Bringing the Classroom to the Stable
At Southern Illinois University, recreation majors learn firsthand how to help people with disabilities ride horses
BY MARJORIE J. MALKIN, Ed. D., CTRS
AND REGINA B. GLOVER, Ph.D., CLP
The Student Recreation Center at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) oners a very successful horseback riding program for adults with disabilities. The program began five years ago with federal support from the U.S. Department of Education was jointly administered by the Office of Disability Support Services and the Intramural Student Recreation Center's Disabled Student Recreation program. Faculty from sociology, physical education, and therapeutic recreation were initially involved in conducting research and delivering programs.
The horseback riding program provides a riding experience in a community setting. SIUC students as well as other adults from the community participate in this program. Individuals who require physical assistance or who have very limited vision participate in a group lesson once a week, assisted by volunteers. Individuals who require less physical support take private lessons. In these private lessons participants of all abilities learn to ride together.
A local riding stable provides horses, tack, and instructor, Mark O'Donoghue, who has 20 years experience teaching individuals with disabilities. The second instructor, Marjorie Malkin, is an SIUC faculty member in therapeutic recreation, who has 25 years experience teaching horseback riding, and is also a nationally rated horse show official.
The riding program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale benefits individuals with special needs and students in the field of recreation and therapeutic recreation.
A large number of volunteers are required to staff the program. Primarily, these volunteers have been recreation and therapeutic recreation students who volunteer or choose this as part of a required field experience. Thus, this program has proven to be an ideal training and professional development experience for SIUC students.
A benefit of this program is the opportunity for hands-on training, since all recreation students must log contact hours with individuals with disabilities. For this requirement, many of the students select the adapted horseback riding program.
Students are first oriented in the classroom by the use of an 11-minute training video of an actual session, which demonstrates some of the equipment used, mounting techniques, instruction methods and exercises as well as the role of volunteers.
The program emphasizes safety and comfort. It's held in an indoor facility, and activities are curtailed during very cold or very hot months. A mounting ramp sturdy enough for electric chairs is available, along with a smaller mounting block.
An important safety aspect of such a program is that all horses be oriented to the use of the wheelchair ramp, be accustomed to wheelchairs, crutches, etc., and be extremely dependable. The horses used in this program are experienced
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schooling horses and are accustomed to many hours of weekly lessons.
Student volunteers assist riders in fitting approved safety helmets, safety stirrups, hand holds, back and wrist supports, safety belts and straps, as needed. English (hunt seat) rather than western saddles are used. Students are reminded to check with participants during riding sessions about preferred equipment and methods of assistance to provide the greatest comfort and security. Participants can even choose which horse to ride, and many have developed a distinct favorite or two.
Volunteers also attend an orientation at the stable. They are instructed in the various mounting techniques and on the methods for safe transfer from wheelchairs or crutches to the horse.
Students who are familiar with horses are taught the proper way to lead the horse to allow the rider as much independent control as possible. Other students learn to be side-walkers, holding safety belts. These students have to be alert to assist when a rider loses his or her balance suddenly.
A third group of students (usually in their second semester with the horseback riding program or with previous equestrian experience) serve as "Junior Instructors." They work one-on-one with riders on steering, posture, balance, and flexibility exercises, all under the supervision of the program instructors. With three to four riders mounted at any one time, this method assures that each rider is assisted by an instructor at all times.
Students generally work with the same two or three riders each week, so they develop a real rapport and appreciation for the individual assistance required by each participant. A rider with a significant visual impairment, for example, requires the student to become her "eyes," orienting her to her position in the arena, and the positions of other horses and people. Another rider may need more physical help as she mounts to stretch and cope with muscle spasms.
The experience is more than just "professional" development, as riders and students have gotten to know each other personally. When riders and volunteers are not actively involved with the horses, they sit in the middle of the ring and socialize. The last session of each semester includes a cider and donut party with awards (sometimes humorous) to participants, and certificates for volunteers.
This program provides ah enjoyable and enriching experience for SIUC recreation students and for the riders. It gives exposure to students unfamiliar with horseback riding to an activity rich in its recreational and therapeutic benefits. Students work closely with adults who have a wide variety of physical and sensory impairments.
Most importantly, they learn the vast abilities possessed by these riders, as they progress to greater levels of independent control of the horse. Some riders advance to trotting, cantering, and even jumping.
Research conducted by an SIU graduate student (Isbell, 1996) indicated that these horseback riding program participants perceived individual gains in the areas of flexibility, balance, ability to walk, strength, posture, and aerobic capacity. Leisure and social satisfaction increased, and participants felt they had increased the awareness of others and their abilities.
Riders reported greater feelings of independence, confidence, and power. And the human-animal bond was reported as significant to their enjoyment. One rider summed up these benefits by stating that riding was "a very freeing experience" (Isbell, 1996).
The essentials to creating a successful experience for riders and recreation students are qualified instructors, a safe facility and equipment, and experienced, well-schooled horses. There are resources available to help CTRS's and other recreation professionals evaluate riding opportunities at their agency. Two national programs offer training and certification of instructors and facilities:
the Cheff Center in Michigan, and North American Riding for the Handicapped. Equipment can be ordered from State Line Tack in New Hampshire, and from Professional's Choice. Texts are available, for example by B. T. Engel. (See reference and resource lists at end of article).
SIUC has had more than five years of experience with this program and the riders report that the continuity provided semester to semester has been an important part of their progress. While designed to be primarily recreational, the program by nature has been educational and therapeutic for all concerned.
Since the Federal Grant ended December 31, 1996, local support for this horseback riding program has been assumed by a local riding club, whose community advisory board includes riding participants. Club members sell horse show sponsorships to underwrite the programs expenses. Equestrian supply companies have donated equipment and a grant was received in 1998 to provide a mechanical lift to assist riders in mounting. Additional grant moneys will be sought.
All concerned, including SIUC recreation students, have realized the benefits of this program and will work together to ensure that it continues.
MARJORIE J. MALKIN. Ed.D, CTRS
REGINA B. GLOVER, Ph.D., CLP
40 / Illinois Parks and Recreation
is an associate professor of therapeutic recreation al Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale. She has had more than 25 years
experience reaching horseback riding as well as fudging and
officiating at horse shows throughout the United States.
is chair of the Deportment of Health Education and Recreation and
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.