By Ellen H. Brisendine

Thirty years ago, Susan Schwartz saw something remarkable that captured her imagination and she, along with hundreds of volunteers and supporters, has worked to captivate hearts and improve minds and bodies ever since. They do this through Equest, a therapeutic horsemanship program based in Wylie.

In 1980, Schwartz volunteered to help her riding teacher Evelyn Zembrod with a day of horseback riding for children suffering from cerebral palsy.

"Evelyn was a member of a horse club that, once a year, brought in children with cerebral palsy to ride. The club members donated horses and themselves to help the children ride for an hour," Schwartz remembers.

She met the day with great anticipation, convinced the children must have looked forward to the special day in their lives.

The children arrived in wheelchairs and on crutches. Instead of happy, excited faces, Schwartz saw very little emotion, little communication with each other or the teachers and volunteers, and a little fearfulness.

"We got them on the horses, but the muscles in their legs were so tight, we couldn't get their feet in the stirrups. We couldn't even get the stirrups short enough," she remembers.

Fifteen minutes into the ride, smiles and sparkles started showing up in the faces of the riders. "Ten minutes later, it was like somebody flicked a light switch. The children were laughing, having fun and had a gleam in their eyes," she remembers.

The joy of the ride was 1 of many benefits for the children. The movement and warmth of the horses' bodies had a relaxing effect on the rigid muscles and soon the volunteers were lowering the stirrups to accommodate the children's feet.

Schwartz and Zembrod noticed after about 25 minutes they were no longer supporting their rider. Their young rider was using core muscles and balance to stay astride.

She noticed the other riders were responding to the horses, too. "They were able to balance because their legs had dropped, their core muscles had kicked in and they were using muscles they hadn't used in years due to being in a wheelchair."

The children who went home at the end of the hour's ride were totally different from the group who'd arrived.

"Evelyn and I were flabbergasted," Schwartz says. "If 1 day a year makes this much difference in a child's life, what would happen if they rode once a week?"

Schwartz credits divine intervention with the answer to her question, and with the series of events that led to Equest. Her mother was visiting from Ardmore, Okla., at the time. Her mother happened to have recently heard of a school chum from 50 years ago who had started a riding program for handicapped children in Kansas City. Schwartz and Zembrod visited Jean Baum at Heartland Riding Center in Kansas City, "which was 1 of maybe 3 or 4 programs in the U.S. at the time. She gave us information to start," and Equest has grown from there.

Starting with 5 riders, 2 horses and 1 instructor, Equest now has more than 150 riders, 33 horses, 9 instructors and 2 physical therapists. More than 400 volunteers assist with the sessions and are credited with being the backbone of Equest.

Equest acquired its site at Wylie in 1988. A grant from the Meadows Foundation helped retire the debt on the property that year. Today, Equest operates on 42 acres of pasture, indoor and outdoor arenas and barns.

5 types of healing
Equest has 5 therapy programs. Susan Scott Watts, Equest director of development, provides this description of the 5 areas of therapy.

"Hippotherapy is clinical physical therapy and occupational therapy using the horse as a treatment tool. This therapy is administered by a licensed physical therapist and prescribed by physicians.

"Therapeutic sports riding is for riders with disabilities. This program allows Equest riders to develop skills to become accomplished horsemen. The riders compete in shows for people with disabilities, and in other shows where the riders compete against able-bodied riders.

"Therapeutic carriage driving is for those riders who cannot mount a horse or a traditional or adaptive saddle. Carriage driving allows them to sit independently with the freedom to participate in an equine-assisted therapy from the safety of a wheelchair in an adapted cart.

"Therapeutic vaulting combines gymnastics and dance on a moving horse and helps build balance, strength and coordination for individuals with disabilities or learning differences."

And in 2010, Equest added Horses for Heroes, a nationally PATH-recognized program available to veterans and their families with emotional health disorders, depression and post traumatic stress disorder. PATH Intl. was founded in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) to promote safe and effective therapeutic horseback riding throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Horse needs
Some of the horses for the specific programs, such as carriage driving, require specific training, and Equest finds it is more efficient to purchase horses for this program.

However, horse donations for other therapy programs are welcome. All donations are carefully evaluated before being gratefully accepted.

"We need horses of all sizes (but not taller than 15 hands) because the riders that have balance issues need a wide-based horse. Yet we have riders with tight legs and muscles that need a narrow-based horse. Because we deal with children and adults, we need ponies all the way up to large horses. They have to be sound and able to carry a heavy work load. Our horses are not overly used, but they do have to be sound and healthy," Schwartz says.

Equest prefers horses in the 10- to 18-year-old range, with gentle dispositions. "We use a lot of toys and games to work different muscles — open and close gates, a sensory trail with things to pick up and touch or throw — so the horses can't be easily flustered."

Changing lives
Watts says the program has been remarkable. "Coming from a horse background, I know how valuable the spirit of a horse was to me growing up as an able-bodied person. And now to see that spirit used to touch and make better the lives of children and adults with disabilities and our veterans — it's very touching.

"I'm also amazed by the many parents at our facilities who tell remarkable testimonials about the results they receive at Equest — some after many less-than-successful attempts at other types of therapies."

Watts also knows families like the equality the therapeutic horsemanship provides to siblings. "The sibling with the disability can't participate in many traditional sporting activities. At Equest, those siblings with disabilities get to have a ‘thing' and compete, and often win, alongside an able-bodied person in horse shows. No one has to know they have a disability. They are known as winners."

When asked if Schwartz thought the horses developed a sense of purpose from being part of the therapeutic team, she answers with enthusiasm and without hesitation, "Absolutely! They know they are helping."

Equest serves its clients thanks to generous donations. For more information on donating to Equest, volunteering at Equest, or to learn more, visit equest.org.