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Giving Back |
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NARHA Horses for Heroes Program Offers Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies to
Wounded Veterans and Service Personnel |
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NARHA was formed in 1969 to promote equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) for individuals with and without special needs. Nearly 800 NARHA member centers partner equines with NARHA Certified Instructors and various professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychiatrists and social workers to physically improve, emotionally empower and socially enhance the lives of individuals with and without special needs. NARHA is currently developing a nationwide initiative, titled NARHA Horses for Heroes, for wounded service personnel and veterans.
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"Appreciating the power of the horse to change lives is our goal," said NARHA Past President Dr. Paul Spiers , "and NARHA wants to provide positive change for these very special lives. Our service personnel have fought to preserve our freedom, and, for many, at a very dear cost. We must be certain that if our wounded service personnel and veterans need and want this kind of help, they will get the best NARHA has to offer."
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ADVERTISEMENT
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Research shows that |
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individuals who participate in EAAT can experience physical, emotional and mental rewards. Because horseback riding rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. For individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, the unique relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. The sense of independence found on horseback benefits all that ride. In addition to the therapeutic benefits, horseback riding also provides recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors. |
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The NARHA Horses for Heroes Task Force has been developing the program and the pilot methods to be used for educating member instructors and centers interested in starting a program. The NARHA Horses for Heroes task force will facilitate the orderly development of appropriate equine assisted activities, such as therapeutic riding and carriage driving, as well as equine facilitated psychotherapy, tailored specifically to the needs of service personnel and veterans. Many NARHA centers have been offering these services to veterans for years but the current events will make the benefits available to a broader scope of individuals. The task force has also been in frequent communication with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington DC. In 2008, $50,000 |
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Suzanne Dortch
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was disbursed to 18 VA Medical Centers to pay for equine recreational therapy. |
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At NARHA centers more than 40,000 children and adults find a sense of independence through involvement with horses. These member centers range from small, one-person programs to large operations with several certified instructors and licensed therapists. In addition to therapeutic riding, a center may offer any number of equine assisted activities and therapies including hippotherapy, equine facilitated mental health, carriage driving, interactive vaulting, trail riding, competition, ground work or stable management. Through a wide variety of educational resources, the association helps individuals start and maintain successful equine assisted activity and therapy programs. There are more than 31,000 volunteers, 3,000 instructors, 5,900 therapy horses and thousands of contributors from all over the world helping people at NARHA centers.
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For more information about NARHA Horses for Heroes, visit www.narha.org and click on the NARHA Horses for Heroes icon on the home page or click here. Posted there are articles, photographs and further information regarding this emerging program. The NARHA website also has a feature which enables individuals to find a NARHA center in their home area. Soon this feature will include a search for individuals hoping to find a local NARHA center offering service specifically for wounded veterans and service personnel.
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Read comments or post your own comments to this article at the bottom of this page. |
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Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved. The above article is the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any way without permission. |
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Reader comments for this article |
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Name: Gail Wrigtj Time: 2008-07-05 09:07:05
Comment: Our equestrian facility, located in La Selva Beach, CA, is a 501(c)3 that provides horsemanship activities to typical and special needs kids, teens, and adults. We provide a myriad of volunteer opportunities to our youth. We have a fully inclusive barn where typical and special needs individuals help each other and communicate in a meaningful way helping to increase verbal skills for shy, learning disabled, and special needs individuals. Miracles occur almost daily as abilities rise and spirits soar.
We would like to request to be highlighted in your "Giving Back" section.
Thank you,
Gail
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