Centaur Stride, a therapeutic horseback riding facility, provided an opportunity for students with disabilities to showcase their skills to elementary students from Westfield Academy & Central School. The experience highlighted the challenges and accomplishments of riders with Cerebral Palsy, demonstrating the physical and emotional benefits of interacting with horses. The program also allowed students without disabilities to learn about kindness, compassion, and empathy through helping others less fortunate.
The horse served as a natural equalizer for participants with mobility issues, allowing them to experience movement and muscle activation similar to walking. The physical exercise and practice on the horse translated to improved mobility off the horse, leading to significant gains for participants with disabilities. The joy and benefits of the program were contagious, impacting both the riders with disabilities and those without, fostering personal growth and understanding.
Centaur Stride’s partnership with BOCES aims to expand the “healing with horses” experiences to more schools, promoting inclusion, integration, and personal development through interactions with horses. The organization encourages donations and volunteers to support their mission of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. Visit their website or social media pages for more information on how to get involved.
