Horse program changes lives

Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center in Bend is quietly going about the business of changing lives.

The center's home is a beautiful facility east of Sisters.

Each week, children and adults with differing types of physical, social, and mental disabilities come for an hour of riding therapy.

When the riders arrive at the center, they are met by their instructor, their volunteer helpers and most importantly, their equine therapist.

Each rider is matched with the same team for the duration of his or her time at the center.

According to Pam Addington, the founder and executive director of Healing Reins, the goal for therapeutic riding is to enable riders to function independently on their horses.

A typical lesson has the riders accomplishing a variety of tasks, each done with the cheerful encouragement of the volunteers and instructor.

The riders may guide their horses through a series of cones or pick up a colored ring at one station and place it on another one. Another task may be to select a picture on the wall that matches one which the instructor has, take it off the wall and deposit it in a mailbox at the side of the arena.

These seemingly simple tasks involve motor and cognitive skills that can be daunting to a person with a disability, especially when performed several feet off the ground on a horse's back.

The resulting smiles and cheers when done successfully are proof of achievement.

The benefits of therapeutic riding are enthusiastically endorsed by all who are touched by it. The riders gain strength and self-esteem, parents are encouraged, and doctors are amazed.

Diane Cole, who's daughter Anna has spina bifida and is in her second session at Healing Reins, says, "This has been the best thing for her strength. Her doctor is delighted with her progress."

Pam Addington started Healing Reins three years ago after seeing a demonstration of therapeutic riding at an event she attended.

A lifelong horsewoman, she wanted to be involved and contacted NAHRA.

This organization is the umbrella group for therapeutic riding centers throughout North America and is affiliated with groups internationally.

She set up Healing Reins as a non-profit, gathered a group of like-minded individuals to serve on the board, became a certified instructor and started teaching.

Her first group of riders came from Sisters, referred through the Family Access Network. All four of them still come each week.

The center has grown from four horses, four riders and a few volunteers to nine horses, 48 riders and 160 volunteers.

"We have a tremendous group of supporters," Addington said. "Our shoeing is donated and the vet work is donated by Martin Warbington of Tumalo Animal Hospital. The wheelchair mounting ramp was also donated by a supporter."

The lifeblood of the center is the horses and the volunteers.

"Therapeutic riding can be stressful for a horse, so it takes a special animal to cope," Addington said. "A therapy horse must be able to overcome it's natural tendency of flight in an uncomfortable situation.

"Instead, therapy horses stop and let the situation pass."

Potential Healing Reins horses are taken on a 30-day trial, with the understanding that they will go back to their owners if they are unsuitable.

The center owns only two of its equine volunteers; the others will go back to their owners when their time as a therapy horse is over.

Volunteers come from all walks of life.

Some work with the disabled, some work with horses, some begin by being tentative with both.

All possess a happy outlook and genuine concern for their charges.

The main requirements are the physical capability to occasionally run around the arena, support a rider if needed and be able to follow instructions. Healing Reins runs volunteer training each month, with the next session on August 7.

Anyone interested may contact Diane Howard, volunteer coordinator, at 382-9410.