Going on a JoyRide

Jogging through the towering forest of greens and golds on horseback, a child with cerebral palsy laughs unrestrained. Up ahead on the trail, a rider with down syndrome breaks into a triumphant grin and in a nearby arena, an aspiring equestrian with autism prepares for competition.
 
Since summertime, three Aggie horses, Sancho, Abby and Chocolate, have been training to be a part of hippotherapy and horsemanship programs offered at JoyRide Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Magnolia, Texas.
 
 After preparing the reigning NCEA National Champs the seasons prior, the Texas A&M horses have found new purpose assisting people with physical and mental disabilities. Not so far from their competitive roots, the horses also recently traveled with JoyRide to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's Top Hands Horse Show on Feb. 16-18.
 
"To be able to have horses like Abby and Sancho and Chocolate, where our clients can ride and truly perform to the best of their ability and not have to worry about their horse is a really big God send for us," JoyRide equine trainer and volunteer coordinator Paige Finke said. "We couldn't be happier to have them."
 
 Finke, an A&M alum, first reached out to assistant coach Jessie Weisinger to see if the team had any horses that would be suitable for their needs.
 
During a one-to-two-month trial period, the horses were acclimated to brightly colored pool noodles between trees, loud toys, being mounted with ramps for wheelchair-bound riders and volunteers walking on each side for safety and support.
 
Finke said the horses are all approved and expressed appreciation for Weisinger and the girls on the team.
             
"We push them really hard here and ask them to do a lot of really hard maneuvers," Weisinger said. "Sometimes when they get older, they just can't do some of the things that we ask of them because they hurt. But for what JoyRide needs, they're completely comfortable and very happy doing it. It's a perfect fit."
 
She said she thinks Sancho, who was described as being a bit sassy, will likely enjoy his job at JoyRide even more. Sancho was leased by the team, so it was the decision of former Texas A&M equestrian and current South Dakota State assistant coach Logan Pluhar to donate him.


 
"He was a good test for our athletes," Weisinger said. "When you were out there riding him, he really made you think and work. The whole reason why I thought he would be perfect is just because he's safe, he's quiet, he's not going to do anything silly."
 
Additionally, Abby and Chocolate's "sweet" personalities made them a great match for the program. 
 
"Abby was actually one of the team favorites. Everybody loved her," Weisinger said. "She's very willing, would do anything you ask of her. We showed her a lot on the team and she has a pretty good record. She was one that we could put in and we knew we were probably going to win our point on her."


 
Sometimes, Finke even sends updates to the team about the three horses and their impact in the community.
 
"Paige sent us some photos and told us how well the horses are doing and how their students love them," Weisinger said. "The girls love hearing those stories."
 
Many stories show how equine therapy has had dramatic transformations in some clients' lives.
 
"We've seen riders that go from being in a wheelchair to being able to walk with a brace or a cane and sometimes, being able to walk on their own," Finke said. "That's one of the bigger changes. But the smaller changes are we see an improvement of quality of life and the improvement in attitude, in social skills. They're happier."
             
Finke said the program builds muscle strength and self-confidence in the riders, too.
 
"We see a change in gait instantly when they get off the horse especially with younger clients, kids that walk with AFOs or leg braces," Finke said. "They get on the horse really wobbly and need a lot of assistance walking and when they're done with the horse, they're able to take steps on their own and have a much stronger stride."
             
It's also a fun way for some riders with special needs to connect and make friends.
 
"Kids that are really shy and quiet and maybe have some stuff going on at home or some stuff in the past that's gone on, we've seen them completely come out of their shells," Finke said. "The parents tell us, 'All they want to do is talk about horses and how much fun they had and how happy they are versus kind of hiding behind in the shadows."
 
Both women have ties to equine therapy and Aggieland.
 
Finke was an equestrian at the University of Minnesota and on the rodeo and horse judging teams at Texas A&M where she graduated with a degree in Agricultural Leadership & Development and a minor in Special Education. Weisinger was a member of the Texas A&M equestrian team when they won the program's first ever national championship in 2002.
 
"It's not necessarily winning or losing, or winning the national championship, that's icing on the cake, in being a part of that and history," Weisinger said. "I was on the team when we first became Division I and it's neat to see the way it's grown. But, I think just your friendships are what you remember most."
 
After volunteering as a side walker for equestrians with special needs in high school and working in rodeo management, Weisinger and one of her friends from the Aggie equestrian team even started the first Gold Stirrup Horse Show for riders with special needs at Rodeo Austin, which is still held today.
 
Just as in 2002, the team is extremely close so it is difficult for some student athletes when the horses are rehomed.
 
"They get sad because we're a big family. The horses are part of our family too," Weisinger said. "Whenever it's time to rehome, we have girls who cry and go into their stall and love on them and pet them and say their goodbyes. It's hard, but we know they're going to a good place and serving a purpose. Then getting these updates like we get, that makes it all worth it."
 
For the remainder of the season, Weisinger said she is most excited to see how the Aggies handle adversity and persevere in hot pursuit of another championship. As the horses from Texas A&M expand their reach and embolden more riders, they are still surrounded by many Aggies in Magnolia.

"A lot of our board members are A&M alumni, as well as myself, so for us to be able to connect that piece with the piece that we do, and just making a difference in our clients' lives is a huge deal," Finke said. "And getting to do it with the help of A&M is just really, really awesome."