The gentle neighing of horses mingled with claps and cheers from onlookers as 23 horseback riders demonstrated their skills at the Riders with Disabilities Horse Show.
The show was hosted on July 11 by Chagrin Valley Farms in Bainbridge Township, and the riders came from the Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center just down the road. The event was held at the site of the Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic, a horseback show described on its website as “North America’s first show jumping Grand Prix.”
“This is a really big event for our students. It gives our riders the opportunity to share and kind of show off their abilities,” explained Maureen Foster, the organization’s chief development officer.
“They’re all dealing with some challenge in their life, and so for them to be able to compete in the ring where people come from all over the country come to compete, the people who are well-known in the equine community, for them to kind of share that same arena is really special for them, and they also can have family and friends that come out and cheer them on,” she added.
Charles Velotta of Gates Mills was one of the participants, guiding his horse Dillon and winning first prize in his class for the trail and equitation competitions.
His mother, Megan, explained that his participation has brought her involvement with Fieldstone Farm full circle. Megan and her husband started volunteering with the organization in 1996, stepping away in order to raise four young children. She returned years later to bring Charles, who was diagnosed with autism as a young child.
“He just loves it,” Megan said, praising the organization’s staff for their work with the students.
The show consisted of a carriage-driving event earlier in the morning, with competitions for various trail, equitation and futures classes being held later.
Elizabeth Krouse, communications manager for Fieldstone, added that each class was awarded ribbons for first- through fifth-place.
Foster said that Fieldstone offers “equine therapy for people with special needs,” including people with physical disabilities, mental health disorders, sensory impairments and cognitive disabilities. The center also works with veterans and their families.
She also noted the benefits of equine therapy. She said that riding a horse provides similar movement to walking, which can help students who are unable to walk with a typical gait.
Krouse said that horseback riding can also help with strength, coordination, motor skills and confidence building.
Equine therapy can also offer emotional benefits.
“A horse reflects back what you’re feeling, they’re very intuitive animals,” Foster said. “So, if somebody is very anxious, which many of our students have mental health disorders, they’re dealing with anxiety, and the horse gives that immediate feedback to them…so it’s easier for them to see that and then manage themselves and their emotions.”
Krouse added that Fieldstone completed a study with New York University in 2021 demonstrating that equine therapy reduces anxiety.
Speaking of the show, she said, “It’s a day of celebration, that’s the way I like to think of it, because, it’s like, the kids get to show, and the adults who are riding, get to show all that they’ve learned in front of their family and friends, and so there’s lots of smiles, lots of tears of joy, there’s just a lot of celebration around this day.”
