Vanguard, a newsletter for and about VA employees nationwide, featured an article about the partnerships between the VA medical centers nationwide and horseback riding facilities to provide therapeutic riding programs to wounded veterans. In part, the article reads:
“The NARHA [now PATH International] Horses for Heroes program was launched a year ago at SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers’ Fort Bend site in Missouri City, Texas. Two nurses from the DeBakey VA Medical Center — Glennys Asselin and Rebecca Niri — had signed up to volunteer at SIRE. Discussions with Asselin about the potential for referring their clients to SIRE inspired a project that has resulted in a case study presented at several nurses’ conferences in Texas, Ohio and other parts of the country. The study now awaits publication.
“The initial study focused on the veteran to ride with SIRE, Derrick Perkins, who sustained a spinal cord injury. The Air Force veteran’s improvement in balance, strength and function over the last year and his impressive progress in riding skills have inspired others to take part.
“In the summer of 2009, Steven Schulz joined Perkins’ class. Schulz had been severely injured when a mine exploded under his truck in Iraq. His brain injury resulted in limited sensation and use of his left arm and leg as well as impaired speech and judgment. Relearning center and balance with this ‘new’ body and different levels of sensation has become the focus for Schulz.
“On the horse, he has no limitations in mobility. The horse doesn’t care that he mounts from a ramp or that he uses just one hand to guide him.
“With the assistance of volunteers, Schulz is learning to take control of and use his body to give the horse cues for direction and pace. In doing so, he is using every muscle, every joint, and all of his mental capacity to be effective.
“It’s too early to predict how far Schulz can go as a rider, but his motivation to succeed and his naturally competitive spirit are likely to carry him further than his diagnosis would suggest. All of his achievements on the horse translate into improved function in his skills of daily living.”