Ever since I began my journey with community service work as a rodeo queen a few years ago, I knew that my purpose was to help educate others about agriculture. This passion helped lead me to the University of Wyoming, where I am currently in my junior year, studying Animal Science with an Equine concentration. With this concentration, I am required to take 4 credits of Horsemanship; a self-guided course that focuses on learning more about horses and gaining more experience in whatever field you plan to go in to. After graduating, I plan to return home to my family’s ranch in Colorado and start a therapeutic riding program, so I chose to complete my Horsemanship credits by volunteering for a local therapeutic riding center. I could have never imagined the amount of experience I would gain from volunteering two days a week for just a few hours.
Ark Regional Services is a local company that provides opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to work, live, learn and play. One of their services is Ark Equestrian Center, where I help out with their equine assisted activities. Ark Equestrian Center provides therapy services and employment opportunities to those with intellectual and physical disabilities. Throughout the two months that I have been volunteering, I have had the ability to work with two main classes; a group of children from Spring Creek Elementary, and an adult Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) class. I knew that I wanted to eventually become a certified therapeutic riding instructor, but what I didn’t know was there are many different branches under the equine assisted therapy “umbrella”. There are many different types of therapy that involve the assistance of a horse, including Equine Assisted Learning, Occupational Therapy, Equine Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy; the list goes on. I’ve focused mainly on Equine Assisted Learning, which is probably one of the most amazing types of therapy I’ve experienced.
Equine Assisted Learning has many different benefits that includes understanding and learning truth, honesty, respect and communication. Horses also help teach us to think in a different way by requiring us to have a heightened self-awareness. At Ark, they teach critical life skills that help the clients gain self-esteem and self-confidence, something that everybody can benefit from. Having grown up with horses, I know firsthand the impact that being around horses has on someone’s well-being. It is the most humbling experience being able to work with the clients at Ark, and they have truly become a second family to me.
Coming to the University of Wyoming has opened so many doors for my future career in the equine industry, and I’m so glad that I have been able to dedicate my time at Ark Equestrian Center to helping others better their lives with the help of horses.
-Lauren Hladik
This is so exciting, Lauren!
Nice writing, Lauren. Your grandmother shared this with me, and I’m glad to see how you’re affected by therapeutic riding. Thanks for sharing, whether or not you were aware!