 2022