NONPROFIT
Levi Kleen, age 7, rides a pony during his therapy session at the Saddle Light Center. (Tricia Schwennesen/Community Impact Newspaper)
The Saddle Light Center Nonpro t o ers unique equine therapy options
THERAPY OFFERINGS
Therapeutic riding: In therapeutic riding, those with disabilities work to improve riding skills through stretches,
Hippotherapy: This therapy works to decrease spasticity through positioning and weight bearing, stimulating the rider’s
BY TRICIA SCHWENNESEN
personalities and also gaits, but most importantly they are all calm, Hollington said. “Tanzi is a [registered] Tennessee Walker so she has a di erent gait, so her walk will a ect a rider di er- ently,” Hollington said. Sonny D is a smaller Welsh pony, jokingly referred to as “little Houd- ini” because he’s a bit of an escape artist, she said. “That’s why he has two latches. He bites at the latches,” she said. For resident Vicky Kleen and her son Levi, the Saddle Light Center has brought a sense of normalcy to the past two years of pandemic life, she said. Levi was born prematurely at just 23 weeks and six days and faced a host of challenges. But, today Levi, who has cerebral palsy, has persevered with the love of his family a variety of therapies, including the weekly sessions at The Saddle Light Center, Kleen said. During the pandemic, Kleen said she had to cut out some of Levi’s therapies. Equine therapy became his social time and was one of the few places it felt normal, Kleen said. “It’s been challenging but it’s been fruitful,” Kleen said. “This isn’t an insurance thing; this is us choosing this and it’s working.”
exercises and balance activities. The emphasis is on riding position and reining skills. This type of therapy is often taught in groups. It is not typically covered by insurance.
muscles to improve posture and trunk control. It is physical, occupational or speech therapy approved by a physician, includes a therapist and may be covered by insurance.
The Saddle Light Center opened its barn doors in 1991 o ering people with disabilities a di erent kind of therapy. The center is a 501(c)(3) nonpro t housed on the grounds of Retama Park in Selma that o ers two types of equine therapy—therapeutic or hippotherapy—to people with a variety of disabilities from autism to cerebral palsy, vision and speech impediments to wounded warriors, said Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca Hollington. “They may be nonvocal,” Holling- ton said. “Or they don’t have a full rage of motion as well.” Under the leadership of founding Executive Director Kerstin Fosdick, the center relies on a team of over 100 volunteers and nancial support from riders fees, grants and other fundraising e orts, Hollington said. Fosdick is a licensed physical thera- pist and a certi ed riding instructor. The center currently serves over 60 riders with a wait list 9 to 12 months long and uses quarter horses, thor- oughbreds and ponies for 45-minute therapeutic sessions, she said. “You have to t the horse to the rider,” Hollington said. “There’s quite a bit that goes into it.” The horses all have di erent
HOWTOHELP
Volunteer: Individuals must be at least 17 to assist with rider lessons. Volunteers walk
Donate: The Saddle Light Center is a nonpro t formed in 1991. Tax deductible gifts can be mailed by check or made via PayPal on the organization’s website, www.thesaddlelightcenter.com.
alongside the rider and horse to provide safety and support. Volunteers must be comfortable around horses.
CENTER NUMBERS TOKNOW
9 12months for the waitlist
13 horses used for therapy 100-plus volunteers
For more information, email volcoor@ sbcglobal.net.
60-plus disabled riders
SOURCE: THE SADDLE LIGHT CENTER COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
The Saddle Light Center 17530 Old Evans Road, Selma 210-651-9574 www.thesaddlelightcenter.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 4-8 p.m. (therapy sessions); Mon.-Fri. 3-6 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. (volunteer shifts); Saturdays are reserved for assessments for new riders; closed Sundays
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • MARCH 2022
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