At Athelas Therapeutic Riding, instructors and volunteers help people with disabilities get, and stay, in the saddle.
Athelas, a non-profit which operates at Northfield Farm on Highway 5 in Otego, is run by executive director and founder Anneliese Gilchrest and overseen by an eight-member board of directors.
Gilchrest, a 42-year-old Otego native, said inspiration came decades ago after working with Springbrook clients. She founded Athelas in 2007 and incorporated the business in 2009.
“When I was in high school, I was asked to teach horseback riding to individuals from Springbrook and I really loved it,” she said. “I thought it was fabulous and it was a small program — a day camp — that ran for a couple weeks and I just saw what an amazing thing it was for them.”
At college, she majored in therapeutic horseback riding. When she moved back to the area and looked for somewhere to work, she found nothing.
“So, I figured I’d start it up myself,” she said.
The resulting program offers horseback riding lessons, and equine experiences for those unable to ride, to children and adults with various physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.
Client feedback, Gilchrest said, has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
“Everyone loves it,” she said. “We don’t have enough slots for the number of riders that apply to participate every year. Right now, we have a waiting list of eight to 10 people.”
Program horses are carefully selected for their temperament and trained for the job. At the time of the interview, there were five Athelas horses including a Haflinger and some draft crosses to carry bigger riders.
“We have some pretty amazing horses in our program,” Gilchrest said, “It’s a very rigorous process and it takes a very special animal.”
Jocelyn Marsh, president of the Athelas board, said operations rely on volunteerism and donations.
While the board members help to facilitate the business side, the day-to-day operations are run by Gilchrest, two instructors and many volunteers who help with the lessons
“Every lesson, you have between two and five volunteers, depending on what’s needed,” Marsh said. “We are always looking for more volunteers, and you don’t have to have any horse experience. We train you in everything you need to know.”
Gilchrest said lesson fees are kept “reasonable, for families in this area.”
The income from lessons “covers about half our expenses, so we have to raise the other half in donations or fundraisers or events,” she said.
One of the program’s largest fundraisers, a barn dance and barbecue, is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 27 at the facility. The event will feature live music from Donna & the Mystics and a smoked pulled-pork dinner. Tickets can be purchased beforehand or at the door.
Marsh said the program is growing, having received a donation for an outdoor ring and sensory trail last year.
“We are raising funds to do a fence for the outdoor ring, so it’s safer for the clients to ride out there,” she said. “And (the sensory trail) is a trail that goes around the outside of some of the pastures and the property. There’s a creek and it’s back by the woods. You see the horses in the pasture and wildlife, and it’s beautiful and calming and a different experience than riding around in a ring.”
In a therapeutic riding session, the movement of the horse mimics a person walking — it’s like doing physical therapy but in a fun environment, she said.
“It’s a lot of core strength, flexibility, stamina, eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills,” she said. “It’s working on all those things, but it’s more fun than being in a gym.”
Socially, clients have to interact with the volunteers, the horses, the instructors. Group lessons are available for people who struggle socially.
“The horses are just very accepting,” Gilchrest said. How you treat the horse is going to be reflected back to you, so it can be very eye-opening … and you can really learn from the horses that way.”
Gilchrest credited client and personal fulfillment with furthering the program.
“There were several times over COVID that we almost closed,” she said. “Everyone was so upset, and we realized it means a lot and makes a big difference and it’s impacting other people’s lives … It’s something that is needed in the area and there’s not anything really like it.”
Despite the waiting list, Gilchrest said, people are encouraged to submit applications to participate. Anyone interested in volunteering may call 607-783-2321 for information.
For more information, visit athelastherapeuticridinginc.org or find “Athelas Therapeutic Riding Inc.” on Facebook.