THOMASVILLE- Inclusivity is a top priority at Hands and Hearts for Horses, a therapeutic horseback riding center for kids with physical and mental disabilities. That is why their annual summer camps are a must-do for area kids.
The camp welcomes both able-bodied children and children who may have a disability. The goal is to have children ride together, grow their social interactions, and teach kids at a young age that just because someone is different doesn’t mean they can’t be friends.
According to Hands and Hearts for Horses Director and Instructor Susie Shin, the camp is a week of varying activities including therapeutic horseback riding, learning horsemanship skills, arts and crafts, teamwork, and sensory activities.
Many of the children attending camp have never been on a horse before and use the experience to gain confidence and see if horseback riding is a passion of theirs.
“It’s cool to be able to introduce them to horseback riding,” Shin said. “We are able to share the love of horses and most of them end up loving it and wanting to come back every summer.”
As the campers grow and move forward, Shin said, so does the camp.
“We have advanced camps, so we can accommodate them and grow with them,” she explained.
Shin hopes to grow with Rhealynn Mills, who underwent an amputation on her right leg after being diagnosed with an Osteosarcoma. This past week Mills has already conquered some of her fears, but Shin would love to continue working with her as she progresses.
Mills’ father works at a plantation and her goal was to become more confident, before eventually being able to ride with her dad at the plantation.
“She ended up coming to camp and it was really cool to watch her,” Shin said.
Because Hands and Hearts for Horses is primarily a therapeutic horseback riding center, they can provide varying levels of support.
Mills initially wanted two volunteers beside her at all times on the horse, which Shin said they were happy to do in order to help Mills with her balance.
“By Wednesday, she wanted to do it by herself and wanted to ride more independently,” Shin said. “Just watching her grow and thrive was really cool because I knew she had that goal of wanting to ride with her dad. It was remarkable to see how her confidence grew through her horsemanship skills.”
In learning horsemanship skills, campers are taught how to lead their horse out, how to take a horse’s temperature, pulse, and respiration, how to lunge, how to bring horses through an obstacle course, and how to feed. Of course, they are also taught to ride, trot, and post. While they begin in the arena, campers can also opt to ride on the trail, where sensory activities are available throughout the ride.
There are still two weeks of camp left for kids who wish to experience horseback riding and making new friends.
Shin highly encourages everyone to attend.
“I really love our camps because of the inclusivity,” she said. “It breaks down the stigma and barriers. Children are children and it’s a wonderful way to teach them that regardless of someone’s ability level, everyone is on the same playing field.”
For more information, email jennifer@handsandheartsforhorses.com.