Ripley School Horse Club enrichment program March through May 2025, last day trail ride

When Centaur Stride first opened over 30 years ago, my cousin told me about a book she read that stated, “For the best well rounded brain development, one must do four things: Study Suzuki violin, read, learn a foreign language, and ride horses.”

After taking neuroscience classes in my medical training, this made great sense because each of the above four activities focuses on one area of the brain and requires complex interconnections with many other areas of the brain, therefore developing strong neural networks. Research proves the benefits of horse riding across all domains: physical, cognitive, social and emotional. That’s because of the intense networking and stimulation of so many areas of the brain while participating in this activity. It is most remarkably obvious for those starting with less than normal baselines.

Our brain is so amazing, with so many back-up systems. There are all these focal centers and they all interconnect by neural loops, a series of synapses that instantaneously give you the information or response that is needed. However, brain efficiency is dependent upon mature development, requiring sensory and motor refinement. As physical therapists, before we could provide therapy to someone with neurological injury or impairment, we first had to learn about a normal brain.

Of the four most influential activities, horseback riding is the only one not offered in schools. Inaccessibility and expense make horseback riding difficult to offer. Physical education is mandatory in school and is the only physical stimulation that builds those strong neural loops. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if horseback riding was available and within budget as part of the physical education offered through our schools?

There are schools in New York that bus students to nearby therapeutic riding centers. They manage the educational downtime of transport by providing distance learning on the bus during travel. Students take responsibility to be sure they meet the criteria for the privilege to attend the horseback riding classes.

Why is horseback riding the ultimate activity above all other forms of exercise? The horse moves. It is impossible to disengage from the activity because it occurs even without cognitive thought at an automatic level.

If engaged, the benefits are even more significant. The rider then must learn to control that movement, a feat not easily accomplished. It is not by force, willfulness or coercion, but by perfect communication with another live creature, using four different forms of communication aids: voice, hands, seat and legs, with perfect timing and coordination and requiring many areas of the brain to work and interconnect.

It facilitates the brain to organize and refine, while balancing, being aware of the surrounding environment, and demanding instant judgment and decisions. There is direct feedback from the horse and spontaneous repetition for learning. Definite multitasking! What other physical activity can replicate this kind of synergy?

Centaur Stride programs are structured and include educational components. Field trips give students an opportunity to make this connection, and parents often continue this activity following the field trip experience. Centaur Stride presented our programs at a BOCES conference for all area Physical Education teachers last February, and is now a Co-Ser partner with BOCES. This partnership offers State reimbursement for services, therefore costing very little to school budgets while helping Centaur Stride to make a stronger impact in our community. Ripley School was the first to establish an after-school Horse Club enrichment program at Centaur Stride (like ski club).

The horses at Centaur Stride are well trained therapy horses. Past pilot projects at Centaur Stride have proven effectiveness with school attendance, motivation, attention, and most important, self-direction. www.centaurstride.org. Please like and follow us on Facebook, https//linktr.ee/centaurstride.

Claudia Monroe is co-founder and President of Centaur Stride.