MIDDLETOWN — The benefits of equine therapy are being made available locally with the establishment of Wiloth Equine Therapy and Riding Center in Middletown. Should owner Susan Wiloth”s ultimate goal be met, equine-facilitated therapy will be offered free of charge to all Lake County children with special needs.
The center recently sponsored a benefit ride hosted by “Lake County Cares” Equine Therapy Group with 100 percent of the proceeds directed toward the funding of a nonprofit program to provide equine therapy to all special education children in all seven school districts in the county.
“All of the surrounding counties have equine-facilitated therapy programs that are not only flourishing, but have waiting lists up to 12 months long,” said Wiloth. “There are limited services available in Lake County and we are simply attempting to bring the benefits of our horses and our ranch to the many deserving patrons in the area.”
Wiloth Equine Therapy and Riding Center is located at Noble Ranch in Middletown. The ranch has grown from four horses and five students to 13 gentle, retired horses and dozens of students ranging in age from3 to 75. “In our busiest week last summer we saw 91 students,” said Wiloth.
According to Wiloth, Noble Ranch provides a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere that allows the students to fully enjoy nature as well as the horse. A variety of physical and emotional benefits can result from the experience. “There are published, quantitative scientific studies to validate that this form of therapy not only leads to the improvement of gross motor skills, fine motor skills, long term memory and short term memory, but also improves eye contact, the ability to interact with outside environments, the ability to transition from one activity to another, improved language formulation/expression, the easing of personal anxieties and the confidence to interact socially with others,” explained Wiloth.
Therapy sessions at the ranch are not simply getting on the horse and riding it. “I feel it is necessary in each assessment to mention that equine therapy is not simply riding a horse around in a circle, as is a common misconception. True physical and emotional therapy exercises are integrated into each minute of the one-hour session that each child spends at our ranch. The entire session is literally filled with a variety of exercises that specifically target and stimulate the areas specific to each child”s needs,” Wiloth explained.
Care and grooming of the animal is an important part of the entire experience Wiloth added. “Clients participate in a variety of physical exercises while on horseback that allow them to improve fine motor skills by grooming the horse before and after each session and they hold the reins to control their horse during the therapy session. Not only does grooming and rein control target fine motor skills but teaches responsibility and the goal of independence as well,” she said.
“Lake County Cares” Equine Therapy Group”s benefit trail ride on Saturday, Dec. 15, welcomed 40 riders and about 90 participants including those from Saddle Soar Riding Club. The riders enjoyed a six-mile trail that looped through the beautiful Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake. Following the ride, guests shared a delicious tri-tip lunch prepared by Future Farmers of America student group of Middletown High School. The event also included a fund-raising raffle with gifts supplied by several local sponsors and contributors.
For more information on Wiloth Equine Therapy and Riding Center, call Susan Wiloth at 994-5887 or visit the Web site at www.wilothenterprises.com.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
