Stable Hands
1996 to 2006
Celebrating 10 years of excellence!

Stable Hands is a private, non-profit organization that provides therapeutic horsemanship activities to disabled individuals in Siskiyou County. It was formed in January 1996 with the goal of providing physically, mentally and emotionally challenged individuals the opportunity to grow through horsemanship. It began with an eight-week pilot project involving four riders, one morning per week. It has grown to serving 40 riders, three days per week, in three nine-week sessions from April through October. Therapeutic riding is specialized instruction in riding skills and horse management taught by riding instructors certified by The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). This includes education on and off the horse in the areas of riding skills, stable management and basic equine care. The goal is for the rider to be as independent as possible.

Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. This strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. In hippotherapy, the patient engages in activities on the horse that are enjoyable and challenging. Specific riding skills are not taught (as in therapeutic horseback riding); but rather a foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing.

The benefits of hippotherapy include rapid improvements in balance and decreased spasticity. As the movement of the horse rocks the pelvis of the rider, it simulates how an able –bodied person moves in a regular walking gait. These side-to-side and up and down movements cannot be duplicated with equipment in a clinic. Additionally, the natural affection and attraction many people feel towards animals aid in motivating disabled children. The fresh air, sunshine and warm smiles contribute to the therapeutic atmosphere.

Individual riders are assessed prior to entering the program by an occupational therapist or therapeutic riding instructor to determine eligibility and appropriate enrollment in either the therapeutic riding component or hippotherapy program. Goals and objectives are established with input from the therapeutic riding instructors, therapist, rider and family members.

Stable Hands has a staff of three who serve as therapeutic riding instructors, occupational therapist, volunteer coordinator, horse manager, program coordinator and executive director. The staff is supported by a well-trained team of volunteers. Stable Hands currently owns four horses and leases two additional. The program operates three days per week from April through October. We have applied for renewal of our NARHA Premier Accreditation and will be undergoing on on-site review this year. This assures that Stable Hands meets the highest standards in the industry.

Stable Hands completed its first year at the Montague Rodeo Grounds in 2005. We are a member of the Valley Community Club and work with other groups to support and maintain the facility that we share. The Rodeo Grounds are a public facility and have given Stable Hands more visibility in the community.

Our goals are to provide a high quality service that promotes health and wellness in disabled individuals through therapeutic horsemanship activities. Our objective is to care for our therapy horses, recruit, train and retain volunteers, successfully complete the NARHA premier accreditation process and open an office which is accessible to volunteers, staff and the public.