Lauren’s parents had tried such a variety of programs previously, but thought that at least being with a horse would be a nice break from the city and if nothing else, a real change from the sterile, clinical environments that had already claimed too much of young Lauren’s life.
It is generally accepted that being around horses, and the care, feeding, and riding of horses is largely pleasurable. If the involvement of horses in the lives of so many had provided so many positive experiences and emotions, the use and need of horses would have fallen to the wayside with the invention of the automobile. Instead, horses are honored and touch our lives in a variety of ways.
Lauren began working with the specialist out at the farm with the horses. It could have been the smell of leather, or the sheen of horsehair, but Lauren began to make real progress through her interaction with the specialist and the horses. Lauren’s folks thought that perhaps Lauren was moving away from her own world and finding solid ground in our collective reality for the first time.
The specialist taught Lauren how to properly groom the horse, and how to even feed her favorite horse peppermint treats by holding her hand flat with the treat on it so there was little chance any fingers would be bitten. Lauren could feel the warm breath of the horse, his soft whiskers brush her hand, and hear the crunch of the treat in his mouth as he savored her gift to him.
While learning to ride a horse was not truly part of the specialist’s program, Lauren began to feel comfortable on horseback. The physical need of Lauren to subtly adjust her muscles and maintain her balance on the walking horse opened up our world to her. The repeated and steady movement of the horse as he covered ground became a feeling Lauren could remember even when she was not near the horses.
Lauren was making breakthroughs. Lauren was making progress.
Yet the challenges and opportunities of life offered Lauren’s horse specialist a chance she simply could not turn down, and the horse specialist moved to a new city far away from Lauren and her family. Lauren had grown to love horses, and the comforting smell of the barn. Lauren’s parents thought it would be easy to find another person who could help Lauren with her growth.
While Lauren’s parents found dozens of horse farms, and numerous well-intentioned individuals, nobody seemed to be able to duplicate those breakthroughs that Lauren had experienced with the horse specialist. In desperation, Lauren’s parents contacted the horse specialist in her new city far away, and asked what program Lauren had been on and if the horse specialist could recommend someone who could pick up where the specialist left off.
The horse specialist said there are dozens of riding programs all over the country and hundreds of animal therapy theories, but no, she had simply come up with her own system. Lauren’s parents pressed the issue and pointed out all the little things the specialist had done with Lauren to include grooming, feeding treats, riding, and learning about farm life. Lauren’s parents wanted to know if there was some program or professional distinction they could ask for in looking for a local horse specialist. After all, they claimed, a dentist is known all over the nation as a person who can help with a toothache; should there not be a similar label for someone for horse therapy?
The specialist explained that while it is generally accepted that horses can and are wonderful for therapy, each horse specialist, and the therapy program is unique. As far as the specialist knew, there were thousands of programs to teach a person to ride a horse, hundreds of academic courses that could teach a person about horse health, and dozens of great trainers who can make a horse do amazing tricks. Yet, the specialist pondered, there simply was not a national institute that studies and certifies therapy with horses.
Lauren’s parents were deflated. Eventually they found another horse farm with another talented and dedicated specialist whose program and methods were close enough to the old horse specialist’s that Lauren could at least obtain some benefit.
Lauren eventually made some additional positive progress.
Lauren’s parents could never forget the progress and individual triumphs Lauren made through therapy with horses, nor their frustrations in attempting to find another specialist who could work wonders with their child. Lauren’s parents remained convinced that the breakthroughs that Lauren was making were every bit as worthwhile as her sparkling smile. They wondered that if her smile was assisted by a professional dentist, why could not Lauren’s work with horses be guided by a professional hippotherapist?
