A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Juna 13, 1998
Riding
(Continued from Pag* At)
For children with handicaps,
riding a horse gives them a chance
to “be able to control an animal
like that, because there’s so many
things they can’t do, like baseball
and basketball,” said Rose Denlin
ger, riding instructor.
Denlinger, an instructor with the
Lancaster County 4-H Therapeutic
Riding Program, spoke to the
Ephrata Area Young Farmers
Association during a tiding prog
ram Monday evening at Greystone
Manor Stables in Leacock.
Denlinger spoke about the bene
fits of the program.
A four-year volunteer, Denlin
ger said the program includes nine
instructors and about 30-40 diffe
rent leaders, all volunteers. Riders,
ranging in age from 4 to 80 years of
age, are referred to the program by
the Schreiber Pediatric Rehabilita
tion Center (formerly Easter Seals)
of Lancaster County, the S. June
Smith Center, Community Ser
vices Group, Coatesville Veterans
Affairs Medical Cento*, doctors,
and therapists.
The program, affiliated with but
not funded by 4-H, relies on indivi
dual and organizational support—
including its own fund-raising
efforts for money to operate.
People aie allowed to ride at the
stables unless a doctor indicates
otherwise. There are about 60 rid
ers enrolled in the program. About
40 different riders are handled per
week, according to Denlinger.
In all, sessions are conducted in
the spring, summer, and fall. One
month July is set aside per
year for vacation for the instructors
and program participants, while
the horses are still put through their
paces.
The program was founded in
1980 in Mountville by Carol
Henkel, instructor. The site was
moved to Greystone Manor
Stables about 11 years ago. Henk
el, who spoke to the young far
mers, said the program is funded at
a cost of $25,000-$30,000. About
a third of the cost is paid by the rid
ers and two-thirds by the riding
program. The costs cover
boarding.
According to Denlinger, there
are six horses involved in the prog
ram. Two are on full lease, the rest
are owned by the program. The
program, under the “umbrella,”
said Denlinger, of the county 4-H
program, works with extension.
Denlinger, who volunteers
about five hours per week, said
that riders in the program can have
a range of disabilities.
“Some are physical, some men
tal, and some are emotional,” she
said. The physical problems can
range from mental retardation,
muscular dystrophy, multiple
sclerosis to hunter syndrome
(chemical disorders in the joints).
“We have a lot of Down Syn
drome children,” said Denlinger.
One boy needs a helper arm and
leg system because he was bom
deformed.
For each rider, a session lasts
Where's your mustache? “
Program Provides Therapy For Disabled
once a week, for 45-60 minutes,
for six weeks.
Kids who ride the horse enjoy
the natural movement of “the
horse’s energy,” said Denlinger.
"They enjoy the warmth of the
horse (those riding with bareback
pads). The horse and the pads relax
the kids.”
She said, “They are thrilled with
the experience. It’s an adventure.
And they get much-needed social
interaction with the sidewalker,
the leader, and the instructors.”
The riders, of almost any age.
are also taught riding lessons.
They interact socially. They come
in close contact with others.
The movement of the horse
allows the children to sit up
straight, which helps strengthen
their muscles.
The father of one child in the
program noted that for his son’s
therapy, he has seen the movement
of the horse improve the strength
and muscle tone of the child’s
limbs. The movement also stimu
lates range of motion and control.
Riding also increases feelings of
self-confidence and self-worth.
But the riding experience is not
confined to prominent physical
disabilities. Denlinger also said
that autistic children, even those
with attention deficit disorder
(ADD), allows them precious con
tact with the horse.
“The kids love their horses
they think it’s their pony,” she
said “One little boy kisses the
pony on the nose every week.”
One of those horses is Kojak, a
22-year-old Palomino pony ."Kojak
was donated to the program by the
Ephrata Area Young Farmers. The
horse has been involved with the
program about 11 years.
Other horses include Deacon, an
18-year-old grade (mix) horse.
Another is Josey, an 11-year-old
registered Quarterhorse mare.
Last March, an auction was held
to raise money for the program in
Willow Street. The program raised
$3,000, about $l,OOO more than
the previous year.
Denlinger pointed out that the
new owners of the boarding
stables, The Worship Center in
Leola, will continue to operate the
stables with no change. The purch
ase contract on the multi-acre site
outlined that the farm must stay a
boarding stable for five years.
The farm includes two large
pasture fields and several smaller
paddocks, Denlinger noted.
Volunteers for'the program are
always needed and may be leaders
or sidewalkers. Leaders guide the
horses during lessons and sidew
alkers are responsible for the rider.
Each rider starts with one leader
and two sidewalkers, so many vol
unteers are needed. Volunteers
also groom and saddle horses for
lessons. Training sessions are held
periodically.
For more information, contact
Rose Denlinger at (717) 786- 4189
or Nancie Doyle at (717)
687-8547. To make a tax
deductible donation to the prog
ram, contact Lee Ann Ressler,
treasurer, at (717) 299-2163.
mTlk
igs, 5, rides Kojak, a 22-year-old Palomino pony. Kojak was donated
to the Lancaster County 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program by the Ephrata Area Young
Farmers. From left, Michelle Kelser, Instructor; Matthew; Robin Pletz, leader; and BUI
Instructors In the 4-H therapeutic horse riding program with Deacon, an 18-year-old
grade. From left, Luke Zimmerman, president of the Ephrata Area Young Farmers
Association; Libby Graver, instructor and president of the club; Michelle Kelser; Ellen
Barnes, head Instructor; Denise Brubaker; Rose Denllnger; and Carol Henkel, found
er of the ' ~im.
Sldewalkers and laadars with the program with Josey, a registered Quarterhorse.
From left, Mike Brubaker, Ephrata Area Young Farmers Association; Barbara Amon;
Victoria MWer; Robin Plata; and Andrew Bunting.