Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center

I truly think that having a pet and playing sports are two of the best ways for children to learn how to be responsible, sociable, confident adults. As an animal-​lover and avid yogi and runner, I try to impart this message and my belief, especially to young girls who I see struggling with body and self-​esteem issues. That’s why I decided to volunteer at Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
Lothlorien helps people of all ages «with cognitive, physical, emotional, and learning disabilities» gain confidence and happiness by providing them with the opportunity to do a sport and experience the friendship of an animal through horseback riding. I love Lothlorien’s mission: «Changing lives one hoofbeat at a time.» (I also love their two barn cats, JRR and Tolkien!) Lothlorien’s riders range from children and teens to adults and war vets, all of whom benefit from the physical and emotional therapy that horseback riding provides. As a volunteer I literally see the changes that horseback riding makes in the riders: they sit a little taller, speak a little louder, and, most importantly, they smile, laugh, and have fun. By participating in Equine Assisted Activities, riders learn not just horsemanship but also self-​esteem, social skills, and self-​sufficiency. Lessons here are a social experience: there is the rider, the leader, and the sidewalker, as well as the NARHA-​registered riding instructors who oversee each lesson.
Becoming in tune with the horse gives riders a sense of accomplishment that they take with them beyond the lesson, empowering them to do more in their daily lives. You sit on top of the world when you’re on top of a horse, such a beautiful, powerful creature, yet so gentle: the obedience, loyalty, and love of the animal really do have the power to decrease a person’s anxiety and help her open up to possibility. The environment that the horses, the instructors, and the volunteers create encourages riders to focus on their abilities, all the things they can do and accomplish, rather than their disabilities, their fears, or their insecurities.
Lothlorien offers seven 4-​week class sessions from March to November each year. Each lesson lasts about 60 minutes – about 45 minutes of riding with 15 minutes of mounting/​dismounting instruction. The government does not fund Lothlorien; rather, LTRC relies upon donations and fund-​raising efforts to support its mission and vision, which includes a tuition assistance program and a shelter for the outdoor arena.
If you know someone who could benefit from a class session, I would suggest calling and arranging the first lesson. Everyone there is amazing, so friendly and encouraging, and just seeing riders gain confidence as they learn to take control of the reins and tune into their horses is therapy in itself.