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SPIRIT equestrian program accepting new members
The simple act of riding a horse can have incredible therapeutic effects for children with special needs, according to parents whose children participate in an equestrian program at Frying Pan Park.
The SPIRIT Open Equestrian Program is a nonprofit organization that provides therapeutic, equestrian-related activities to children and adults of all abilities. Riders gain therapeutic benefits while learning horsemanship skills.
Davorka "Dada" Suvak, co-founder of the program, moved to the United States in 2005 from her native Croatia, where she ran a similar program.
Overall Suvak has been involved in equestrian activities for more than 30 years – the last 15 of which have been in para-equestrian- and equine-assisted activities for people with disabilities such as autism.
“The key is establishing an initial connection between the rider and the horse,” she said. “To use the horse not only for therapy, but to open the door and use the horse as a bridge to integrate people with disabilities to the rest of the world.”
The SPIRIT program began in 2006 at a private residence in Great Falls and moved its operations to Frying Pan Park last March.
Weekly one-hour lessons are offered Monday through Saturday. The organization has about 20 clients and is accepting more. It is also looking for volunteers to help with the program.
“My son Nate has been taking lessons for almost a year now and the results are incredible,” said Mary Gilbert, a Vienna mother of a 6-year-old with sensory integration disorder who has undergone a kidney transplant and 15 other surgeries.
“Nate is stoked to go horseback riding, and each riding session is the equivalent of four occupational therapies in terms of benefits,” Gilbert said. “And, at $75 an hour, they are a third of the cost.”
“Nate is something amazing,” said Suvak. “He is making incredible progress.”
For more information, call (703) 600-9667 or go to www.spiritequestrian.org.
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