School Extra: Read all about it By Bob Zimmerman- September 26, 2018

I am going off campus this week to learn more about horses helping people who happen to have disabilities. The True Strides Horse Program is part of True Friends and is located at Camp Courage just outside of Maple Lake. The program’s mission is “to provide lifechanging experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities “. Occupational Therapist Ms. Shari Mangas has been the director since the program opened in 2014. There are currently 60 clients, 13 horses and 15 staff members working together to meet goals specific to individual needs. Three types of activities are provided; Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship Experiences. Hippos is the Greek word for horse and Hippotherapy is the therapeutic use of horses as a medically based treatment tool. A therapist guides both the horse and rider to encourage specific motor and sensory inputs. The rhythmic three dimensional movement of the horse can improve the flexibility, posture, balance and mobility of the rider. Three or four people can be involved during an hour-long treatment session. The therapist directs the team, a handler leads the horse and one or two side walkers provide assistance as directed. Ms. Mangas told me that staff can walk up to two miles a day while working with their clients. Therapeutic riding is a recreational therapy in which a person with a disability is taught riding skills by an instructor. It helps develop muscle tone, coordination _and confidence and also improves sensory and motor skills for balance and posture. The therapeutic value of riding is a side benefit of learning riding skills for recreational purposes. Horsemanship experiences are available at True Strides through their Horsing Around camp experiences and special respite programs. People with many different kinds of disabilities can benefit from riding therapy. According to the programs brochure “When the horse is walking, its hips duplicate the three dimensional movement of the human hips. For those individuals who cannot walk, or cannot walk without assistance, sitting astride a horse allows the body to be moved as if it is walking normally. In addition, the rider’s body needs to stabilize on a mobile platform, so core trunk strength is developed, resulting in improved balance. Studies have shown that sitting on a walking horse for 30-45 minutes will improve a rider’s balance.” There are also psychological and social benefits involving self-esteem, confidence and relationships. The entire program brings to mind the Winston Churchill qoute “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Isabell is an 11 year old fifth grade student who has Cerebral Palsy. She has been a rider at True Strides since the start of the program. According to her Mom, Isabell “absolutely loves, loves, loves riding. She has fun while working a ton of muscles that help her core strength and balance.” Her riding friends are important to her and she enjoys showing off new skills as she masters them. She has progressed to where she is able to ride alone for part of her therapy sessions. True Strides motto “Where therapy is fun, goals are reached… and dreams become reality” describes Isabell’s riding career very well. True Strides is hosting a Fall Festival that will be open to the public starting at 5 p.m. on October 6th. A pig roast, pony rides, silent auction, games and a bonfire are on the agenda along with Bluegrass music by St Cloud artist Jon Theis. More information is available on facebook by searching on true strides therapy horses or by emailing info@truestrides.org. Fun Fact: Hippos was also combined with potamos, the Greek word for river, to name another animal.