Hope Haven participants gallop their way to victory with four-legged friends

Usually it’s horses that take giant strides.

At Hope Haven in Markdale it’s the hundreds of participants galloping their way to personal victories with their four-legged friends.

Denver Woodbridge was showing off his riding skills at the farm on Thursday.

“When I was going to the middle, I say ‘Walk on’ and I pulled back so hard that he stops,” says Woodbridge.

The Hope Haven Therapeutic Riding Centre has been working with young and old who have cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities for the past 15 years. The facility uses more than a dozen horses to connect with participants both emotionally and physically.

“Horses have this unique ability to connect and they read what the human is putting out,” says Robyn Allen, executive director of Hope Haven. “When they are on a horse in a 30-minute session, they are gaining thousands of neurological input to their central nervous system to teach that central nervous system what it should feel like to feel a proper symmetrical gate pattern.”

Elisha Masterson‘s son, Carter, has been coming to the centre for four years. She says his progress has been fascinating to watch.

“When Carter first attended Hope Haven and wouldn’t even enter the premises, he was riddled with anxiety, and now, he confidentially walks into the arena,” says Masterson. “He loves to associate with the horses and socialize with the staff. He is just so much more confident and independent.”

Volunteers at the facility say they have noticed how the program changes lives - sometimes, their own.

“Like what better thing to make you feel better, you know? I just feel good,” says Trisha Mchale, a volunteer. “I thought about some different volunteer things but nothing rewarding like this.”

Hope Haven also has programs for school kids and summer camps. Everyone gets a chance to ride the horses and even help take care of them.

Hope Haven operates year round and serves about 400 participants of all ages. It costs around $1 million a year to operate and the farm is always looking for donations and volunteers.