Lebanon
While a number of exercise programs in the Upper Valley help seniors achieve this, there’s one that might not immediately come to mind: horseback riding.
A program at High Horses, the nonprofit therapeutic riding organization, has a program that is specifically for people age 50 and older. Called Grey Horses, the program aims to help participants with balance, mobility and coordination, among other skills.
“It also has this wonderful meditative effect,” said Sue Miller, program coordinator at High Horses, during a presentation in the Dwinell Room at Harvest Hill in Lebanon on Thursday. “You really don’t have to have had any riding experience to enjoy the program,” Miller said.
Harvest Hill staff brought residents to High Horses about two years ago, when the organization was located in Norwich. Now it has its own facility in Sharon, which residents of Harvest Hill likely will visit in August.
The Grey Horses program was started in 2014. Each session runs a hour a week for seven to eight weeks.
“Its been our fastest growing program,” Miller said. “I just felt like there was a need in our community … for people who are aging to get out and do something different.”
The session can be taken more than once and participants develop friendships over the course of the lessons. “It’s become this little social community,” Miller said. “They tend to sign up for each continuing session.”
Some participants end up becoming volunteers for High Horses and assist with other programs.
“As riders experience a ride or two, they enjoy it so much they decide to pay it forward,” Miller said.
Editor’s note: The next Grey Horses session begins Aug. 28. Sign-ups on the website. Those interested must fill out an application, which includes a signed form from a physician. Each seven- to eight-week session costs $120 and scholarships are available. For more information, visit www.highhorses.org or call 802-763-3280. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
