Looking For A Horse (of Course!) (Center, Fair Oaks Ranch: insurance, home, high school)

[majormadmax]

My wife and kids are visiting family in Florida, and my sister has a horse that my 9-yr-old autistic son just loved riding him! Of course, now my wife wants to find someplace local we can take my son to go horseback riding.

My wife said our son and the horse really bonded, and as some of you may know horseback riding can be very therapeutic; and there was recently a story about a boy whose autism was helped by riding on horses.

So, if anyone knows of any local stables where we could arrange for short horse rides for our son, we would be grateful. We are not looking for all-day jaunts, just a half-hour or so in a fenced area to start off with.

I did do a search and found some similar threads, but didn’t see anything particular to kids.

Cheers! M2

[Midorigreen]

Would this place fit the bill?


THE FARMYARD

[buffy888]

Fort Sam used to have an equestrian center - do they still?

[dmarie123]

MAJOR,
There are TWO fantastic stables that specialize in riding for children with disabilities. They are run by physical therapists. Horses working with disabilities is actually called "Equine Therapy" and it is legitimate as a form of therapy. The owners of the stables hold qualifications in special education, development, and other therapeutic concepts. I have volunteered at both, and they are amazing. There was one child who was severly disabled, and the parents couldn't get this 3 year old to hold anything, after a few horseback riding lessons he was holding the saddle to help balance, and the parents were crying with joy. There was another child with some sort of muscular disorder that couldn't sit or stand, after hours of walking in circles on the horse, the steady centrifical force strengthed the body enough and the child sat and began standing for the first time.

There are volunteers that will walk on either side of the horse, and are specially trained to keep the child on and safe, yet as independant as possbile for the specific child.

One is near Retama Park, it is called "SaddleLight." The other is out towards Bandera (not quite that far) and is called Triple H equestrian center.

The one near Bandera is a beautiful, traffic free drive through Hill Country. The one near Retama is not as pretty, but depending where you live it might be closer.

SOME MEDICAL Insurance covers this, as it is considered an actual therapy. Check with your insurance provider. Both stables are non-profit, and will help make it affordable if your insurance doesn't cover it.

Hope this helps!

I can't get the websites to come up (at work) but if you google them they should come right up.

I have do have their phone number in my cell phone though, Saddle Light's phone number is 210-651-9574, and Triple H is 830-510-9515

[dmarie123]

Oh, and Saddle Light is small, with one old-ish woman who runs it. They have multiple horses and she is desperate for help. The "side-walkers" who keep the children safe are all volunteers (keeps costs down). If anyone is interested in working with horses, or the children they support, give them a call. High School students are also welcome to volunteer. It is very rewarding, and you may even get assigned to a "patient" that you can build a bond with. Triple H also works off of volunteers, but they are substantially bigger and better staffed.

[Eleanor Rigby]

I have to second the recommendation of Saddle Light. I cannot say enough good things about Kerstin Fosdick and her program. She is at the Retama Equestrian Center on Old Evans Road (behind the Verizon). REC is a very nice facility with an enormous indoor arena as well as two outdoor arenas and a outdoor jump field.

Kerstin promotes parental involvement in a big way, so if that is something you are interested in, Saddle Light would be a great choice. You don't have to have any horse skills to volunteer - they can teach you what you need to know.

ETA: http://www.thesaddlelightcenter.com/ is their website.

[Allahjandro]

I don't think it gets any better than dmarie's post... but have you tried on base Lackland yet? I've driven by the stables there and I know it's still in use... I honestly don't know if they let anyone ride the horses except the owners but I would think that if you explained your interest they might be able to help you contact one of the owners (I'm guessing they would love to have someone take their horse(s) out more often). I think it would be pretty cool to meet the family for lunch and see your son do a little riding. Good luck!

http://www.lacklandservices.com/saddle_club.html

[Paka]

Obviously, the theraputic ride would be wonderful if available, but Ft Sam use to have hourly riding available as well as riding lessons at their stables. Our daughters took riding lessons there. Been a while, but check into it...use to be VERY reasonable in price.

[majormadmax]

Thanks for the replies, I will sit down with my wife when they get back and we'll look into each one of the suggestions!

Cheers! M2

[majormadmax]

Well, we found the perfect person and place! Her name is Brook Courchaine and she and her husband Dolph offer therapeutic riding lessons out in Fair Oaks Ranch. They've been helping handicapped individuals to ride for over 15 years, and have very reasonable rates ($25 half hour/$40 hour). They are just about a mile off of Ralph Fair Road and easy to find, and are taking on new riders at the moment.

We took our 9-yr-old autistic son out there this morning, and he had a blast! First, they took him on a small track with Svasa (their horse); and once he got comfortable (which didn't take long, they then took him out on a short trail with us following on foot. The horse was extremely gentle and Brook and Dolph made absolutely sure out some was absolutely safe, comfortable and having fun! My wife and I were amazed at how well he took to the horse and the lesson.

Brook has taught therapeutic riding for 20 years and has ridden and competed in horseback riding events for over 40. She is horsemanship safety certified and a very outgoing person. She explained everything to us in-depth and answered all of our questions along the way, and both my wife and I had total confidence in both her and Dolph.

If anyone is interested, give Brook at call on her cell at (314) 956-5052 or at home (210) 698-2042. Our son has another lesson scheduled for next weekend, and this will become a regular thing for him and us...

Cheers! M2