Participants in the Mississippi State University Extension Equine Assisted Therapy Programs showed off their horse riding skills to friends and family at an Expo Monday night at the Mississippi Horse Park.
The programs benefit children of all ages with different disabilities and conditions, including but not limited to autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, learning disabilities, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries, visual and hearing impairments, cardiovascular accidents and strokes, brain injuries, amputations, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy.
“Last night was a special night for the kids to be recognized for their hard work and determination,” MSU Extension Equine Assisted Therapy Programs Director Cassie Brunson said. “It’s always inspiring to me, and the Expo is a chance for everyone to witness what I see on a weekly basis.”
Laurie Hersey’s daughter Jenna was one of the riders during the Expo as a member of the Red Team.
Hersey said Jenna has some special learning needs but no physical disabilities, and the program helps her work on motor skills, motor planning and balance in a fun way.
“We thought with some of the difficulties that Jenna has it would help her with working toward some things and goals,” Hersey said. “She’s done occupational therapy, but work toward those things in a way that’s fun for her.”
Hersey said her daughter just completed her second semester in the first year of the program, and they plan to continue as long as they can because it helps her self esteem and gives her something to be proud of.
“We’re finding something for her to do that she feels successful at,” Hersey said. “Last night was great for her. She was excited about it, she was proud of how she’s been doing this year, and for her to have a sense of accomplishment doing that has been great for her.”
In terms of the actual tangible goals, Hersey said, it will take time as they go along in the program to see the fruits of their work, but the benefits of the program are there.
“Just as a parent with a child with special needs, and obviously there are those who have greater needs, but being around others who accept her and understand where she’s coming from are also great,” Hersey said. “That’s a lot of stress on a parent. Cassie and Lori who run the program are just great.”
Recently, the MSU Extension Equine Assisted Therapy program began serving veterans too.
During the Expo, veterans Pete Carr, Andrew DeArmond, Sharon Dollarhide, Cody Ellis, Leanne Hartung, Mo’ieshia Johnson, Tanya Chiboroski, Roberta Nicholson, Peyton Thrash, Sherry Webb and Ronnie Wilcox were honored with medals for completing the Veterans Horsemanship program.
Lance McElhenney, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, said he has been a part of the program since it began.
McElhenney said he attended MSU prior to his service in the Marine Corps as a sergeant, and then enrolled again after returning home when he got involved in the program.
“I’m not above admitting I definitely do have PTSD, and that could help, in my mind, is a wonderful thing,” McElhenney said. “I do believe it helps a lot. It gives us something to look forward to doing, and it forces socialization a little bit.”
The leadership skills, communication skills and working with others during the program has been the biggest takeaway for McElhenney.
“One of the main things in the first good bit of the course was just doing grounds work, basic horsemanship skills — learning how to get the horse to respond to simple little commands,” McElhenney said.
He said bonding with the horses is another benefit of the program.
“Even if I’m not technically in one of the classes, I go anyway, and I go a lot on the days we’re not on the schedule to do be there,” McElhenney said. “I like to go to see the animals, and it also warms my heart to see the other results of it because it feels to me like we’re keeping the horses able to do everything and know the right things to do so that they don’t hurt anyone’s baby.”
McElhenney said he also hopes to stay involved with the program for as long as he can, not only to help himself but to help others.
“I stay impressed with what they do with the children, and I hope what we do is helping that a little bit,” he said. “Of course it is therapy for us, but helping them, to me is a wonderful thing. We live to help people, that’s what the military is comprised of.”
For more information or to donate, visit extension.msstate.edu/family/equine-assistedtherapy-programs