TREAT gives people with special needs the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and emotionally. (Photo by Chandra L. Orr)
(Stephenville)—The young boy ran toward the door with a wide grin and excitement shining from his eyes. Aaron O'Neill was on a mission—he wanted to be the first in line.
But instead of wanting to be the first in line at a carnival or the first to play a video game, Aaron was racing through the doors of the equine barn at Tarleton State University for his turn to ride a horse.
Aaron is a participant in the Tarleton Equine Assisted Therapy (TREAT), a therapeutic riding program that gives people with special needs and varying ability levels the chance to challenge themselves physically and emotionally, as well as to set goals to improve their quality of life via the horse.
"This program has been such a blessing to our family," said Glenda Bragg, Aaron's grandmother. "Aaron has bipolar disorder, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and also has bad panic disorder. Riding a horse teaches him how to stay focused and to learn what he can and can't control. If he doesn't get to come and ride, it messes up his whole week."
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) was formed in the 1970s to provide oversight for therapeutic riding programs. Of the 43 therapeutic riding programs in Texas, TREAT is one of 16 considered by NARHA to be a Premier Accredited Center.
"While many people may not have heard of using horses as therapy, therapeutic riding programs have been around for years," said David Snyder, professor in animal science and TREAT coordinator. "Therapeutic riding originated in Europe many years ago and was later introduced to the United States."
When Snyder came to Tarleton in 1993, the university didn't offer any equine-assisted activities.
"The school already had the facilities, so it only seemed natural to bring a therapeutic riding program here," said Snyder. "At that time, our primary objective was to train college students to work with people who had special needs and do it using horses."
Between 35 and 40 riders participate each semester. (Photo by Jeremy Enlow)
Snyder's equine assisted therapy classes have more than accomplished that objective as evidenced by the students who enroll in the course. Each semester approximately 15 students are enrolled in the basic course and an additional 50 students gain field experience in special education, adaptive physical education and nursing courses.
In addition to training students, the program has evolved into a tremendous asset to the community, with between 35 and 40 riders participating each semester.
In addition to helping those with bipolar disorder, equine-assisted activities are an effective treatment for many people with special needs, such as autism, cerebral palsy, head injuries, stroke, emotional disturbances, developmental delay, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, visual impairment, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, amputations, attention deficit disorders and deafness.
"Horses provide such a great stimulus for those with special needs," Snyder said. "It's amazing what can be accomplished by simply changing a rider from our Shetland to our Belgian, or placing a rider on a paint horse instead of a sorrel horse."
Sixteen horses are currently used in the TREAT program, all of which have been donated. However, it takes a special horse to be suitable for the program and Tarleton can't accept every horse people want to donate.
"The average age of our horses is 20," Snyder said. "Older horses tend to be calmer and more suited to our program. But even after we accept a horse donation, it can take up to a year of training before we are able to place a rider on the horse."
Even well-trained horses will require additional training to become accustomed to the activities used during TREAT sessions, which can include everything from doing a barrel pattern to playing basketball.
As well as offering rides, TREAT organizes other activities throughout the year, including a children's rodeo during the spring and fall semesters. The rodeo gives children the opportunity to compete in bull riding (on a bucking barrel), dummy roping and a goat ribbon-relay race. A Longhorn steer and donkey are available for children to ride and the rodeo also has a petting zoo.
Another activity that TREAT participates in is the Month of Military Childhood Festival at Fort Hood.
"It's a major one-day festival," Snyder said. "At last year's, in six hours we placed about 3,000 kids on horseback. This year it's on April 28. We are going back, but we will take more stuff and more volunteers."
TREAT is funded by Tarleton as well as various Stephenville businesses, including Dr Pepper, HEB, Wal-Mart and Dodge trucks. Additional funds are also generated from local civic organizations, businesses and individuals. 