The Collegian (Hurst, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 1, 2002 Page: 4 of 14
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Christopher Carrier, 7, takes a ride around the stable as Lisa
Stujdahar, therapist, holds his hand.; Iris Melton and Cecil
Diana De Leon/T/ie Collegian
Hill are the sidewalkers. The horse therapy is a program de-
signed to help with physical and emotional disabilities.
ages 9 to 18 who are at risk, including stu-
dents who are dealing with the death of a
loved one or students at risk of illegal activ-
ities.
The program uses horses, a low-ele-
ment challenge course and counselors to
help youth improve their lives and handle
stress.
Professionals work hand in hand with
school counselors on this program.
“Learning to ride a horse builds self-es-
teem,” Enzian said.
The Rocky Top Center and all their in-
structors are accredited through the
NARHA.
The NARHA offers educational re-
fer the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
was formed.
It is an organization that promotes the
rehabilitation of individuals with physical,
emotional and learning disabilities through
equine-facilitated activities.
Therapeutic riding has an emotional
benefit as well, according to the NARHA.
On horseback, those with physical
limitations can experience a freedom of
movement, and self-esteem is boosted from
this ability.
The sprit is as important as the body,
states NARHA.
The Rocky Top Center offers a pro-
gram called the Right Trial to students from
sources and instructor certification. It also
provides standards of safety and guidelines I
for riders.
Children or adults with 40 percent or
more curvature of the spine are not allowed
to ride. *i
The horses go through an evaluation ■
that determines their acceptance into the
therapeutic riding program. |
Staff members look at the horse’s tem-
perament, gait and personality. J
Horses go through a training period, as I
do instructors and volunteers.
Hippotherapy and therapeutic riding H
offer children and adults with disabilities I
more than just a horseback ride.
6 6 I have the best job in the
world because my office is out-
doors, and we do see miracles
here.”
Riders develop horsemanship skills, and
many compete in Special Olympics or Top
Hand Competitions.
As with hippotherapy, Trail Blazers
riders have goals and outcomes evaluated.
The Rocky Top Therapy Center was
founded in 1990 by Doug and Vivian New-
ton on their ranch in Keller.
Jean Enzian,
executive director of rocky top therapy center
The idea for therapeutic riding started
with the Olympic games of 1952.
Liz Hartwell won a silver medal in the
1952 Olympic Games for dressage, a horse-
back riding event.
Her victory in a very public arena
caught the attention of handicapped people
around the world because she was a victim
of polio.
Hartwell’s experience inspired a
Norwegian therapist, Boothker, to estab-
lish a riding group for children with dis-
abilities.
This was the beginning of therapeutic
riding centers all over Europe, which led to
the birth of the Riding for the Disabled As-
sociation (RD A).
In the United States, therapeutic riding
centers were established in the ’60s.
In 1969 The North American Riding
we do see miracles here.”
The Rocky Top Center has a variety of
programs for children and adults with dis-
abilities.
The center has 53 therapy horses, sees
200 patients a week and has a roster of 150
volunteers every week.
The patients have a minimum of three
volunteers with them at all times while they
are on the horse: the horse leader to lead the
horse and two side walkers, to offer support
if needed.
The horse leader is in charge of the
horse while the side walkers are in charge
of the rider.
“The volunteers are an important part
of the programs,” Enzian said.
The hippotherapy program at the
Rocky Top Center uses the movement of
the horse as a treatment tool to improve
neuromuscular function.
The horse’s movement is variable,
rhythmic and repetitive and is similar to
human movement patterns of the pelvis
while walking.
“The children are stretching all the
muscles used for walking,” she said.
Licensed physical therapists and thera-
py assistants use the horse to accomplish
treatment goals as specified by a physi-
cian’s prescription. Periodic evaluations by
, the physical therapist are sent to the rider’s
physician.
“There are goals to be met, and out-
comes are evaluated,” she said.
Melissa Carrier of Fort Worth takes her
7-year-old son, Christopher, to Rocky Top
two days a week for therapy.
S
BS •
s
s
benefit from hippotherapy.
The Rocky Top Center offers a pro-
gram called Trail Blazers, a continuation of
treatment previously received in hippother-
apy.
This program develops fine motor
by Diana De Leon Christopher goes to occupational and
reporter physical therapy in a clinic setting but likes
Handicapped children play basketball Rocky Top better.
while sitting atop a therapy horse as part of “He likes it so much, he does not want
a program designed to help children with to leave,” Carrier said.
physical and emotional disabilities. Children with multiple sclerosis, cere-
At the Rocky Top Therapy Center in bral palsy and other medical conditions can
Keller, the benefits of therapeutic riding in-
clude improved muscle tone, balance, pos-
ture, coordination, motor skills and emo-
tional well-being.
Jean Enzian, executive director of the
center, said, “I have the best job in the
world because my office is outdoors, and skills and improves posture and balance.
Equines prove divine for disabled children
A horse is a horse, of course, especially for Rocky Top
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The Collegian (Hurst, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 24, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 1, 2002, newspaper, May 1, 2002; Hurst, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1315541/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarrant County College NE, Heritage Room.