We’re deeply grateful
to everyone who’s shared their experiences. Your kind words, trust
in our team mean a lot to us.
The Shining Horizons Team
“She’s learning
to read horses and people - and applies it to everyday life.”
Ashley F
Tuesday nights in the Fahey household are always bustling and chaotic, but we wouldn't change it for the world. Juggling 3 kids with overlapping sports and activities have become our normal routine. For our oldest daughter Nevaeh, 6:30 – 8:30 pm is a vital part of her weekly schedule. Water bottle packed and a pair of steel toed work boots (so the horses wouldn't step on her feet), Nevaeh is off to Shining Horizons Therapeutic Riding Association (SHTRA) for their Equine Assisted Therapy Program.
Nevaeh, 15 years old, has an overgrowth condition and autism and finds socializing extremely awkward. Nevaeh has a passion for animals, especially horses, and this 2-hour window each week has been a breath of fresh air for her. She does not need to focus hard on trying to fit in or knowing the right thing to say. Here, she can engage with others easily as they all have something in common, the horses. If she has had a hard day and prefers not to talk, Nevaeh can have a calming and peace come over her by the end of the night after spending time grooming and caring for the horses as there was no judgement from them. Never wanting to leave the barn we found ourselves trying to pry her away from it but then Nevaeh would say "Mom guess what? Did you know Alec the horse doesn’t take to any other children easily, but Paula trusts me with him and he actually likes me". Nevaeh blurting out about her experience, with excitement in her voice, showed us quickly that she was learning and thriving. She is like a sponge and loves all the advice and pointers on how to help and care for the horses. From learning about what medications they take, showing empathy towards them if they are feeling unwell, how to feed them, to what they wear generally and how to massage them with 2 fingers in a circular motion, as well as cognitive learning skills about individual personalities with the horses such as “Alec being a grumpy monster, Pony who is sassy and Jude absolutely loving to socialize”.
Overseen by Natasha Clare; Occupational therapist, Nevaeh can read the horses facial expressions, the sounds they make, gestures and body language and learning safety precautions such as where to stand. Nevaeh can take these experiences and learnings from inside the barn and apply them to outside the barn, in her day-to-day life. She is learning to be intuitive to the horses and humans around them and understanding that it's not all about her but the animals, peers, and mentors in a collective group.
Going for a walk to the beach on the property is a positive way for Nevaeh to begin her session to decompress and reduce her stress after a long sensory overloaded day at school. Mental health breaks are encouraged and any triggers or signs of destress are gone over throughout the evening with Natasha and Paula who have a way to desensitize and calm the children. Fine motor and gross motor skills are worked and incorporated into the activities they do throughout the evening, such as decorating horseshoes, learning to lead the horses through obstacles in the arena and grooming with the curry comb and hard brush.
Without having this exposure and experience with SHTRA, it would be detrimental to Nevaeh improving her mental health, socializing skills and gross and fine motor moving and coordination. Programs such as these are a vital part of our children's weekly routine and an aid in advancing upon these very important life skills. Nevaeh has come so far with her new skills in her few years of going there and we are so blessed and grateful that such a facility exists to uplift and empower our child.