Horse Power of a Different Variety

by Chantai Snellgrove Print This Article

Child in a riding helmet sits on a horse accompanied by two women at the Okeechobee Special Equestrian Therapeutic Center.

Using the Power of the Horses to get creative

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is
good for the inside of a man.” ~Winston Churchill

A horse is a horse is a horse, unless, of course, you stop to think about the role of the horse throughout history. Since the dawning of man, the horse and man have been linked together for the greater good. From ancient Greek Mythology to present day, the horse and man have formed a very unique bond that few, if no other animals, have ever done. Whether it was Zeus summoning Pegasus to fetch the lightning, Kings and queens riding through their land on their steeds, Roy Rogers and Trigger (heck, there would be no “cowboy” without the horse), or even Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz being taken to meet the all powerful Oz by the “horse of a different color”, the horse has helped man for as long as anyone can remember. We even use the symbolic power of the horse to brag about our cars…”how many horses you got under the hood?” or “she’s got 500 horsepower”. Would we even have today’s cars if we never tamed the horse? The list can go on forever. It simply reinforces mankind’s fondness for this wonderful, beautiful, and powerful animal. It should come as no surprise that even today, horses are being used to help our most “special” members of society.

The Okeechobee Special Equestrian Therapeutic Riding Center is located at the MI-CIN Ranch in Okeechobee, Florida. The ranch is an impressive 20 acres of countryside…green grass, tall oak and palm trees, and a 25 stall barn equipped with a professional riding ring.

Mimi Arnold is the Executive Director and runs it along with her director, instructors and a dedicated team of volunteers. It is here that horses, once again, come to the aid of man. Mimi even adds a bit of “country” professional charm to the ranch by dressing the part. Dressed in a cowboy hat, sleeveless western ” given our heat index. Everyone at OSE is committed to improving the lives of individuals through the use of horses. Research shows that children and adults who participate in riding programs experience a wide range of benefits, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. The movement and rhythm of the gait of the horse provides neuromuscular stimulation to the rider. Benefits can range from increased flexibility and balance to greater confidence and self-esteem.

Everyone involved with therapeutic riding knows horses are the real therapists when working with special riders. At OSE, all seven therapy horses have been specifically chosen for their trusting, calm dispositions. Each horse in the OSE therapy program has been trained for over a year to stop on command prior to ever working with a special rider.

Therapeutic horseback riding dates back to 600 B.C., when they acknowledged that it was more than a means of transportation. It could also benefit the health and well being of those with handicaps. The first study on the value of riding, as a therapy, was reported in 1875, when a French physician named Cassaign used riding as a treatment for a variety of conditions. His conclusion was that it was helpful in the treatment of certain neurological disorders by improving balance and joint movement, as well as psychological improvements.

Lis Hartel brought public awareness to riding for the disabled with her equestrian achievements by winning a silver medal in the 1952 Summer Olympics for Dressage (a path and destination of horse training). Even though Hartel required assistance getting on and off of the horse, she was able to accomplish this feat despite being paralyzed below the knees as a result of polio. Shortly after winning the Olympic medal, Lis Hartel and her therapist founded Europe’s first Therapeutic Riding Center. This soon gained the attention of the medical community and Therapy Riding Centers spread throughout Europe. By the late 1960’s, equine riding was accepted by the America Medical Association as an “invaluable therapeutic tool”.

Creative Funding keeps the Therapeutic Riding School Program Alive
Mimi Arnold knows first hand what an “invaluable therapeutic tool” riding is as she sees its benefits daily. That is why when school budget cuts were made, and students from Yearling Middle School were going to be denied therapeutic riding services, Mimi Arnold and Jane Erheart (the ESE teacher from Yearling Middle school whose student’s were directly affected by the program cuts), decided to put their heads together to figure out a way to save this valuable program.

They worked to together, wrote and applied for a Jordan Fundamentals Grant. Michael Jordan, the former basketball superstar, donates a minimum of $1 million dollars annually to teachers across the county. Grants are given to 400 applicants in $2500 increments. These grants are intended to support teachers and provide additional access to resources that can help inspire and motivate students to succeed.

Mimi also knew they needed volunteers that would be able to assist students during school hours. During therapeutic riding sessions, an experienced volunteer leads the horse, while side-walkers ensure rider safety by holding on to the saddle and watching the rider’s position for stability or leaning. She believed a perfect match for their program would be students enrolled in the schools FFA program. FFAis the acronym for Future Farmers of America. The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. Programs are designed to broaden the students experience and abilities in different fields of agriculture. Mimi knew it would be a “win-win” situation if she could raise the additional funds needed to secure transportation.

Arnold did, in fact, secure additional funds through a Children’s Service Council Grant. Children’s Services Council is a countywide special taxing district created by ordinance to help fund programs and services that improve the lives of children and their families.

The CSC special district is unlike any other in the nation. Florida is the only state where a community has the power, by law, to create a special taxing district for the sole purpose of investing in the well-being of children and their families. While many other organizations address the needs of young children, no other public entity provides such an umbrella for leadership and coordination as it concerns the status of children. Examples of programs and services funded by CSCs include: school readiness, after school care, prenatal care, youth development, and foster care review.

While these grants helped, the money supplied will only help for a short while. The costs and expenses to run a Therapeutic Riding Center are extensive: feed & hay for seven horses, veterinary expenses, horseshoes, farrier bills, stall bedding, bridles, saddles and tack gear. Then, add the additional expenses of maintenance and upkeep to the ranch, equipment and special gear for special riders and you can quickly see that the costs do add up. Okeechobee Special Equestrian is a non-profit organization and is supported through donations, grants and volunteers.

It requires a person with great commitment, dedication, resolve, and kindness to offer this unique, alternative program to people. It requires a great deal of time, talent, and treasure as well. Our hats are off to Mimi Arnold and everyone involved that help make this therapeutic center available this school year to the students of Yearling Middle, as well as to others throughout the year.

Alternative Therapy

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Horse Power of a Different Variety

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