NEW YORK THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
The New York Therapeutic
Riding Center (NYTRC) conducts the therapeutic horseback riding program,
EQUESTRIAsm, for children and adults
with disabilities living in the 5 boroughs of New York
City. EQUESTRIA is based at Chateau Stables in
Manhattan and has been in
operation for 10 years.
GOALS OF EQUESTRIA CLASSES
- to teach children and
adults with disabilities the equestrian skills needed to become good
riders
- to use horseback riding
activities to facilitate specific rehabilitation objectives for individuals with
disabilities
BENEFITS OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK
RIDING
- improving balance,
posture, coordination and mobility
- strengthening muscles
and mobilizing trunk and pelvis
- increasing attention
span and promoting communication skills
- improving confidence
and self-esteem
When individuals with
disabilities ride horses, they have a truly unforgettable experience. Not only do they sit taller and smile
more, they extend their dreams beyond the confines of their disabilities into
new, unexplored worlds. Riding
exercises the spirit as well as the body.
Like many sports, horseback riding provides challenges as well as
rewards. For a rider with a
disability, however, these challenges can be even greater. The end result is that riders are
encouraged to expand the limits of their abilities in environments that promote
success.
STUDENTS
The
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center serves children and
adults with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. These disabilities include cerebral
palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic
brain injury, CVA/ stroke, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning
disabilities, developmental disabilities, emotional disabilities, mental
retardation, Down Syndrome, visual/ hearing impairments, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and
autism.
In addition, the
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center serves patients referred
by major New York
City hospitals and
rehabilitation agencies. Physicians
and physical/ occupational therapists at a growing number of hospitals are
prescribing EQUESTRIA for their patients – because of the vital role of
therapeutic horseback riding in the rehabilitation of children and adults with
many types of disabilities.
STAFF
One of the unique aspects
of the New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center is the highly trained
and disciplined staff. In EQUESTRIA
classes, a NARHA-certified therapeutic riding instructor and a physical
therapist work together as a team in order to maximize the recreation and
rehabilitation potential of the classes.
The EQUESTRA staff is assisted by a dedicated cadre of volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play a key
role at the New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center. In our therapeutic riding classes, the
volunteers serve as leadwalkers (leading the horse) and as sidewalkers (walking
alongside the horse and giving physical support to the rider when needed). The leadwalkers and sidewalkers provide
both an emotional and safety support system that allows the riders to
concentrate totally on acquiring their equestrian skills. You do not need to have any special
knowledge of horses in order to be a volunteer.
COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
The
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center works in close
collaboration with several government agencies including the NYC Housing
Authority, NYC Mounted Police, NYC Sports Commission, Mayor’s Office for People
with Disabilities and Mayor’s Volunteer
Center.
IMPLEMENTATION OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
(ADA)
The
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center’s program, EQUESTRIA, is
playing a significant role in furthering the goals of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) by making horseback riding accessible to New Yorkers with
disabilities.
NYTRC ADVISORY BOARD
The Advisory Board of the
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center includes Angel Cordero
Jr., Jerry Bailey, Julie Krone, Monty Roberts, Sally Swift, Itzhak Perlman, and
Martin Sheen.
CONTRIBUTIONS
The
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center is a 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit charitable organization which depends greatly on contributions to
conduct and expand the therapeutic horseback riding program. All contributions are tax-deductible as
provided by law.
Contributions should be
mailed to:
New
York Therapeutic
Riding
Center
336 East 71st
Street, Suite
3D
New
York, NY
10021
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON
- becoming a NYTRC
student
- assisting NYTRC as a
volunteer
- visiting a
New
York
Therapeutic
Riding
Center
class
please call Richard
Brodie or Sol Reischer at (212) 535-3917.