The horses of Saratoga County are known mostly for racing, but there are some who go by another game – therapy.
The people and horses at EquAbility Inc., an equine therapy organization located in Middle Grove, know a thing or two about helping others so it is almost fitting that Ballston Spa National Bank would want to sponsor a Community Fun Day to support them. The event will be held Sunday, June 10, from11 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the bank’s Greenfield Center office at 3060 Route 9N.
Susan M. Slovic, marketing director of Ballston Spa National Bank, said sponsoring the event was a good fit for her organization, which tries to get involved in the communities where it does business.
“They (staff) recognized the opportunity to provide a fun event for the community while raising funds to support a worthy cause,” said Slovic.
Highlights of the day include food, a petting zoo, a K9 rescue demonstration and the chance to meet some of EquaAbility’s miniature horses. Admission is free.
At EquaAbility, horses are able to help provide various therapies, including those in the physical and psychological/cognitive areas, with the aid of trained handlers and therapists. While riding the horses is a large part of therapy, those who are unable to ride still benefit from caring for the horses.
EquAbility, a non-for profit organization (part of Clover RidgeFarm) was started in 1995 by Barbara Diamond. Her knowledge of equine therapy stems from over 20 years of working extensively with the animals and attending conferences and programs on the subject. She has worked with Wildwood School and the Centers for Disability Services, among others to offer equine therapy,
She said that working with those who have special needs and horses “is in her blood”.
“I’ve seen from the outside the changes that come over folks who are put on a horse. … The quiet ones come out of their shells and the challenged ones mind their p’s and q’s. It’s an incredible motivator for behavior. They don’t get to control a lot of other things in their lives but they can control a great big horse,” said Diamond.
Diamond works several “off farm” jobs to support EquAbility, and is able to offer equine therapy for around 10 children and adults with special needs. Expenses for each of the three horses she owns adds up to approximately $700 per month/per horse.
Whether a horse is providing physical or mental therapy, there is always a leader for the horse and two “side walkers” to ensure safety of the animal and rider. Diamond said that many children with Down syndrome who have a lack of muscle tone benefit by riding because the movement encourages muscle tone. For individuals with autism, therapy can help build up their attention span.
Ronda Fein’s son Jon, 27, has autism and has been attending EquAbility once a week since he was 11.
“Barbara is amazing,” said Fein.
She said Jon has a lot of sensory issues and is largely non-verbal, but since participating in equine therapy, his speech has gotten better and he “absolutely loves it.”
Diamond said that horses are specially trained to be “desensitized” to the many distractions that will arise while being ridden, and they are accustomed to accepting things that are “not normal,” such as a rider playing basketball (one of the activities in some therapy sessions).
“If the cognition isn’t there, I look to see what engages the individual,” said Diamond. Engaging riders can come from just touching the horse’s neck to letting it know when to “go” (move forward) as opposed to speaking the command.
Before establishing EquAbility, Diamond has volunteered at many equine therapy organizations including STEP, Saratoga Therapeutic Equestrian Program.
Kay White, a physical therapist with STEP, said that the benefits of equine therapy are many and include “increased postural control, core strengthening, increased balance and equilibrium.” She added that it helps an individual improve his or her walking and the ability to use devices like crutches and walkers.
Equine therapy is growing in popularity, and according to the PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) website, they have “nearly 800 member centers and over 6,300 individual members worldwide.”
Saratoga Hospital may, in the future offer equine therapy, although Brad Sexauer, a spokesman for the hospital, said the possibility is “only in the talking stages.”
For more information on EquAbility or to set up an individual therapy program with Diamond, call 583-1810.
