Programs & Services
Session Details
In addition to these activities you may also observe riders passively experiencing the
therapeutic benefits of the horse's motion, grooming their horses, tacking or untacking their
horses, or participating in some other stable management activities. Be assured, no matter
what type of activity our riders are engaged in, they are continually working on specific
goals designed just for them.
Please click a heading below!
Dress
Participants should wear a sturdy-soled boot with a heel no larger than one inch. Long
pants are recommended: including jeans, heavy cotton pants, riding breeches or chaps
over pants. Satiny, loose-fitting pants or slippery material such as wind pants are not
acceptable because participants may slide off the horse leaving instructors and/or
volunteers unable to grasp the participant in an effective manner. Wearing jackets,
gloves and hats are encouraged and acceptable when weather dictates the necessity for
them..
Getting on the Horse
Manes & Motions has a mounting ramp that allows riders to be at the same level as
the horse's back, enabling the rider an easy mount. All the instructors are specially
trained to assist riders with a variety of different needs in the safest, most
effective manner.
Support While on the Horse
Manes & Motions has a large base of specially trained volunteers who work as side
walkers and horse handlers during sessions. The job of the sidewalker is to provide
physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive support to the rider. This may include
using a variety of holds to help provide security to riders who need assistance with
balance, or walking along side a rider who needs the emotional security that someone is
right at their side. The horse handlers are in charge of the riders horse. Their
assistance can range from being in complete control of the horse to being available as
an extra safety measure for riders who are working on independent riding but have not
yet mastered total control of their horse.
Length of Lessons
Group sessions, consisting of no more than four riders, last for 45 minutes. Private
sessions, where riders work one to one with an instructor, are a half-hour in length.
During a session riders will spend the majority of their time on the horse but grooming
and stable management skills are also incorporated into the session if appropriate.
What Riders Work On During Lessons
While each session is tailored to the specific needs of the individuals riding at that
time, a typical group session usually includes the following activities:
Mounted warm-up and stretch time
Introduction of a new skill or concept, or review of long-term skill or concept
Games, drills, and exercises to reinforce skills
Obstacle courses designed to challenge the rider to utilize a variety of skills
Trotting time or trail ride
Cool-down time in which riders review what theyve learned
