BlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 3,1984
Riding program boosts confidenc
and hope of handicapped
BY JOHN STOKES SCHMIDT
Staff Correspondent
WESTMINSTER, Md. - The
Carroll County 4-H Handicapped
Riding program, the first of its
kind in Maryland, provides unique
and encouraging therapy for
people who are mentally and
physically handicapped. Under the
instruction of Lita Miller, of the
Maryland S.P.C.A., volunteers
provide the handicapped with new
hope and confidence gained
through contact with animals.
Instructor Lita Miller of the Maryland S.P.C.A. at right,
demonstrates hoof cleaning to some handicapped students
COMMODITIES:
•SOYBEAN MEAL
• DRIED DISTILLERS GRAIN
• DRIED BREWERS GRAI]
• WHOLE COTTONSEED
• CORN GLUTEN
• OTHERS AS AVAILABLE
CALL OUR OFFICE TODAY FOR
DAILY PRICE QUOTES & MORE
INFORMATION.
There are approximately 200
such programs nationwide with
seven counties now active in
Maryland. The Carroll County
program began in 1979 with nine
disabled riders and 27 volunteers.
It now offers six, eight-week, one
hour lessons during the fall and
spring for 125 disabled youth and
150 volunteers. Public and private
support allows for this growth with
donations from service clubs and
community organizations.
The instructor is thoroughly
THE PILLSBURY COMPANY
THE PILLSBURY CO.
28 HIAWATHA RD.
HI-NELLA,NJ 08083
A FULL SERVICE SUPPLIER
A group of handicapped students get a bridle demonstration from instructor Lita
Miller.
trained and is an accomplished
horsewoman with teaching ex
perience. She trains volunteers,
screens the horses as well as the
students, and oversees the entire
program m order to determine its
success and special needs, and to
monitor each student’s progress.
The fact that these special
students progress is undisputed.
The horses often motivate the
handicapped person more than any
other form of therapy can.
Children who won’t speak to other
people will often speak to the
horses. They have a friend they
can love and trust.
Increased verbalization is only
one of the improvements so often
observed. Riding improves at
tention span, relaxation of spastic
muscles, balance and overall
coordination, and, most im
portantly, it increases self esteem
and confidence.
Amy Dietrich has been riding in
609-784-0839
the program tor six years. When
she began, she couldn’t sit up
without help. Continued therapy
has improved that greatly. The
program is also good for non
walking children. There is a pon>
cart that can be driven from a
wheelchair.
The Carroll County Farm
Museum donates housing for this
project and community en
thusiasm is high. Howard Marsh, a
retired truck driver and a
volunteer for three years notes, “It
gives you something to do and you
feel like you’re helping someone.”
Establishing and maintaining a
program like this requires sub
stantial funding. Proper equip
ment and facilities are needed, and
research is necessary to continue
to measure the success of the
therapy which occurs. Han
dicapped riding programs are
trying to include more and more
health professionals in their
MINERALS:
BASIC INGREDIENTS
COMPLETE MIXES
CUSTOM MIXES
TRACE PRE-MIX
MILK REPLACERS:
20/20
22/15
project and Carroll County is no
exception.
Bob Shirley, 4-H Extension
Agent and one originator of the
first Maryland program agrees.
‘The main goal is to provide a
riding program that is both
recreational and therapeutic to
handicapped people. ’ ’
To accomplish this, more
physical therapists, attending
physicians and other health care
professionals must recognize the
benefits. Karen Scott, a special
education teacher and volunteer in
Carroll County, was unaware of
the program until viewing a
handicapped riding demonstration
at the Special Olympics one year.
She immediately saw the value of
therapeutic riding, for riders, side
walkers and horse leaders alike.
‘Especially for the riders, it is a
confidence builder and real variety
for intellectually limited kids”,
(Turn to Page 819)
(ALL MILK)
(SOY PROTEIN)