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About F.R.E.E. THERAPEUTIC RIDING CLASSIFICATIONS There are three different uses of the horse in therapeutic riding. Sport: Adaptive riding skills are taught; individuals may participate in riding, driving or vaulting as recreation or in competition. Education: Adaptive equine activities of riding, driving or vaulting are used to achieve cognitive, behavioral, social and physical goals. The horse acts as a motivator to achieve these goals. Medicine: With a physician's prescription, a therapist and therapeutic riding instructor use the movement of the horse to influence the rider's posture, balance, mobility and function. No riding skills are taught.
HISTORY Front Range Exceptional Equestrians started operations in 1983 as the "Let's Ride" program. In 1987, the program changed its name and became a nonprofit corporation when it attained 501(c)3 status. Each year the program serves approximately 60 individual riders. Fifty percent of these clients have a mental disability or cognitive delay. More than half of our clients are over the age of 18, although clients range in age from 3 to 65+ years old. Front Range Exceptional Equestrians receives the help of over 100 volunteers who contribute more than 1200 hours to the program each year. Front Range Exceptional Equestrians is a Premier Accredited Center of NARHA, North American Riding for the Handicapped. The instructors are certified therapeutic riding instructors and attend yearly training . The staff currently includes 5 therapeutic riding instructors, an occupational therapist, a Physical Therapist and ten horses. Classes are available at Legacy Stables in their indoor and outdoor arenas on Monday evenings, April 1- October 1 each year. Classes are also available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the CSU Equine Center throughout the year. BENEFITS OF RIDING THERAPY Riding therapy offers many benefits. The movement of the horse at a walk produces movement in the rider's pelvis similar to human walking. In addition, the horse's stride length and cadence is similar to humans. The horse can produce an uninterrupted, repetitive motion , which makes it a valuable tool for therapists to use in gait training. Among the benefits riders may gain are improvements in:
There are many opportunities for volunteering in our program. Volunteers are used to help riders participate in classes, groom and tack horses, assist on a committee such as fund raising, special events, long range planning, take pictures at classes and events, help with the newsletter and many other tasks! A knowledge of horses or disabilities is not required. All volunteers must be 14 to volunteer in classes. Training is provided. For more information about Front Range Exceptional Equestrians
therapeutic riding program, please write or call: Front Range Exceptional
Equestrians PO Box 272452 Fort Collins, CO 80527 |
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