Times Advocate, 1999-06-09, Page 18Crooa
Page
8i.wdaYel99ExeterTimes-Advocate
San: horses riing
people
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
ARVA — Humans aren't
always the best therapists.
Sometimes horses can be
used to provide the most
appropriate therapy for peo-
ple suffering from disabili-
ties.
An example of this is Sari
Riding for Disabled, a stable
located just outside of Arva
that has been working with
those with disabilities for 21
years.
Sari became an incorporat-
ed charity in 1978, when it
was founded by Syd and
Jeanne Greenberg, whose
daughter named Sari suf-
fered from Down's syndrome.
When Sari died, the
Greenbergs wanted to 'leave a
legacy for her. At first they
weren't sure what to do, but
when it was suggested to
them.that therapeutic riding
was just being developed,
their decision was made to
begin a horse riding centre.
,Once the Greenbergs decid-
ed 'to go ahead with Sari,
they began to look for
experts and professionals to
stt on the board of directors.
Sari, says its executive
director Kendra Martin, is
open to anyone identified
with special needs. While it
started small, Martin says
Sari has grown to include an
indoor riding arena and a
pool of 256 volunteers:_half
of whom assist with riding.
Others help with fund-raising
and driving. In addition to
the volunteers, Sari has four
full-time paid employees and
two part-time employees.
"It started as a small cow
barn here with two ponies
and an -outdoor riding ring
and they secured funds to
build the indoor arena and it
just grew from there," Martin
says of Sari.
As a result of the
Greenbergs'• work, they've
been recognized by their
community. Jeanne recently
'won a YMCA Woman of
Distinction Award and she
and Syd won the London
Sports Celebrity of the Year
Award this year.
Sari doesn't rely on govern-
ment grants for funding, so it
holds many fund-raisers dur-
ing the year to support its
annual $180,000 budget,
including an annual ride-a-
thon, golf tournaments, bingo
and Nevada tickets. Sari also
receives grants from the
United Way and various cor-
porations.
Participants with Sari start
as young as three years old
and can remain in'the pro-
gram until it is determined
they've learned all they can
from Sari. Martin describes
the therapy as a sports and
recreation program which
teaches riding skills, horse-
manship and sportsmanship.
Participants in Sari must
have special needs that
would preclude them from
riding anywhere else. Some
of the disabilities experi-
enced by Sari riders include
cerebral palsy, Down's syn-
drome, developmental
delays, learning delays, mul-
tiple sclerosis, brain injuries
and vision and hearing prob-
lems.
Sari can't take all people,
though. Martin said it would
be dangerous to take in those
who suffer from extreme
seizures or spinal problems
because they could hurt
themselves.
Martin said horse riding
has been proven to improve
problems with co-ordination,
muscle tone and flexibility.
Horse riding helps the panic-
ipa-nts because the walking
gait of a horse mimics the
walking gait of person,
Martin' said.
But the physical benefits
aren't all Sari provides to its
riders.
"It's a very unique kind of
therapy becausealong with
being physically beneficial it
provides that emotional con-
nection to the animal and the
social experience of riding
with other people."
Martin says she sees many,
changes in people who par-
ticipate at Sari.
Many of the riders become
more -communicative at home
or at school as a result of
their Sari experience because
they've discovered something
they love and something they
look forward to each, week.
Also, Martin says many par-
ticipants improve their confi-
dence and Call improve their
posture and balance.
"We do see those physical
(changes) but I think for the
most part what we see is the
social, emotional changes in
the children."
As the riders improve, they
graduate to different levels in
the Sari Achievement
Rainbow Program. In it, par-
ticipants receive a different
colour depending on which:
level they are at. Green is the
highest.
Sari's "graduates" frequent-
ly come back to visit and
Martin said many come back
to do work experience, work
on the board of directors and
volunteer.
"We like to keep in touch
with our past riders," she
said. adding that Sari serves
over 100 people each year
and keeps growing.
Also, those who have severe
disabilities and are unable or
afraid to sit on a horse can,
participate in the cart -riding
program, In which a pony
will pull .the participant
around on a wheelchair -
accessible cart. In this pro-
gram, the participants learn
how to steer the pony with
reins.
Sari now has 13 horses.
most of whom have been
tting on his horse Jeremy is one of San's riders, Harry Day, who's been with the program
r three years,With Harry from left are volunteer Dwight Wesenger, executive director
Kendra Martin and volunteer Mary P4Mrie.
donated. Horses chosen for
Sari have to have "golden
personalities" and must be
calm and usedto unpre-
dictable movements from its
riders. They have to be
trained and go through a
trial period before any of the
participants are allowed to
ride them.
As a result of the complexi-
ties otcaring for Sari's rid-
ers, all Of the volunteer
instructors are ensouraged to
get certification -from the
Canadian 'Therapeutic Riding
Association, which provides
courses for the instructors.
Also, all instructors must
have experience with horses
and must have a teaching
background cid must main-
tain CPR and first aid qualifi-
cations.
Sari is the only therapeutic
centre efts kind in the area,
Martin said, with the closest
other centre in Guelph.. She
said operating a centre such
as Sari is difficult because it
takes many volunteers and
"you have to really love it to
do it."
Sark riders come froth
Ilderton, St. Marys, Goderich
as well as London. One suck
rider is nine-year-old Harry
Day, who lives near Ilderton
and has been in the program
for about three years. Harry
has delayed motor skills and
can't walk on his own or
speak. His dad John says the
biggest improvement in
Harry during his time at Sari
has been his improved bal-
ance and strength. He's also
learning sign language.
John says his son has also
developed. a close bond with
his horse, Jeremy, and
always.looks forward to his
times at Sari.
For Martin, her three years
at Sari have been a "very
gratifying experience." She
adds that everyone involved
in Sari is there because they
want to be there and "it's a
very unique place to work."
As executive director sire
'manages the centre, deals
with the staff, assists with
volunteers, does community
speaking, visits schools and
instructs riders.
Sari offers weekly riding
lessons Sept -June for
$10/hour lesson. There are
also summer lessons. To
learn more about Sari or to
become a volunteer, call
Martin at (519) 666-1123.
•.;