Years After Watching Her Daughter Suffering From an Underlying Condition, Woman Falls in Love With a ‘Unique’ Equestrian Cure

For years, the equestrian community has advocated the use of equine therapy for individuals with special needs. This 4-year-old girl is the perfect example of just how useful can therapeutic horse riding be. Madison Thies was born with Cerebral Palsy, a group of disorders affecting muscle development in young children, in turn affecting their ability to maintain their balance and posture.

When she was younger, her mother noticed that Madison was not growing the way she should and her bent legs ensured she wasn’t able to walk. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with this disorder, which is the most common motor disability in childhood. Luckily, the young equestrian found the Milestones Program and started horse therapy. The results were instantaneous, so much so, that her mother is over the moon at her progress.

How therapeutic riding helped this differently-abled equestrian

According to their official website, the Milestones Equestrian Achievement Program is a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program located in Kentucky for individuals ages 3-49 who are differently-abled. Every year, Milestone Inc. organizes its Rider Horse and Craft Vendor Show, which features riders and local vendors selling their products. Madison Thies is one such rider, who joined the program after she was diagnosed with the disease.

As per Rachel Breeden, assistant director at Milestones, equine therapy is helping Madison to strengthen her core and her muscles and improve her balance. Marlene Thies, Madison’s mother, has been overjoyed at the progress she has seen in her daughter since she started therapeutic riding. According to a report by Local 12, Marlene said, “She actually learned how to walk a couple weeks after she started lessons with Henry. So, Henry is our miracle.”

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Henry is the 4-year-old’s favorite horse in the program. There are in total 16 horses in the program, each one specially trained and cared for by a plethora of volunteers. Jenny Burkich, a volunteer at Milestone, said, “It’s just electric what happens in here. You can cut the energy with a pair of scissors, and you take it home in your heart.”

Not only does Milestone cater to people aged 49, but they also have a separate Silver Saddles program for their customers who are 50 and above. The unique setting offers horseriding therapy to people of all ages and abilities.

The benefits of this remedy

Not only equestrian but in general, animal-assisted therapy can be a boon for the mental and physical well-being of humans, especially those who are differently-abled. When talking about horse riding therapy, it improves the muscle strength, core strength, balance, and confidence of the rider. The back-and-forth rocking motion mimics the gait of a person while walking, which can be a reason why Madison can walk better.

Interaction with horses can also help in improving speech and developing social skills. Well-trained horses can be highly gentle creatures, thus helping build trust and credence in children like Madison. Consequently, what’s not to love about it?

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