Village Squire, 1979-09, Page 26In the arena, a kinesologist and a volunteer supervise exercises designed to overcome fear of
heights, build self-confidence and improve balance, motor skills, co-ordination and muscle
tone. Raising the arms and rotating the body are just two of the exercises. --Photo by Elaine
Townshend.
Therapy on horsebac/€
Horses are a doctor's best friend
BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
"Trot on! Trot on!" the rider urges her
mount.
At first glance, an onlooker doesn't
realize the horse and rider are taking part
in a therapy session rather than a
recreational ride. The place is an indoor
arena at Pineview Stables, R.R.1 Shake-
speare; the rider is from the Oxford
Regional Centre for Mentally Handicapped
Adults in Woodstock; and the horse is the
motivator in a unique and successful
therapeutic program.
The value of horseback riding for people
with physical, mental and social handicaps
has been documented in Europe for 50
years, but only in the last 10 to 15 years
has it been recognized in North America.
Riding associations for the handicapped
have formed in Canada and the United
States, and five years ago the Central
24 Village Squire, September 1979
Ontario Developmental Riding Program
(C.O.D.R.P.) began operating in the
Kitchener -Waterloo area. C.O.D.R.P.
integrates disabled riders into multi-pur-
pose stables to provide rehabilitation and
creation.
Mrs. Simone Rommens and her son,
Felix have operated a boarding stable and
riding academy at the Shakespeare site for
seven years. When Mrs. Rommens heard
about C.O.D.R.P., she decided to make
Pineview available.
She and C.O.D.R.P. representatives
contacted groups in the Stratford/New
Hamburg area they thought could benefit
from such a program. The Oxford Regional
Centre was one of the organizations that
responded, but Ron Taylor, supervisor of
the kinesology department, admitted the
staff had some doubts.
They enrolled one patient on an
eight-week trial basis. His improvement
encouraged them to venture into a
one -morning -a -week program involving
four riders. After six months, the project
expanded to two mornings each week and
involved eight riders in two classes:
beginner and advanced.
During the winter, the arena is used, but
in good weather, an outdoor riding area is
utilized. The stable provides a riding
instructor, horses and use of the facilities
at a minimum rate. Volunteers lead the
horses and act as "spotters" walking
alongside riders who need assistance. Mrs.
Rommens says more volunteers are always
needed and are trained by the Pineview
staff.
Each rider grooms his horse and "tacks
up." Doing up buckles on the saddle
improves fine motor skills. Then under the
supervision of a member of the kinesology