Horses Improving The Lives of Individuals with Disabilities

By Camila Cernawsky Nakandakari

A Clearwater family turned their property into a therapy center to honor their daughter with Down syndrome. The nonprofit, Inspire Equine Therapy Program, uses horses to help people with disabilities.

The mission at Inspire Equine Therapy Program is to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. They use therapeutic riding and other equine programs to provide a high-quality experience to those who experience physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral special needs.

“I may be high functioning, but there are times when I feel absolutely abnormal, and when I am on the back of that horse commanding it, immediately afterward, it is just a confidence boost,” said Kyle Travers.

Travers has been going to the Inspire Equine Therapy Program for years for the therapeutic riding lessons. The lessons help him cope with his Asperger’s syndrome.

“[The lessons] helped me feel more normal,” said Travers.

Programs available include therapeutic riding, therapeutic driving, horsemanship programs, independent living and assisted living programs, and equine partners program.

The organization partners with Veterans Alternative, Special Olympics Florida and Lyf to offer clients with veteran’s programs, agricultural training programs and equestrian sports competition.

Programs like the agricultural training teach participants job skills such as how to take care of a barn environment, take care of horses, how to grow vegetables and care for a garden. The program is offered for individuals with disabilities ages 22 and older.

Therapeutic riding improves the client’s balance, coordination and muscle tone through exercises done on horseback.

The therapeutic driving program offers the opportunity to participants who are unable to ride horses to participate in an equine activity. During the program, participants learn the skills necessary to drive a horse.

The exercises help clients built motivation, self-control and increase independence. Interacting with the horses also develops vocabulary and sequential learning that contributes to cognitive gains.

“They naturally are being forced to talk to their horse and talk to their volunteers,” said Melissa Yarbrough, founder and director of Inspire Equine Therapy. “So, they are getting that practice and realizing that it is okay to talk to other people.”

The horses at Inspire Equine Therapy Program are trained to support people with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

“Our horses are pretty special here,” said Yarbrough. “It is really stressful for a horse to be out there because they do take a lot of emotions. Our clients come in with a lot of different emotional baggage.”

Research shows that animal-assisted therapy increases mental stimulation and helps people form deep and personal bonds.

“I become significantly [calmer]. I become more confident. Become less angry with myself and others,” said Travers. “Overall, it makes me be a much nicer person.”

The nonprofit also has programs for veterans, first responders, and elderly people. Through the partnership with Veterans Alternative, participants can enjoy a weekly program in the quiet peace of the stables where they work with horses. Freedom heroes and equines carriage driving is a free program for disabled veterans and first responders.

To learn more about the Inspire Equine Therapy Program, visit inspireequinetherapyprogram.org.

Anchor: Marquetta Wilson
Producer: Sonu Trivedi
Director: Maribeth Nguyen
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