Why offer non-riding activities?
Many people often ask why we offer so many other things other than horseback riding. Here are the two things I explain.
Non-riding activities offer learning and enjoyment in a non-traditional environment.
Many of our participants don’t have the opportunity to do arts and crafts or games in “traditional settings” of summer camps or other programs. By offering them the freedom to play in the gravel or sit in the grass while we do art, we create space for them to learn and play in their own way! For example, let’s learn our colors by matching a variety of horses to a variety of barns while sitting next to the bunnies.
2. Offering non-riding activities allows each participant to receive services for their whole session time.
In other therapeutic riding programs, if a child cannot tolerate riding for 30-45 minutes they have to go home early and the parents may view this as a “failed experience”. By offering other activities built in to their program they have the flexibility to ride for 5 minutes at a time and take breaks to play in the sand (for example). It creates a lens of success to view their session. For many, if they simply got on the horse, it’s a win!
