Therapeutic Programs

[FjordBCRF]

Is anyone involved in a therapeutic riding programs?

The young woman/friend that runs my trainers youth program also is the farm manager and certified therapeutic riding instructor at one of our local therapeutic barns. I’ve had a couple drops of experience in this space but it was a couple decades ago when I was working at a summer camp with an equine program. Most of the kids were typical, but we did have a few each summer that had some degree of disability. I found these kids really rewarding to work with and we had a few ponies that were just saints for them.

In any case, I talked with friend last night after kicking around getting into volunteering for a while now. SO also said he would be happy to join as well which is great. We have a tour on Tuesday

I have ehlers danlos syndrome which is an crappy connective tissue disease and have (as Im sure many of us have), felt the therapeutic benefits of just being around horses all my life.

I’ve never been diagnosed, but my nurse mother suspected some degree of autism as a very young child; all sorts of sensory things, stimming, didn’t talk for a long time etc. Being around horses made me feel at home and I have never been super social, but have a much higher degree of comfort with horse people having the common interest.

With the EDS, I am just coming off maybe my 6th bout of pulled intercostal muscles in the right side of my rib cage. I’ve had many other issues over the years, but this seems to be a big one for me. My gelding is a saint for me and while I don’t have any intentions of throwing him in a program anytime soon, if I get to a point that I need to step back, friend said he would be perfect in a therapeutic program. She gave me a good list of things I can do with him for myself if I ever need him to be even more accommodating as well.

Back to volunteering! I’m knocking on 40’s door with a great paying corporate job that has been accommodating of my EDS with being able to work from home. I don’t know that I have another 20 years of working in the corporate world even if it’s remote. I do have some hope that volunteering in this capacity could turn into something paying at some point (I don’t expect anything like I’m making now).

Would there be anything else outside of volunteering to consider? I’m lightly familiar with PATH and the different certifications but am not sure if that is something to consider at this point or maybe just volunteer for a bit and see if it takes me anywhere. I really, really like the idea of being able to do something in the therapeutic space that will pay a few bills at least. I’m well aware that most people’s passions don’t pay very well, but if I can suck up another 10 years maxing out 401K/HSA, I might be able to gear down a bit before true retirement age. I also find that my EDS is generally better when I’m in an active environment, I just have to be smart about the physicality level I choose to take on. The days of cleaning 20 stalls and throwing a whole hay wagon down myself are gone.

[dmveventer]

I volunteered with a therapeutic program for 10+ years including working as a volunteer coordinator and shift leader. It’s very rewarding work and I wish I had enough time in my week to get back to it. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed my work with the program.

That said, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Its hard work, physically and mentally, in all weather conditions. Every program runs differently, but there’s a good chance you’ll be doing a lot of grunt work, especially at first. Stalls, waters, throwing hay, etc. Volunteering in lessons requires you to be on your feet for at least an hour at a time, again in all weather conditions, and you need to be prepared to assist your rider in any way needed (including supporting emergency discounts, aka physically pulling your rider off a horse if needed). The horses also work much harder than it appears from the outside and the volunteers wind up dealing with more misbehavior than you’d think, even from the saintly ones. We did have volunteers with their own physical limitations and worked hard to accommodate them, just be aware that there’s only so much non-physical work to go around.

You absolutely should not go into this expecting to be able to monetize it in any way. Most programs operate on razor thin margins and rely on volunteers for as much as they possibly can. PATH certification is a long process, and instructors need to be physically capable of handling long days on their feet in all seasons, lifting riders on and off horses, handling medical emergencies, and pitching in with all the normal barn work to get the chores done. I don’t mean to sound overly negative but I’ve seen so many volunteers show up with unrealistic expectations and then quit when they realized they were going to spend their shifts mucking stalls instead of petting the ponies and having fun with the kids. It can be an immensely rewarding thing to do, but you definitely want to go in willing to do whatever the program needs to run whether it’s glamorous work or not. If you show yourself to be competent and reliable that can open up more opportunities down the line but getting paid is not guaranteed. Even as someone who was basically staff I still spent most of my time doing barn chores for free, usually right next to whatever instructors happened to be around that day.

[FjordBCRF]

@dmveventer

That said, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Its hard work, physically and mentally, in all weather conditions

I appreciate the take. I have no preconceived notions about sunshine and rainbows and am well versed in the local weather conditions given I am out in them with my horse every day.

I am quite content to pitch in for grunt work, I have done that at every barn I’ve boarded at and as a kid was I’d the barn rat nature. I can’t get out of bed before 8 to log onto my computer unless I have to. Getting up at 4:45AM to feed/turnout 18 horses in the winter? No problem. Did that for a few months before switching barns.

As I said in my post, being active with life helps me as long as I respect my limits. Quite honestly, I’m more comfortable with that and the horse care angle at this point than I am working with kids. I enjoyed the camp experience and did well with it, but I’m an only child that doesn’t want/can’t have kids of my own and have little experience with kids as an adult…so that is the most intimidating thing for me at this point! I’m hoping the volunteering helps expand my comfort zone there.

And again, not expecting much in the way of money, something would be the goal. Between SO and I, we could both retire early if we want with our investments, but we’re both pretty conservative and would rather have more than we need than jump the gun. Healthcare will probably be our biggest consideration.

We will see. I’m happy to have the opportunity and having an “in” with people that already work there. I have my MBA and could easily function in a program coordinator type role which they do have on staff and they also have a couple horse care coordinators and specialists, as well as marketing. I’m honestly surprised that I’ve lasted as long in corporate America as I have, but the benefits have made it worth it. That said, if i can walk away in 10 years or so into something else that I find more rewarding that is still going to make sense financially in the long run…I’d take it.

[dmveventer]

That sounds reasonable! You threw me off when you said your days of stalls and hay are over but it seems like you could be a good fit. I’d just go in with low expectations and see where it leads, there are paid opportunities out there but it can take a while to get there. Either way it’s an amazing experience, the few truly incredible moments definitely make up for spending most of your time mucking pastures on the rain.

[Natalie_A]

Depending on your skill set and background, the USEF is doing paradressage coach training programs, with a few different levels of coaches coming from both the therapeutic and traditional dressage training situations. As a disabled rider who fits into that slot where I outgrew therapeutic riding but do need a bit more help and assistance with horses than a non-disabled adult rider would, finding riding situations (not to mention suitable horses!) has been a journey.

[clanter]

@dmveventer

The horses also work much harder than it appears from the outside

our horses when carrying a young inexperienced rider could be seen sidestepping to recenter their rider back into the saddle, they were very careful with the kids

[FjordBCRF]

@dmveventer

You threw me off when you said your days of stalls and hay are over but it seems like you could be a good fit.

I can do a handful no problem! If I did a 20 stall barn by myself, I might not be doing stalls for a few days haha.

@dmveventer

I’d just go in with low expectations and see where it leads, there are paid opportunities out there but it can take a while to get there

I figure worst case scenario, I spent time volunteering!

@Natalie_A

Depending on your skill set and background, the USEF is doing paradressage coach training programs, with a few different levels of coaches coming from both the therapeutic and traditional dressage training situations. As a disabled rider who fits into that slot where I outgrew therapeutic riding but do need a bit more help and assistance with horses than a non-disabled adult rider would, finding riding situations (not to mention suitable horses!) has been a journey.

Wonderful information, I will look into this. The friends goals are to put together a local program like this at some point; there seems to be a pretty large gap between the two. She’s noticed it a lot with kids that may be on the spectrum or have adhd as examples, that they can definitely go beyond the therapeutic program but wouldn’t necessarily thrive in a traditional program.

I can imagine it’s been a journey. My EDS is only coming more problematic as I age, and I was talking to my trainer tonight about our path forward and she is totally on board to start working with Charlie on anything that may help me down the line.

[Bluey]

As a side note, with rib problems, check out costochondritis:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532931/

I had that on and off for a dozen years, it was miserable, as any such sharp pain can be, no matter the source, as the chest moves so much just breathing.

Our participation in handicapped therapy programs for some years was loaning them suitable horses.
We had three they used two to three months each one, then changed for the next one, is how they operated, with loaned horses.
Ours was a non-profit, but operated along a local hospital rehab program, same therapists were part of it.
For some patients their insurance would pay, which helped all of them, keeping the operation going.

There are many ways you can help, each group works what is best for them in their situation.
Go check any such you may have handy.

[FjordBCRF]

@Bluey

As a side note, with rib problems, check out costochondritis:

I’m pretty sure that’s what it is this time. The first time it happened, I felt a pop and think I dislocated a rib, but this is wider spread throughout the right side of my ribs…and the original rib . It’s the pits! I’m ok to walk while riding, tried a bit of trotting last night and after a few strides decided probably not the best idea yet.

Were you happy with the care and experience your horses had in the program they were in? That’s another angle I want to get a pulse on too if I ever decide that might be a possibly down the road for us too. I know it depends on the program and those in charge so it’s not going to be a one size fits all.

[Bluey]

@FjordBCRF

I’m pretty sure that’s what it is this time. The first time it happened, I felt a pop and think I dislocated a rib, but this is wider spread throughout the right side of my ribs…and the original rib . It’s the pits! I’m ok to walk while riding, tried a bit of trotting last night and after a few strides decided probably not the best idea yet.

Were you happy with the care and experience your horses had in the program they were in? That’s another angle I want to get a pulse on too if I ever decide that might be a possibly down the road for us too. I know it depends on the program and those in charge so it’s not going to be a one size fits all.

Once in a blue moon those ribs flare up again, but rarely, not like when it was all active pain.
When they get painful, even a doctor carefully touching your ribs when on the examination table can make you practically fall off it, that is serious pain.

We were also helping with the care of the horses, one other horse of ours they bought outright, ours was a good program, three days a week, horses were turned out and had friends and breaks and were groomed every day well, etc.
Sadly the state grant it was operating under was discontinued some years ago and it closed.
Now there is another local group I would have to check out, as you are, to be sure it is well run, not all are.

[dmveventer]

@FjordBCRF

Were you happy with the care and experience your horses had in the program they were in?

It is program dependent but the people I worked with across a few different places were all very conscientious about the horses’ care. They’re not going to get anything super fancy, but all the essentials will be covered and the staff genuinely care about their well-being. They’re also pragmatic in knowing the horses have a really tough job (physically and mentally) and a horse that can manage the challenges well is worth investing in for the long term.

It’s hard to tell if a horse is going to be a good fit for the work though, there’s only a small portion that are genuinely suited to it. It’s not just about being calm and having a good temperament. We had plenty that should have been great on paper but couldn’t handle it, and some that should have been disasters who took to it beautifully. Your friend may have a good eye but even our most experienced instructors wouldn’t make a call on whether a horse would be a good fit or not until they’d seen it actually doing the work for a few months.