Once you observe a riding session, you realize that all people are equal on the back of the horse. Gentle Giants Equestrian Therapy was initiated six years ago and currently has 35 children and adult riders who are offered services with the riding program free of charge. The program is staffed by volunteers from the community and students from the local university who incorporate practicum hours to obtain their respective degrees. Gentle Giants Equestrian Therapy program has no funding other than private and community donations. The program is ideal for retired horses because they are well cared for, have regular veterinary check-ups and are exercised daily and loved to pieces.
Horses used in the program have to be healthy, well-mannered, well broken in, quiet and gentle.
Ironically, most of the horses that have been donated have challenges themselves. We have a blind horse, a deaf horse, a horse born with rear leg deformities, a professional horse that sustained a leg injury that ended his professional career and a couple of horses that were rescued from being starved to death. Horses used in a therapy program must be carefully trained for the task. In addition to walking rhythmically but slowly, they must be able to vary their stride as needed and may need to tolerate two riders at a time as well as carry riders facing backwards, kneeling or lying on its neck or rump. The horses need the disposition to be bumped with crutches, canes and wheelchairs and mounted from either side from ramps or mounting blocks.