What kinds of horses do you need for the
program?
Let’s start this section by very clearly stating that there
are many, many wonderful horses around. Most of us working
in this program have our own horses at home. We love
horses! The truth is, though, that the job skills for
a
therapy horse are pretty
steep.
A 2006 article in
The Horse magazine summed
up therapy horse needs this way: “...often people think
that any older, mild-mannered, semi-sound horse of any size
fits the bill. On the contrary, the ideal therapy horse is
between the ages of eight and 12, around 15 hands high, and
highly athletic. ... a therapy horse needs to be safe,
predictable, and sound. He has to be intelligent,
well-conditioned, unflappable, sensitive, patient,
hard-working, balanced, and versatile. He must also be
tolerant of unpredictable noises and positional changes
made by riders, and responsive to his handler and the
riders’ instructions. These qualifications insure safety
for the rider, and provide an environment that allows the
rider to enjoy and benefit from his or her experiences with
horses. “
As you can see, therapy horses truly are exceptional
animals.
Research has shown that therapy horses actually need to be
30 to 40%
more athletic than the average
recreational horse. This is surprising to most people but,
of course, it makes a great deal of sense. A therapy horse
must be able to adjust to unbalanced riders and that can
take a toll on the muscles and coordination of the horse.
A
therapy horse must have the right
temperament for this type
of
JOB; specifically,
they need to be very patient as riders mount and dismount
as well as be able to adjust to the physical needs of each
individual rider. They need to be comfortable with many
obstacles, noises, and riders who often send confusing
signals.
So,
when selecting a horse to participate in our program, we
must look for a horse that is suitable for equine assisted
activities and therapy. While minor health issues in a
horse might be acceptable, horses must be sound enough to
work regularly. Areas we review for evaluating a horse for
our program:
•
Conformation
• Health
• Age
• Gaits and manner of going
• Attitude, reliability and adaptability
Horses must be
sound in all four limbs. Soundness is important in order to
have a rhythmic, cadenced, free-moving stride at the walk,
trot and canter. Horses that can only walk with limited
trotting are of minimal use to our riders. A horse with an
unbalanced stride could cause disturbing responses in our
riders.
There are, of course, exceptions but, ideally, horses
should be between nine and sixteen years of age. Due to the
amount of training we invest in our horses, we hope they
will stay with us for several years.
How will I know if my horse will work in the
program?
Any horse being donated to our program is taken in for a
ninety (90) day
evaluation period. During that
time, we will work with the horse at our mounting ramp and
observe him for soundness, willingness, and ability to
adapt to his surroundings and routine. At the end of the
Trial Period, we will contact you to let you know if the
horse has been accepted into the program. If not, we will
make arrangements to return the horse to your property.
What
is required from me about my horse?
We must have a current negative Coggins before we can take
a horse onto our property and into our care. Beyond that,
your veterinary records will be helpful to us in continuing
to keep your horse healthy and happy.
How
will my horse be cared for at Ridin’
High?
One of the reasons we are involved with Ridin’ High is our
love of horses. We will give your horse the same attentive
care given to all our horses. We provide regular veterinary
and farrier care. We do not routinely stall or blanket our
horses and, whenever possible, we do not have shoes on our
horses. Shoeing is, of course, dependent upon the specific,
individual needs of each horse. We provide good hay and
fresh water. We do not routinely provide supplements or
specialty feeds; however, if your horse is currently on a
supplement, we will feed to the end of your container.
Will
you pick the horse up from my barn?
It is always helpful if you can deliver the horse; however,
if that is not possible, we will make arrangements for
someone from our staff to pick the horse up from your barn.
Can
I visit my horse after the
donation?
Ridin’ High is open on lesson days (Mondays and Tuesdays)
and we welcome the public to observe what is provided to
our riders. You may visit on lesson days and interact with
your horse when it will, of course, not interfere with any
planned activities. Donation horses are not, though,
available for riding at any time.
As
a non-profit, how does my donation get a tax
deduction?
Each individual’s tax situation is different so you should
check with your tax advisor about how this donation might
benefit your particular tax needs. If your horse is
accepted into the program, Ridin’ High will provide you
with a Letter of Donation. Ridin’ High is not able to
estimate the value of your horse and will leave that up to
you, the donor, to indicate.
If you have a special horse that you believe would like
a job as a therapy horse,
please contact us at (423)
585-0331.
