Poplar Ridge Stables provides a different kind of therapy
By Kelley Mohr
July 23, 2011
322
Summary: Poplar Ridge Stables offers a therapeutic riding program for multi-handicapped clients Story: Mathew sits straight and tall upon his steed, proudly directing it around corners and through obstacles. With a glowing smile upon his face, he lifts his arms to each side, balancing upright on his horse as if ready to fly. Once a week, Matthew and other handicapped children take their therapy out of the hospital and into the stables as part of the riding program at Poplar Ridge Stables. Poplar Ridge Stables, a ministry of the Christian Children?s Home of Wooster, offers two programs, Ridge Riders and Reins for Life. Ridge Riders is a community program, offering riding lessons, trail rides, day camps and group activities. Reins for Life, the program in which Matthew participates, is a therapeutic program that provides services to children with physical, emotional, behavioral and mental disabilities. On July 20, the Wooster Community Hospital brought nearly 20 multi-handicapped clients to take riding lessons at the stables. Once a week, the hospital brings clients with Downs Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, speech disorders or developmental delays to the stables for a different approach to therapy. Poplar Ridge Stables is home to 17 horses, most of which have been donated to the stables. The staff works with the horses until they grow accustomed to their new environment and comfortable with special needs riders. For multi-handicapped clients, the riding lessons are not just a fun excursion; all this horsing around doubles as therapy. Poplar Ridge Co-Director John Plegge said riding is invaluable for people with disabilities. Riding strengthens muscles, stimulates nerves, improves balance and coordination and increases flexibility and range of motion. According to Plegge, who has more than 20 years experience working with special needs children, even sitting upright upon the horse gives clients a beneficial workout. ?A lot of them don?t have a strong core,? said John Plegge. ?The movement of the horse makes them rock back and forth, so they have to use their stabilizing muscles when they ride.? Clients challenge more than just their bodies during the riding lessons. Co-Director Carla Plegge said the handicapped children they work with have a diverse set of difficulties. The riding is therapeutic to clients with any disability that is depleting their growth, whether it is a physical, emotional or social disability. ?There are plenty of reasons why kids come,? explained Carla Plegge. ?Whatever the issue is, we gear lessons towards that.? Because of their disabilities, many clients feel different from other children, explained Carla Plegge. Much of the riding therapy is aimed at building up self-confidence, she said. The program provides the clients with independence, mobility and a sense of accomplishment that greatly contributes to these aims. As the riders gain confidence, they develop other skills. Riding in groups allows them to exercise social and verbal skills. They practice enunciating words in order to communicate with the horses and with other riders and staff, giving directions and asking questions while riding around the arena. They are taught these skills in an encouraging, interactive environment. This distinctive therapy has produced remarkable results with many clients. Jennifer Roberts, a client who sustained a head injury in an accident when she was sixteen, is one such success story. Her injuries caused paralysis on the right side of the body, atrophied muscles, physical pain and psychological frustration due to her weakness and restricted mobility. In search of additional rehabilitation, Jennifer began a riding program in 2008. Since that first time in the saddle, Jennifer has returned faithfully to the stables and has shown significant improvement since starting the riding program. Even the physical and occupational therapists that have treated Jennifer for almost 10 years noticed her considerable progress. ?Before her operations, the physical therapist asked ?what is she doing? Because I?m noticing muscle growth,?? said John Plegge. ?When she told him she was riding, he couldn?t believe it.? Jennifer will return to the stables in August after an operation. To the delight of the staff at the stables, she will be able to ride again. ?It?s so exciting to see her come back and see she doesn?t have all that pain,? said Carla Plegge. John and Carla Plegge are full of stories like Jennifer?s. Whether they are working with a child battling the affects of Cerebral Palsy or with a client combating arthritis, Reins for Life at the Poplar Ridge Stables is a program that seeks to improve clients? physical, social and mental well-being, all while having plenty of fun with some friendly four-legged therapists. <br />Matthew rides around the indoor riding arena at Poplar Ridge Stables as part of their therapeutic riding program.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />On Wednesday, July 20 Wooster Community brought nearly 20 multi-handicapped clients to take riding lessons at the Poplar Ridge Stables.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />Matthew sits proudly upon his horse King as he navigates around the indoor riding arena at Poplar Ridge Stables guided by John Plegge.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />Matthew raises both arms to strengthen his core muscles as part of the therapeutic riding program at Poplar Ridge Stables.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />Matthew raises both arms to strengthen his core muscles as part of the therapeutic riding program at Poplar Ridge Stables.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />A client to the Poplar Ridge Stables prepares to dismount from his horse during a therapeutic riding lesson.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />Matthew affectionately pats a horse after taking riding lessons at Poplar Ridge Stables in Wooster. <br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />Matthew stands proudly next to his horse after a riding exercise at Poplar Ridge Stables.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br /><br />John Plegge, co-director of Poplar Ridge Stables, puts King in his stable after a riding lesson.<br />Photo by Kelley Mohr<br class="hardreturn" />
