Virginia L. Clark filed a story for The Taos News entitled “Alternative Exercise” in which she extols the virtues of horseback riding. The headline grabber, however, is weight loss.

Anyone spending time around horses knows caring for them is work, and there is usually plenty of it. Caring for horses also teaches you discipline and responsibility, among many other virtues. I for one awaken every day at 5:00 a.m. no matter what time I went to bed. This is from years of getting up plenty early so I could muck out the horses, do the hay and water, and sweep out the barn before I went to school/work.

In her article Clark states:

Riding stimulates seldom-used muscles in the dorsal and abdominal regions and, besides core health benefits, the rider gets fit without actually having to do anything. Just letting the big creatures walk you around can melt away calories and heal the deepest of wounds, both physical and emotional.

Not quite sure about Clark’s statements that horseback riding requires one not having to do anything. Let’s just say it is possible to stay aboard a horse by doing very little if the horse is too.

On the healing of powers of the horses, Clark is spot on. In her article, she tells us about the wonderful work being done at Equine Spirit Sanctuary.

Here’s the rest of the story:

Equine Spirit Sanctuary, founded by Taose-a Ruth Bourgeois about three years ago for the betterment of human-horse relations (often involving interventions to prevent abuse and unnecessary slaughter), has a number of horses at the sanctuary, both recovering and some for equine assisted therapy, the foundation of a volunteer-intensive program.

Horsing around burns calories

A 155-pound person will burn 176 calories an hour, riding and letting the hay burner stroll amiably along. Even better, the same 155-pound person, just grooming a horse burns a whopping 422 calories an hour, which is probably what the majority of horses at Equine Spirit Sanctuary are going to be needing, given that many rescues need healing and fattening up before anyone ever considers getting on their backs.

The sanctuary has partnered with Karen Evans of Horseplay Therapeutic Riding, to produce therapeutic equestrian services, starting with a recreational therapeutic riding program beginning in June 2008.

Equine-assisted therapies

The program will be operated within the standards of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Horse activities with clients and volunteers will be taught by Evans, a NARHA certified instructor since 1998, who is also certified at the advanced level in physical and cognitive disabilities.

Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show amazing improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.

Evans has owned and operated HorsePlay in Aztec, N.M., since 1996. Among her many achievements, she designed and implemented the Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Program, Central Consolidated Schools, in Shiprock, and was also Program Director for Cadence Therapeutic Riding in Durango, Colo., a nonprofit corporation offering professional therapeutic equine assisted services to disabled individuals.

Mandy’s love of her chicken makes her a good candidate for Delta, the animal-assisted program at Equine Spirit Sanctuary (Photo by Ruth Bourgeois)

Win-win situation

Since not as many people have riding skills as want to get up close with horses, just volunteering at the sanctuary to groom and side-walk rescues and therapy horses will burn calories away effortlessly, a win-win situation for horse and horse lover. For more therapeutic riding details, however, see www.equinespiritsanctuary.org or contact Evans at info@horseplaytherapeuticriding.org.

Equine Spirit Sanctuary

HC 68 Box 20F, Taos 87571 283 Cuchilla Road, Ranchos de Taos (formerly Thal Equine) (575) 779-3431

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