Whiskey in his sunglasses and State Police hat.

Horses are remarkably intelligent animals.

Like people, every horse is shaped by its life experiences. Many horses can live well into their thirties (and donkeys and mules even longer), which means that when a new horse arrives at our barn, we rarely know what they’ve been through before. Some carry invisible scars, emotional or physical, and need time to heal before they can become therapy horses.

At Centaur Stride, we’ve given some horses as long as two years of training before they were ready to work with riders. But really, that training is more about us learning how to listen and communicate with them. Trust is at the heart of everything we do. Some horses never quite reach that level of trust, which is both heartbreaking and costly. Over the years, we’ve become more selective, but still, more than 80 horses have passed through our center over the past 33 years. Many became beloved therapy partners; others returned to their former homes after a trial period. Each one taught us something important.

Every horse has its own personality. Some are wonderful horses, but they bond deeply with just one rider, which doesn’t work in a therapeutic riding program. Our horses need to be calm, patient, and adaptable to many different riders, each with unique abilities, challenges, and needs. That’s why we need a large herd: no single horse can be the perfect fit for everyone.

Horses are prey animals, which means they’ve evolved with extraordinary sensitivity. Their heightened senses and awareness, combined with their intelligence, allow them to instinctively understand so much about the people who ride them.

See HORSES,

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Time and again, we’ve seen horses respond to a rider’s unspoken emotions, steadying their gait for an anxious child, or lifting their head proudly for a rider who needs confidence.

Before we ever opened Centaur Stride, my husband and I attended so many seminars on therapeutic riding. Yet, as with most meaningful things in life, our greatest lessons came from trial, error, and constant problem-solving.

My deepest connection with any horse was with my husband’s horse, Whiskey. He was the king of our small herd of four mares before we opened Centaur Stride, and I learned something from him every day. He could read my mind, I’m sure of it. Although he was gentle with me, Whiskey knew just how to train me to care for him and his herd. He could just nudge me or give me that look. Sometimes he had to whinny, but he always got his message across to me.

When we began using Whiskey for riders, I was amazed. He seemed to know exactly what each person needed. With riders who were independent or a bit defiant, he’d offer a challenge, as if reminding them that mutual respect was part of the lesson. But with riders who had physical or developmental disabilities, he transformed. He was careful, kind, and intuitive, adjusting his every movement to keep them safe. Watching him work with those riders was spellbinding.

I don’t think Centaur Stride would exist today without Whiskey. He was our teacher as much as our partner. While our human trainers worked with the newer horses, Whiskey taught them all who was boss, quietly, confidently, while out in the pasture. Inside, he used some of the same techniques he used with me, the whinny or the look. I’m not sure what went on in the pasture, but they learned quickly.

Someday, I’d love to count how many riders had the privilege of riding Whiskey. That would mean going through stacks of old paper records, long before everything went digital, but I know the number would be impressive. I have so many stories and memories, and I would love to hear others and share.

If you ever rode Whiskey, or any of our therapy horses, please share your memories! You can email me at claudiamonroe@centaurstride.org or mail your story to Centaur Stride, P.O. Box 174, Westfield, NY 14787. (Please include permission if we may use your story for a future book or article.)

It takes a community to keep our center running. Our donors, volunteers, and dedicated staff are the heart of Centaur Stride. Thank you for helping us continue this mission of healing and hope.

Our Annual Holiday Basket Raffle and End-of-Year Giving Campaign are underway! This year we have 58 amazing baskets–something for everyone. You can view them on our Facebook page, purchase tickets online, or visit us in person:

— Westfield Christmas in the Village at Eason Hall — Nov. 22 and 23 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

— Mayville Holiday Market at the Old School — Dec. 13 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Dec. 14 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

The drawing will take place at the Mayville Holiday Market on Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Centaur Stride at (716) 326-4318.

Claudia Monroe is the executive director of Centaur Stride.