Riding High with Special Equestrians

It’s been said that being around horses can put a smile on your face and a skip in your step, and if you’ve ever spent time at the Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast (SETC) barn at 7065 37th Street, you will understand why. It’s a happy place where the sounds of whinnies, snickers, and snorts welcome those dealing with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. For a period of time they will be engaged in equine-assisted activities, leaving worries and anxieties behind as their spirits soar. Somehow the world seems to look better from atop a horse.

“We see children and adults change as soon as they get in the saddle,” says Karen Johnson, who heads up the nonprofit organization. “For a little while at least, they’re in control of their lives. Our horses are exceptional therapy animals; they teach responsibility and build confidence.

“Most of them, like Squeeze, Mimi, and Crystal, are in their 20s. They’re patient, sensitive, and incredibly perceptive beings that can sense our emotions and take them all in. They give such unconditional love and bring magic to what we do.”

Since being founded in 1992, SETC, a member of PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) has expanded its community outreach with additional programs. While the primary one remains Adaptive Riding, others include Horsemanship, Dementia Support, and Ride Beyond Diagnosis (for women cancer survivors).

The latest, Horse-Powered Reading, kicked off last November and was an instant hit with first graders at Dodgertown Elementary School, a Title 1 Community Partnership School.

Every Tuesday morning students from one of the five first-grade classes climbed aboard a yellow school bus, lunches tucked in backpacks, and counted the minutes and miles until they arrived at the SETC barn. For the next four hours the eager 6- and 7-year-olds were engrossed in a horse-themed reading program funded by a grant provided by the Grand Harbor Outreach Program.

As Johnson explains, “We started the morning with a safety talk and discussion about horses and how they communicate to us without talking. Then we touched on basic anatomy words appropriate for their age level, doing it the old-fashioned way with ‘see it, spell it, say it,’ and we incorporated an anatomy game where students got to stick the spelling word on the correct place on the horse. They loved that,” Johnson smiles as she recalls the creative version of “pin the tail on the donkey.”

“After that, the students were divided into groups for activities. We complement Dodgertown’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) curriculum, so for science class we measured the horse’s height in hands. The technology part was tricky because we’re in a barn, but we talked about veterinary hospitals, what veterinarians do, and the types of equipment they use,” Johnson explains.

“For engineering we discussed the way horses move, their gait. The students worked together on a puzzle that highlighted the movement of the horse’s legs and skeleton. When it came time for mathematics, we measured feed and hay and used a weight tape to estimate the weight of the horse. Each student was given a workbook folder, a box of crayons, an informational horse coloring book, and a book to take home.

“We also did a grooming activity that was a favorite with the children. They learned the names and sequence of the grooming tools and they were able to have a hands-on experience of grooming a real-live horse. It was great. We’ve found that experiences like that, plus the stimulating environment of the barn, pretty much guarantee success and retention. Our hope is to instill children with the desire of lifelong learning by making what we do interesting and fun.”

That fun included introducing the students to “Able” the Equicizer—a custom handcrafted mechanical horse whose spring-loaded movements mimic those of the horse, which teaches children mounting and dismounting techniques as well as riding basics. Donated by Indian River Club’s Head, Heart and Hands Foundation, Able is one popular fellow.

“There are so many other programs we’d like to be doing,” says Johnson, a note of hope in her voice. “We’ve been given land in Fellsmere, where we’ll be building a therapeutic riding center complete with a covered arena. It will not only keep us out of the rain and humidity, it will enhance the programs we’re able to offer to the community.

“Right now we’re working on finalizing the site plan and trying to raise money to make it all happen. Our goal is to be out there in three to five years. That’s why the more the community knows about what we do and our desire to expand, the better.”

“And we always need more volunteers,” Johnson adds. “Most of our riders have to have two side walkers. If we don’t have enough volunteers we don’t ride. Safety is number one, so we train our volunteers.”

Johnson knows all about the training, as after moving back to Vero Beach, where she had spent her high school years, she found herself at loose ends.

“I felt compelled to do something with my time,” she says, recalling what her life was like nine years ago. “My life had changed; people I had known here before had moved on; my kids were grown and gone. I needed something to do, a purpose.

“Then I saw an ad in the paper about Special Equestrians needing volunteers. I’ve had a love of horses since the first time I saw one when I was 10 years old and my parents sent me to camp, so I decided to check it out. I started volunteering three or four times a week and found I really liked it. The more I liked it the more I wanted to teach, so I got certified, and the rest has been a natural progression. I feel that my love of horses and everything I’ve ever done has brought me here.”

She enjoys sharing that love of horses with others. “Horses bring the magic to what we do,” she says; “they’re truly our partners!”

Reflecting on her work with SETC, Johnson says, “To see the joy on a child or adult’s face as they accomplish a skill and their confidence and pride grows is amazing. What Special Equestrians does is so special, and I’m glad I found it. I hope others do, too.”