Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
My name’s' Raeshell Sorensen. I'm the equestrian program manager here at the National Ability
Center. In riding lessons, there's volunteers who help out with their lessons, and they
have a couple of different roles. One, is as side walking. This is a person who walks
beside the rider and the horse to help support the rider whether it be because they need
balance support, because they might not have great balance, whether it be supporting a
leg that doesn't like to stay where it should. Or, we have one rider who needs her heel held
down when she trots because one leg is more effective than the other and she can trot
with just a little assistance that way. So, for riders who are in a wheelchair and have
major balance issues, will have two side walkers, one on each side. Sometimes we'll have side
walkers there just in case, who aren't actually holding on, but in case something were to
happen. We do this if a rider is prone to seizures, then we'll have somebody there to
help pull them off if necessary. Volunteers also help in lead walking the horses. So horses
are generally held on a long lead rope and helps to move around the arena for riders
who may not have that mobility just yet, or have riding skills yet to ride on their own.