Who We Serve
Positive Strides uses horses to provide life-changing therapy to residents of the Eastern Shore with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. Our programs help young children, teens, adults, veterans and seniors build their confidence, self-esteem, feelings of competency and independence.
Our Programs
Therapeutic Riding: The benefits of horseback riding are as numerous as the types of people and conditions served. Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical limitations often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. For individuals with cognitive or emotional challenges, the unique relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. Sessions are led by a certified therapeutic riding instructor with the support of a horse leader and two side walkers to ensure the safety of the rider and horse.
Hippotherapy: Specially-trained physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech/language pathologists apply the movement, rhythm, and repetition of the horse as a treatment strategy to help patients achieve therapeutic goals. The therapy is used to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes in a fun and motivational way in a nonclinical setting.
Recent studies have determined that hippotherapy is appropriate for specific diagnoses including:
Hippotherapy: Specially-trained physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech/language pathologists apply the movement, rhythm, and repetition of the horse as a treatment strategy to help patients achieve therapeutic goals. The therapy is used to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes in a fun and motivational way in a nonclinical setting.
Recent studies have determined that hippotherapy is appropriate for specific diagnoses including:
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Equine-Assisted Learning: Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach which promotes the development of life skills. This focus on life skills can be related to academic achievement and classroom behavior, professional development and leadership, or personal growth and exploration. The work is facilitated by professionals who have training and certifications that qualifies them to work safely with horses, have knowledge and skill in experiential learning methods and have been trained in facilitation.
Horse Hands: A vocational training program for individuals with special needs who wish to work in a horse or farm-related field. Horse Hands offers skills training in basic horse care and farm maintenance. We will educate participants in the various areas of equine and farm-related vocations. Positive Strides will partner with local agriculture-related businesses to assist individuals in volunteer opportunities, internships or job placements.
- CATCH Riders: Creating a Therapeutic Change through Horsemanship (CATCH) is an EAL program that helps survivors of trauma develop and enhance life skills, empowerment, self-confidence and growth through partnership with horses. The program consists of three components: unmounted, mounted and support sessions.
- Time to Ride: Created by the American Horse Council, Time to Ride is an after-school program that gets students out of the classroom and into the farm environment. Its purpose is to introduce school-age children to horseback riding and horse care in a safe, welcoming environment through lessons at approved barns. Positive Strides is a certified Time to Ride facility and welcomed its first group of at-risk students in 2020.
- Silver Saddles: An EAL program that offers seniors with Alzheimer’s or related dementia, living in a long term care setting, the opportunity to partner with horses in a farm atmosphere. Primary goals of the program include relieving depression/anxiety, encouraging physical activity, fostering interpersonal and community connections, and promoting an improved sense of wellbeing. The individuals will pet, groom, feed and, if able, walk with their horses. Participants will also complete crafts and other hands-on projects during the sessions.
- Horses Healing Heroes: An EAL program that offers veterans with various mental health needs and trauma to heal by partnering/bonding with horses and each other. This program will simulate a “boot camp” setting with a support component and extensive vocational training.
Horse Hands: A vocational training program for individuals with special needs who wish to work in a horse or farm-related field. Horse Hands offers skills training in basic horse care and farm maintenance. We will educate participants in the various areas of equine and farm-related vocations. Positive Strides will partner with local agriculture-related businesses to assist individuals in volunteer opportunities, internships or job placements.
What Medical Professionals Are Saying
Many medical professionals, including the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association, recognize the therapeutic qualities of equine-assisted activities and therapies.
Equine-assisted activities “are clearly a viable intervention option for participants with impairments in balance, gross and fine motor function, gait, spasticity and coordination,” wrote researchers from the University of Ioannina in Greece in their findings published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
© 2023 Positive Strides, Inc.