Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 2025 Therapeutic Riding Show took place May 17 at the center’s Therapeutic Riding Arena.
The annual event invites parents, friends and family of therapeutic riding clients to gather for a performance of newly-developed equine skills.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program began in 1983. The program was developed to encourage growth and skill-based learning for children and adults living with a variety of special needs, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and autism, stroke recovery and learning disabilities. Therapeutic riding can be markedly beneficial for individuals living with a range of personal challenges from cognitive to physical, emotional, and/or social, according to a news release.
Therapeutic riding is designed to make learning fun for students, and engaging for the center’s therapy horses. During weekly sessions, students ride specially-trained horses with certified instructors. Riding instruction incorporates obstacle courses which allow riders to navigate their horse through cones and mazes, and over poles. Basic riding skills require an integration of all parts of the body (hands, legs, and eyes), and aid in developing core strength. Additionally, the student’s self-confidence increases as they accomplish the variety of skills they may not have previously thought achievable, the news release stated.
Therapeutic riding is not only centered around just the act of riding, as students learn horse husbandry skills such as grooming and thought-based every day care, skills they can translate into their personal lives. The program creates a heartwarming outcome for those involved, most importantly the unmistakable joy experienced by its riders, the news release reported.
For the 10th year in a row, Magic 92.5 morning personalities Jagger and Kristi hosted the Therapeutic Riding Show. Those interested in taking part in keeping this special program going may choose to contribute at animalcenter.org/TherapeuticRiding.
