The GRRS program has been an active program approximately five years, since 2012.
Skip Holm, a Vietnam veteran fighter pilot and still active test pilot created Glory Reins along with his wife DeDe to offer horse therapy and riding skills at a reasonable cost so that anyone who wants to ride will have the opportunity.
Glory Reins is a non-profit organization. The 501c3 program has been functioning since approval on Mar 13, 2014.
The goal of Glory Reins Riding School is to create an environment in which few are able to experience today. We strive to impart life skills and an improved work ethic, while installing a sense of confidence, trust and hope in children as well as adults of our community. We encourage everyone to reach beyond any limitations.
Most of the children/adults that participate in our program are hurting in some way. To Glory Reins, the word “hurting” takes on many shapes and forms: mentally, physically, emotionally, and functionally. Some of the disabilities served by therapeutic riding at Glory Reins Riding School can include but are not limited to:
- Autism
- Down’s syndrome
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Mental Retardation
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Emotional Disabilities
- PTSD
- Amputations
- Learning Disabilities
- As well as attention deficit disorders.
The “hurting”can come from numerous causes, healing can happen while working closely with one of nature’s counselors, a beautiful horse.
A smaller percentage of students we work with simply do not have access to horses through any other means, financially or otherwise. It has been our growing experience that as “healthy” children/adults work, play, and grow beside “broken” ones, both are encouraged to have a greater appreciation and understanding of others. It also brings hope to the spirit of the wounded to believe they too can have hope for the future.
Our horses are paired with a leader and a student for a 60-90 minute lesson beginning with grooming and care for the horse, a riding lesson and/or ground manners lesson. Depending on ability, several tasks occur:
- Specialized exercises on the horse.
- A planned lesson each week.
- Possible “barn work” is scheduled and completed.
- All students are encouraged toward independence and responsibility with the care of “their” horse for the time during their lesson.
- All of this occurs with an emphasis on safety as well as guidance from certified instructors, as well as volunteers during the entire time at the barn.
Another focus of Glory Reins is family and social interaction. A parent’s presence is often quite central to the healing process of a child. Family members sitting, enjoying the beauty of the barn, relaxing and encouraging the student has an impact.
Teens working together side by side while helping younger students or more impaired students, teaches leadership. All of these aspects aid in healing and developing the true “family” environment of the barn experience.
Glory Reins Riding School uses volunteers as another outreach of our program. Teen leaderships skills are honed through volunteering. This occurs during weekly lessons and also through planned camps several times per year.
The benefits of Equine therapy and horsemanship have been well documented through the years. Therapeutic riding offers a motivational opportunity to improve attention span, concentration, memory, and language skill development. The positive horse and human interaction can result in a greater sense of teamwork, self esteem, responsibility and communication. The horse is an effective therapy tool because the horse’s movement stimulates a normal human gait. This gentle rhythmic movement helps improve balance, muscle control and tone, motor development and coordination, balance, posture, strength, and overall body awareness.
Through all these benefits of equine therapy and recreation, students are transformed, one stride at a time at Glory Reins Riding School.
