The Coastal Therapeutic Riding Program Idea

Another idea, even though I like the gender one better...

I just started volunteering for the Coastal Therapeutic Riding Program; it’s a nonprofit organization and part of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). I’m going to quote the website’s info; “Therapeutic horseback riding provides physical, emotional, and social enrichment to children and adults with special needs. The rhythmic action of the horses' gaits relaxes and strengthens riders' muscles and improves body tone, posture, balance, joint mobility, and coordination. Sitting proudly on the back of a friendly horse, riders experience the thrill of independence for perhaps the first time in their lives.”

The other day, we had an autistic 13-year-old rider. The theme of the day was circles. There were circles drawn on the grass, we had him throw a ball back and forth (while on the horse). He was asked to read “pizza” off a piece of paper, so the lessons are specifically designed thematically. The place itself is pretty run down, it’s messy and dirty but its organized chaos, but that gives it an interesting aesthetic. There is so much to look at! The place also seems so isolated, the first time I went in I felt like I was in a horror movie, I walked into these empty stables… anyway…It is this little microcosm and from what I can tell so far, there are some unusual people that work there. There would be a lot to look into for a doc: the helpers/stable people/organization and the disabled kids, and there’s much to say about both sides...