Reservoir Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center
The mission of the Massachusetts Hospital School is to provide medical, rehabilitative, recreational and educational services to children and young adults with multiple disabilities, assisting them to achieve their maximum level of independence in all aspects of life.
Equestrian Center
Throughout the world horseback riding is considered a uniquely beneficial form of recreational, physical, occupational, speech, and psychological therapy for people with disabilities. Through the Massachusetts Hospital School’s Reservoir Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Centers’ programs, the participants are given the opportunity to explore themselves and their abilities with the assistance of a horse. Therapeutic horseback riding offers the children and young adults the opportunity to increase self-confidence, pride and cherish the sense of accomplishment. Caring for the animals creates responsibility, trust, and dependability. The bond between a child and a horse nurtures trust, companionship, and an understanding that allows the child or young adult with a disability the freedom to conquer fears and obstacles as well as gaining independence.
Therapeutic horseback riding, also known, as Equine Assisted Therapy, Equine Facilitated Therapy, and Riding for the Disabled, combines the physical, cognitive, emotional and social benefits while learning to ride a horse. While learning to steer, stop and turn a horse for example, they receive the many underlying benefits therapeutic horseback riding has to offer. The ability to control a horse as well as one's own body inspires self-confidence, responsibility and teamwork. Best of all, it is a thoroughly enjoyable experience, which creates a special relationship between rider and horse and promotes personal challenge.
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I SAW A CHILD
I saw a child who couldn’t walk, sit on a horse, laugh and talk then ride it through a field of daisies and yet he could not walk unaided
I saw a child, no legs below, sit on a horse, and make it go through woods of green and places he had never been to sit and stare, except from a chair
I saw a child who could only crawl mount a horse and sit up tall put it through degrees of paces and laugh at the wonder in our faces
I saw a child born into strife, take up and hold the reins of life and that same child was heard to say, Thank God for showing me the way
— John Anthony Davies
