Using horses for therapy

Rachel Johnson-Keller recently replaced Barbara Isaac as director of the Handicapped High Riders Club in Allentown.

By: Ashley Caudill
   ALLENTOWN — In this instance, the phrase "handing over the reins" can be taken not only figuratively, but literally as well. In November, Barbara Isaac stepped down after 26 years as director of the Handicapped High Riders Club (HHRC) at Riding High Farm on Routed 526 in Allentown and Rachel Johnson-Keller took over the role.
   Ms. Johnson-Keller describes the club, founded by Ms. Isaac in 1979, as "a therapeutic, recreational horseback riding facility that provides social and recreational opportunities and horseback riding to disabled children and adults in our the community."
   Born and raised in Bermuda and currently living in East Windsor, Ms. Johnson-Keller, 35, has more than 30 years of horse-care experience — including showing horses professionally and working for veterinarian clinics for the past 16 years.
   "Her (Ms. Isaac’s) goal was to bring horses and children together and to provide opportunities for growth and healing," said Ms. Johnson-Keller, who is looking to continue Ms. Isaac’s work in the same spirit.
   Ms. Johnson-Keller’s cousin was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy about four years ago. She wanted to find a place where she could learn and volunteer and then go home to Bermuda and help care for her cousin. She found that place at the Handicapped High Riders Club. While working at a veterinarian clinic, Ms. Johnson-Keller met an HHRC instructor who introduced her to Ms. Isaac and she began working at Riding High Farm.
   "It is absolutely one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve had," Ms. Johnson-Keller said. She recalled being terrified on her first day as an instructor, but said, "At the end (of the session) the child smiled and said they had a good time."
   Through therapeutic riding, motion of the horse helps to provide mobility to joints, and build muscle tone, balance and posture. Children and some adults with physical disabilities, whether they use wheelchairs or walkers, don’t have the opportunity to get up and move on their own, but are able to do so by riding horses. Ms. Johnson-Keller said that the benefits of horseback riding for handicapped riders are not only physical but social as well. She said that riding "brings them out of their shells."
   "Each child takes away something different," she said of the 60 to 80 riders who participate in therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, a medical therapy that uses horses to improve movement.
   Along with a new director, an innovative program has recently been introduced at the Handicapped High Riders. Kathy Krupa, 39, of Crosswicks, founder of Horsetime Inc., brought Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to the club.
   Ms. Krupa said that after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, she knew she wanted to help people and decided to get involved in equine assisted psychotherapy. She came to Barbara Isaac and told her about the program. Knowing how busy Ms. Isaac was with the Handicapped High Riders, Ms. Krupa said, "I know you don’t have time for me." Ms. Isaac conceded that she was busy but said, "I do have time for those kids."
   "With the help of a horse, a professional horse handler and a licensed psychotherapist, clients can work on a wide range of issues such as grief and loss, anger management, ADD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addictions, behavioral problems and relationship issues, even bullying," said Ms. Krupa, a horse professional certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
   Since coming to the Handicapped High Riders in November, two Horsetime programs, aimed at bringing emotional growth and learning, have taken place. One program aided youths from the Mercer County Detention Center and another was held for Northern Burlington Regional Middle School students with anger management difficulties.
   "Horses are really good readers," Ms. Krupa said. "They are a mirror of what’s going on."
   Ms. Krupa said that this program takes the therapy session out of the office and into the barn, and she hopes to continue helping individuals, families and groups through this program.
   Handicapped High Riders, is a not-for-profit organization supported through the generosity of the community. According to Ms. Johnson-Keller, the program is always looking for volunteers and is open to participation by new riders.
   Volunteers need not have experience with horses, just a desire to help. Volunteers can assist with grooming, tacking, leading, and side-walking of the horses. There also are opportunities to do in-office clerical work or fund raising as well.
   "You do not have to be horse savvy," Ms. Johnson-Keller said. "We teach volunteers what they want to know."
   The Handicapped High Riders Club is located at 145 Route 526 in Allentown and can be reached at (609) 259-1850.