Connie Tiesenhausen has never seen her 11-year-old daughter light up the way she does when she hops onto the saddle of a horse.
Bella Tiesenhausen is one of 10 children and youth with developmental challenges that take part in weekly therapeutic horse rides at Jasper鈥檚 McCready Arena. According to Connie, Bella has limited motor skills, is nonverbal and is often impulsive, but the second she climbs onto a large hoofed creature, Connie immediately notices a change within her daughter.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been riding since she was three and she鈥檚 benefited so much from the program. As far as her control and her self-esteem the horses have really helped鈥攊t鈥檚 a calming force for her,鈥� said Connie. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what it is about these gentle giants, but they seem to have an immediate effect on these children.
鈥淭he horses seem to know these kids have a lot of challenges.鈥�
Helen van Tongeren couldn鈥檛 agree more. She鈥檚 the one who started Jasper鈥檚 therapeutic riding classes back in 2004.
鈥淗orses can sense when someone isn鈥檛 able to do something. They are very sensitive to these children鈥檚 needs,鈥� van Tongeren said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard to explain, but horses are capable of making these strong connections with the children.
鈥淭he amount these children progress and improve physically and mentally is amazing.鈥�
According to Pacific Riding For Developing Abilities, a British Columbia organization, riders who participate in equine assisted therapy can experience physical, emotional and psychological rewards. Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider鈥檚 body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. For individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, the relationships formed with the horse, the instructors and the other riders can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem.
During the first few years of van Tongeren鈥檚 summer sessions she only had one horse and a couple of riders, however since the benefits of therapeutic riding have spread, van Tongeren has newcomers each year and local horse owners have started offering up their own horses for the sessions.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be able to do this if it weren鈥檛 for the volunteers that help me and the ones that donate their horses,鈥� said van Tongeren, adding that each of the program鈥檚 horses have to be carefully selected because each riders鈥� challenges vary.
Initially, van Tongeren said most children are afraid or intimidated when they come face-to-face with the horses, however, after some basic training and some safety precautions each child begins to feel comfortable in the saddle.
鈥淔or some children it鈥檚 a little more difficult, but one by one they begin learning their lefts and rights and how to follow instructions and what鈥檚 important around a horse,鈥� van Tongeren said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of trust that goes into the relationship between the horse and the child.鈥�
Irene Marsh鈥檚 daughter Angela, is new to van Tongeren鈥檚 program this summer, however, Angela has taken part in numerous therapeutic rides throughout the years.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really happy that this program exists here. We didn鈥檛 have this at our last home and we really value the benefits that it鈥檚 provided for Angela,鈥� said Irene adding that her family moved to Jasper last January.
Like Bella, Angela is also 11-years-old, but due to cognitive challenges she has the mental capacity of a toddler, which also affects Angela鈥檚 physical abilities. Irene said that during Angela鈥檚 early years horse therapy played a big part in teaching her how to sit up on her own. The rides continue to help Angela with her core strength and balance.
鈥淣ot only are horses amazing animals, but they allow the kids to feel like other kids鈥攏ot all these kids can take part in sports like baseball or soccer, but this is something that they can get involved in and get excited about,鈥� van Tongeren said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always great to see the kids鈥� smiling faces.
鈥淚 get a lot of the same kids every year and they just keep getting better and better.鈥�
Kayla Byrne
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