August 2021 • 3 min read
15 Therapeutic Horseback Riding
I began therapeutic horseback riding lessons well into my 70s. I had long given up on the idea of learning to horseback ride when two of my friends asked me to ride with them. Peggy had two horses, and Barbara had never ridden before. Sadly, both of them passed on from ALS before we could ride together.
To honor their memories, I signed up for Loving Thunder therapeutic horseback riding lessons in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. I don’t know if Loving Thunder already had a slogan, but if not, it could be, “If you want to ride, we’ll find a way”.
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My riding lessons are a tribute to both Peggy and Barbara. Sometimes I visualize the three of us riding together. I think of them often as well as my third cousin Max, who benefited from his therapeutic riding program in far-off Finland.
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My mom explained that my name, Philip, in Greek means “lover of horses”. I have always enjoyed being around horses but had only been on a horse once before starting with Loving Thunder.
I require a great deal of assistance from my instructors, lead volunteers and side walkers. If it wasn’t for them and the specially trained patient horses, I would not be able to ride. Susan has been my lead volunteer for over four years.
MY FIRST RIDE
I am physically unable to saddle the horses and can only do limited grooming, but I do what I can. I use the ramp and need lots of help to mount and dismount. When I began, Twuana, the co-owner and my teacher, rigged up a special setup for me to better use the reins. Riding helps improve my strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, endurance and confidence.
Riding is challenging for me but is great fun and helps me physically. I look forward to riding each week we are in session. It allows me to focus on what I can do instead of what I can’t do. During the winter sessions, I am so focused on working with my horse that I hardly notice the wind and cold. I love being with “my horse,” instructors, the volunteers, and other riders. It’s a real community.
My riding lessons are much more than learning basic riding skills. Horses are strong and can be intimidating, but they are also very sensitive. The key is to form a close relationship based on mutual trust, respect and clear communication. Riders should consider horses as equals and partners. As you can see from the exchange below between me and my lead volunteer, I am not always in sync with my horse, but hopefully the horses that I ride know that I care about them and I am trying my best to be a good partner.
CLICK TO SEE ME RIDING
A typical riding lesson conversation:
Phil: “Why won’t Belle turn to the right?”
Susan: (my lead volunteer) “Because you confused her, so she doesn’t know what you want her to do!!”
Phil: “Oh, I need to get my feet, legs, seat, eyes and reins working together”.
Susan: “That’s right, and try to sit up a little straighter, and did you hear what Twuana (my instructor) asked you to do?”
Phil: “No, what did she say?” Susan: “…….. and keep your heels down and eyes pointed where you want to go. That’s right”.
Susan thinking to herself: “Phil is never going to be a cowboy, but he tries hard and has fun”.
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Several years ago, I competed in a therapeutic riding event at the New Mexico State Fair. It was a good experience and I won a blue ribbon in one competition. More recently, I did a KRQE (click on the link to watch) TV New Mexico Living Local interview on my therapeutic riding. There’s also a KOB4 spot promoting Loving Thunder.
