What Is the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program Up to Now?

The Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program (NVTRP) has served the needs of Northern Virginians for 30 years.

In 1980, under the direction of the Cooperative Extension services, the Fairfax 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program opened its doors. From this modest beginning, NVTRP now offers comprehensive programs for children and adults.

People of any age benefit from therapeutic riding. Being around horses, learning to guide them and helping to care for them are activities that build confidence. Riding horses develops strength in legs, back and arms. It soothes pain in muscles and joints, tones muscles and improves balance and coordination.

As the knowledge of disabilities and their treatment has grown over the years, the scope of NVTRP has broadened as well. Think of the many kinds of physical, mental and emotional conditions now identified by doctors and therapists: autism, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities (LD), developmental delays, cerebral palsy and impairments in vision, speech and hearing.

To that list, add teenagers who are considered “at risk.” Who knows what trouble the love of a horse may prevent a kid from getting into.

People with physical disabilities caused by accidents, injuries and illness respond to therapeutic riding as well. Two years ago, for example, I met a college student who was an NVTRP participant. One of her legs had been amputated because of cancer. She had been a rider for many years, and when her physicians gave her the go-ahead, she was back in the saddle again, mobile and happy. 

A program similar to Wounded Warriors helps soldiers.

After serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, they often return home with severe needs. Men and women who suffer from brain damage, PTSD and physical and emotional issues participate successfully in this program.

Longtime Fairfax Station resident Theresa Meade worked with military service personnel last summer.

Commenting on the program’s effectiveness, Meade said, “The men and women first approached the horses with trepidation. After six weeks, they were able to go into the field with a lead line, catch the horses, and bring them back to the barn. They learned to groom the horses, saddle them up and ride. Some of them even learned to trot. They had confidence in themselves and a feeling of achievement with the horses.”   

An exciting program, hippotherapy, has been added for people with other physical disabilities. Breeana Bornhorst, NVTRP’s Executive Director, recently wrote to sponsors and friends, “When hearing that we offer hippotherapy, many of you have asked why we would use a hippopotamus for therapy.” 

After joking about the non-existent hippos, Breeana continued seriously, “At NVTRP, we make sure that the individual needs of our riders are met. One way that we are able to specialize our services is by offering hippotherapy, a one-on-one therapy session focusing on working with the horse's movement as a treatment tool. (Hippo is Latin for horse.)”

In hippotherapy, a physical therapist, who is also a trained and certified therapeutic riding instructor, works with the client. Three volunteers assist; one leads the horse, and the side-walkers prevent falls and help the rider maintain balance.

The exercises are similar to ones a physical therapist might use with a patient on the ground: leg lifts, stretching, bending, knee bends. Performing these exercises while riding lets a person take advantage of the horse’s soothing movement, at the same time increasing coordination and strength. What a difference this can make to somebody who has had a stroke or suffers from severe arthritis!

NVTRP is accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (http://www.narha.org/). However, visitors to Little Full Cry Farm don’t really need to know that because its excellence is evident. The beautifully groomed, gentle horses, the enthusiastic volunteers, the clean stalls, the orderly tack room and the knowledgeable, welcoming staff reveal the extraordinary quality of the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program.