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HOLLAND
COLLEGE • April 29, 2003
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INSIDE |
FEATURES
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| {Horseback
riding therapeutic for the disabled  PHOTO:
Joy Riders president Jo-Ann MacPhail and head instructor Kathy Barrett
pose with one of the six horses used in the program.By Heather MacAdam Surveyor Staff Each spring for the past 10 years, Peter MacPhail has climbed on top of a horse and taken riding lessons. Like many, he enjoys horseback riding, but for him it's more than just a sport. Peter has a condition called arthrogryposis, a disease that affects the muscles and joints. Riding loosens his muscles and improves his ability to walk, says his mother, Jo-Ann. She is the president of the Joy Riders Therapeutic Riding Association of P.E.I., which was founded in 1979 and promotes riding for physically and mentally challenged people as a form of therapeutic exercise. Jo-Ann first learned about Joy Riders when a physiotherapist recommended it for Peter. "He did quite well," she said. "Definite improvement." Since Peter started, Jo-Ann has been very involved with the organization. She eventually joined the board of directors and has been president for the past four years. The riders arrive at the barn for their lessons on Saturday mornings and start by doing stretches which are led by a physiotherapist. Some of the riders who have trouble speading their legs far enough to sit on the horse warm up by sitting on Wacky George, a carpet-covered oil drum donated by Wacky Wheatley's. The riders then put on their belts, which have a loop on each side used by volunteers called side walkers to hold the riders so they don't fall off. Side walkers are not encouraged to hold on too much and each rider may have one or two side walkers, depending on the seriousness of their condition. After their belts are on, riders put on their helmets and go to a heated room inside the barn to keep warm. There, all the riders can chat with their friends until their lesson begins, Jo-Ann said. Joy Riders head instructor Kathy Barrett has been involved with the program for six years and the lessons are held at her barn. The lessons were held at a different farm about 10 years ago, but a new barn was needed because the bathroom was upstairs and many of the riders couldn't get to it. Barrett had always wanted her own barn and Joy Riders helped her build one to accommodate the riders. Six of Barrett's horses are used for the lessons. Only three are in the arena at one time. Barrett said she first became involved with the program when she was doing a course through Holland College which trained equestrian coaches. "While I was going that I volunteered for Joy Riders." After she was certified as coach, she was asked to teach. Barrett took an exam from a national organization called Cantar. "They examine people to be therapeutic riding instructors," she said. Joy Riders helped her go to Ottawa to take the test. She was the 11th person in Canada to do it. "I probably wouldn't have done it without the support from Joy Riders." The therapeutic coaching certificate really enriched the program, Barrett said. Today all five assisstant coaches at Joy Riders have have taken the exam. Barrett said while teaching she pushes the riders towards independence. When the riders first come, they set goals and try to improve all the time. "These kids, even though they are disabled, get the same training as regular students," Jo-Ann added. Joy Riders depends heavily on the help of volunteers who come in each week in shifts and side walk with the riders. Barrett said many volunteers don't realize what hard work side walking is. The volunteer must keep up with the horse the entire time or else the rider may be in danger. There is no certain age for the riders who come to Joy Riders, but size may be a factor when they are choosing the riders for the program. Barrett said there are many large riders involved in the program at this time and they are looking for more smaller riders to ride ponies. Jo-Ann said the program can be a challenge to some riders who find it painful. "Most enjoy it a lot." Joy Riders receives no funding from the government, except when going to the Atlantic Games in Amherst, Nova Scotia when they receive money from the department of recreation department. Barrett said going to the games is an exciting experience for the riders and they like to compete. "The last two times we have won all the trophies." Also, for the past two summers, the government has paid for two workers to help in the barns. The riders pay $6 for each lesson, which social services covers for those who can't afford it. Money is also donated by the local Rotary Club. They have a fundraiser every Christmas with Paderno. The riders also receive donations from Island Preserve Company. This year's chair of the Easter Seals committee, Maurice Rodgerson, said each year part of the money raised by the Easter Seals goes towards the Joy Riders, which he said is an extremely good program for disabled children. Rodgerson learned about the program through the Rotary Club, which supported the Joy Riders before he was a member. "I've seen the situation where the kids are introduced to the horses for the first time," he said. "It's an extremely good program and seems to be very well run." The Joy Riders do not offer classes in the winter because in the cold weather it won't benefit their muscles as much, Barrett said. Classes start each year in the spring and on the last Saturday in April they have a volunteer training session. During this session, new and old volunteers listen to what happens during a lesson, are shown the barn and learn about different handicaps the riders have. The following Saturday, these volunteers are in the barns with the riders.} |
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