By Mary Owen
Ryker Davidson loves riding horses.
The 10-year-old Aumsville Elementary School student, who has autism, is non-verbal and sensory impaired. But when astride a horse, he comes alive.
“He loves it,” said Julie Davidson, who is raising her son on her own. “It’s just opened up a whole new door for him. He’s never had that much interaction with animals before.”
Ryker is a regular at the Adaptive Riding Institute in Turner, started 25 years ago by two sisters, one with muscular dystrophy, to provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to ride horses.
“This has done a lot for his sensory impairment,” Davidson said. “It helps him focus. They always give him a big horse that he can feel. He has to make some kind of sound or emotion for the horse to go, so it’s also helping with his speech.”
The Davidsons have been going to ARI for about two years, and when her son is riding, Julie often uses her time to brush the horses or pick up sticks along the trails.
“It’s such a caring place,” she said of ARI. “You can feel the love when you’re there. We love being there!”
ARI founders Susanne Rosen and Kerrill Knaus believe that anyone who has the desire to interact with an equine has the “right’ to pursue that desire regardless of their limitations.
“ARI has worked with the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks and Oregon Equestrian Trails to create all-access horse camps, which include mounting ramps in scenic equestrian areas on government lands,” Rosen said.
ARI also helped create and operate the first all-access public horse rental operation at Silver Falls State Park.
“Along with those activities, persons with special needs were given the ability to participate in camping trips with ARI,” Rosen said. “These took place on the Oregon beaches, in the Cascade mountains, and on private property around Oregon. We also took clients on many five-day horse pack trips into the wilderness areas, packing in special equipment including wheelchairs, crutches and the like.”
In April of last year, a generous benefactor purchased a new 36,000-foot stable for ARI, which houses the horses, office and large indoor arena.
“On this property, we are building a sensory integration trail and an equine challenge course for our more than 80 monthly clients,” Rosen said of ARI’s 38 acres.
ARI clients range from ages 2 to 100 and have a wide range of conditions, from cerebral palsy to autism to strokes and brain injuries.
“We have so many wonderful stories,” Rosen said. “Recently a girl of 4 began participating in equine assisted therapy. Her physical therapist was hoping the horse therapy would help her develop more trunk strength and coordination. After a few minutes on a horse named Onion, her mom and dad noticed that she was, for the first time, swallowing on her own!”
The movement of the horse can open up new pathways in the brain, allowing for functional outcomes such as developing core strength, hand-eye coordination and balance, Rosen said.
“A young boy of preschool age started equine therapy here in the spring,” she said. “This boy has autism and at his therapy sessions was unable to sit still for even a minute. At his first session, he was so calm and relaxed on the horse that both his therapist and his mom were amazed!”
Today, the youngster is beginning to verbalize what is going on while riding, Rosen added.
“He can say ‘in’ and ‘out,’ ‘up’ and ‘down,’ and is counting, too,” she said. “He loves being outside on the sensory trail, taking in the surrounding natural environment.”
Goals for ARI include assisting trauma victims, and Rosen said, “By using the therapy horses, we are also teaching individuals and groups who work with victims to be better advocates.”
According to Rosen, ARI is a strong community-based program, engaging with local service clubs and schools. The institute has more than 60 active volunteers who do everything from office work to direct client services to horse and stable care, she added.
“Everyone has a skill and talent that they could share with us,” Rosen said. “And we have many avenues through which one can donate.”
People can sponsor a horse, a client, or part of the sensory trail. They can also donate to the general fund or remember ARI in their wills, Rosen said.
“We change lives,” she said. “We can’t do it without you, our staff, our volunteers and therapy horses. It is 30 minutes at a time, but we make a lifelong impact!”
For information, visit www.adaptiveridinginstitute.org or call 503-743-3890.
