Eleven-year old Azzy Clinger has not spent much time in a barn, but that is not apparent while watching her care for and ride horses during recent equestrian therapy sessions.
Azzy is one of nine Indian Lake Middle School special needs students who are taking part in a 10-week program at the new Discovery Riders Linda Laine Hauck Equestrian Center, 1797 E. State Route 47, Bellefontaine.
Liberty National Bank and Quest Federal Credit Union, along with United Way of Logan County, are sponsoring scholarships for the students to participate free of charge to their families and school.
Already, Azzy’s mother, Jessica Klaas, is seeing a profound impact on her daughter.
“She’s excited about coming, but excited enough to know she’s got to be calm to do it. She’s a lot calmer with other children and overall better behaved.”
During the weekly sessions, students spend time learning horse-related vocabulary and other lessons with volunteers and center staff. Then they prepare the horses by brushing them, cleaning their hooves, and putting on the saddles. Finally, they lead the horses around the arena, mount up and ride.
Amy Esaleh is the educator for the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center’s Cross Categorical classroom, housed at ILMS. She is thrilled by this opportunity for her students and the progress she has seen in them.
“Oh my gosh, it’s amazing. The kids talk about it all the time. Landon has a countdown from the time we leave, until we return,” she said.
Indeed, sixth grader Landon Coy was first to learn the tack lingo. He says, “I like to trot, but I like grooming, too…I like to brush.”
Discovery Riders Program Director and Advanced Certified Instructor Sarah Potts explained that equestrian therapy is effective in the treatment of many challenges, including social/emotional struggles, autism, anxiety, depression, and physical disabilities.
She said therapeutic riding uses all aspects of the horse to facilitate a depth of understanding about a variety of personal skills.
“Horsemanship is very much working with the animal and, in doing that, you learn how to socialize and interact and be appropriate if you’re going to be successful.”
In addition, Potts explains that readying the horses for riding involves sequencing skills and fine motor skills, like buckling the saddle straps. But Potts said mounting and riding the horses adds another level of exercise and growth.
“For anyone who is struggling with motor skills and aligning their mind and their body, that movement helps to organize the systems. It engages the core muscles and back muscles, which then also help with breathing and speech,” she said.
In addition, Discovery Riders is equipped with a special needs lift and other adaptive devices should the students or other riders require more assistance.
Esaleh said the lessons learned in the barn are blending into the classroom.
“The letters on the wall (of the arena) help them with letter recognition and the colors of the cones help with those skills. We have some of the same books, so we read and partner read regularly to remember our horse vocabulary.”
After only three sessions, Klaas, Esaleh and Potts report they are seeing more confidence and joy in the children. And that’s the best benefit of all.
“She just loves animals and this is helping her learn how to behave in the world,” Klaas said of Azzy.