Horses bring joy to disabled
Fenton resident Arlene Hovey loves to see her son enjoying life — just like the other kids his age.
“It’s nice seeing him feeling independent,” she said.
Her son, Joshua Hovey, 17, is one of more than a dozen youths ages 5 to 18 who take part in the therapeutic riding program run by the Livingston County Therapeutic Riding Committee. Volunteers walk on either side of the horses while physically or mentally disabled riders enjoy trail rides, mounted games and other horse-based activities, such as obstacle courses.
“It’s fun,” Joshua said.
Joshua’s mother and his sister Amber Hovey, 20, volunteer with the program, which is held at the Wylie Farm in Howell. Volunteers saddle the horses and walk next to them.
“It helps teach him how to balance on a horse,” Arlene Hovey said. “I thought it would be a good feeling — to control the horse. He loves it. It’s great fun seeing all the kids enjoying themselves.”
Moms and dads often stand on the sidelines, cheering their youngsters on, said Wendy Parks, a volunteer with the therapeutic riding committee.
“When they sit on the horses they just beam,” Parks said.
Youngsters improve their muscle tone, coordination and posture in the one-hour, twice-weekly classes, she said.
“The horses are very gentle. If a child is severely disabled, a back rider sits behind the child on the horse,” Parks said. “We try to have the children hold the reins if they can and do as much as they can.”
The youths weave in and around poles, trot the horses and play games like picking up items from one bucket and dropping them into another.
Howell resident Cheryl Derryberry, 46, helps get the horses ready and rides bareback behind some of the youngsters.
Volunteering for the program is humbling, she said.
“All your problems are put in perspective,” she said.
For once, the youngsters get to do things their more able-bodied brothers and sisters can’t.
“They are just ecstatic,” Derryberry said. “It doesn’t require the use of their legs. They are happy and excited.”
Source: Freep