Alaska News

Building confidence and mobility on horseback

Nestled in the woods of South Anchorage just off Abbott Road sits a local program designed to improve quality of life for Alaskans.

Equine Assisted Therapy Alaska (EATA) is a non-profit that caters to children and adults who are living with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Through horsemanship, the program helps participants improve motor and speaking functions.

Hippotherapy combines physical, occupational and speech therapy through the act of riding horses. The physical movements of a horse are similar to that of human hip movement and riding can increase the likelihood of normal hip development for people with disabilities. Riding also builds upper-body strength.

Generally, students are placed on a horse with two side-walkers and a lead guide for safety, along with a speech or physical therapist to provide direction and support. The program also offers trail rides to its participants to challenge them outside of the arena and provide new opportunities for growth.

Janie Call, senior riding instructor, emphasized the importance of a whole team working together to support participants, especially the younger ones.

"The kids are learning to communicate with other people, people they don't know. They have to communicate with their horse. The horse picks up on how they feel," Call said.

While this type of programming focuses on strengthening core support and improving muscle tone and circulation, it also aims to build confidence and self esteem through that emotional connection with the horses. The students' lessons consist of mastering basic horsemanship skills, which are also transferable to everyday life.

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Call said parents of children who have disabilities are looking to connect them with therapy that can help them be successful individuals, more mobile and independent.

"You can bring children here and they're able to be in a session, but it's fun and they enjoy it," she says. "I had one parent tell me, 'My son goes to therapy every day and this is the only one he really likes.'"

Jackie McConnell is the mother of two children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. She said hippotherapy at EATA has been beneficial to her family.

"The evidence is clear, that for the kind of muscular dystrophy that my kids have, it keeps them walking longer," she said.

Volunteers and participants say the benefits of EATA sessions are numerous and highly encouraging for those looking to get away from traditional therapy methods. Taking advantage of the natural beauty of Alaska and the adventure of riding horses, EATA gets participants moving and feeling more confident in themselves and their abilities.

They currently offer programs for wounded warriors, military groups, families, business groups and foster care/residential treatment facilities.

This story appeared in the May 2015 issue of 61º North Magazine. Contact 61º editor Jamie Gonzales at jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com.

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