All photos by Penny Hansen There is no doubt that riding is a unique sport being the only Olympic sport involving animals. It is a sport that involves not only full body strength, but also mental focus and the sensitivity and patience required so understand equine body language. The communication needed between a rider and their horse is crucial in order to thrive in any field of the equine world. The best part of riding for me is knowing that I am able to have a bond with a 1200 lb animal that doesn't speak the same language as me but still we are able to face obstacles together (literally). I can truly say horses are some of my best of friends because they try so hard for us, they are so forgiving, and they help us become the best versions of ourselves. After all, isn't that what friends and teammates are supposed to do? Riding has always been a great outlet for my competitive & sporty nature, but even more so it has been a vital outlet for me throughout my life juggling various personal, family, and school issues involving my parents divorcing, battling depression and anxiety and finding my way into high-school. I would not be where I am today without horses, but even more so my parents who have supported me through thick and thin providing me the opportunity to keep horses in my life. Riding is my passion but horses are my family. It is so unfortunate the equine world is overall expensive because many people are not able to afford to ride. However, there are numerous new up and coming therapeutic equine programs that have proved incredibly beneficial. I recently read a Noelle Floyd Article by Stephanie Richards that shares the journey inmate Tarry James has experienced with horses. James describes the free-roaming horse she connected with as, "a buddy in my arms", revealing the deep companionship horses can provide. Tammy James was selected for the equine-assisted psychotherapy program through the (WRAP) finishing her jail sentence. Reading this article opened a new door into the equine world for me, showing me more and more examples of the benefits of working with horses. Kristen de Marco, the Executive Director and Founder of Gateway Horseworks, explains that through their program, "the horses become metaphors for how we explore relationships and for what we are facing outside the arena...We can work with horses to explore how we feel as people.” This has been a really critical aspect of riding for me because there have been darker times in my life when nobody's words could get through to me, only the friendship with a horse. In fact, Dr.Page Walker Buck explains that for people with symptoms of PTSD, therapies involving animals have been proven far more beneficial than talk therapies because of cognitive processes working differently. “To reconnect with nature and horses brings women back in touch with themselves in a way that may or may not happen through medication and talk therapy.” Kristen de Marco and Dr.Page Walker Buck both hope that this new Stable Pathways can help improve the lives of women by providing them the means to find the light within themselves to shine in the world around them.
I highly recommend this Noelle Floyd article to learn more about the benefits and science behind equine therapy programs and what a difference they can make in someone's life just like inmate Terry James. It is wonderful to see how broad the equine world is. Although there is a plethora of equine disciplines, they originate from the same love for horse's and the desire for that special bond between horse and human.
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March 2021
Included but not limiting to: horses, nutrition, workouts, student life, running, nature, current events, and more.
AuthorMy name is Martha Wyatt-Luth, I have been riding since I could talk but loving horses since I was born. Between being a studious high-school student and riding up to 6 days a week, my days get pretty busy. However, dedicating time to "hobbies" helps me keep going even on the longest days. For example, I love running and I hope to do a marathon one day! |