Special Alert
Thank You Dr. Kovner!!
For the past four years, Dr. Vic Kovner has served on the REINS Board as a Director. In his short tenure as a Board Member he gave so much of himself and expected so little in return. He believed whole heartily in our Mission and was on a steady course to help fulfill our vision of becoming a leading Therapeutic Riding Program in the United States.
Sadly, Dr. Kovner passed away December 12th after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. However, his accomplishments while serving on our board cannot go without mention. Vic, being an avid horse lover, understood how these wonderful animals served as our tool to help the disabled community. Growing up on a ranch, he also understood how work intensive it is to run a ranch. With that said, he along with his devoted wife Donna, made sure REINS was here to stay. They proceeded to find a donor to pay off our mortgage and also build us a hay barn and repair our bridge, which is the only access to our facility.
For me, Vic’s most defining quality as our Board Member was his ability to put our Mission first. He had that deep and abiding passion for helping people, all people. His approach was pragmatic and filled with love.
So Vic, on behalf of all of us here at REINS, thank you for your knowledge, wisdom and all you have done to improve the lives of people with special needs through therapeutic equestrian activities. REINS is a better place because of your skilled and dedicated service.
You will be sadly missed.
Therapeutic Riding Benefits
Benefits for People with Autism
Students and Parents – Testimonials
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life. It affects the brains' development of communication and social skills. Students who have Autism benefit from horseback riding physically, mentally and socially.
Riding provides the sensory stimulation children with Autism need. The motion of the horse is highly rhythmic at a walk or trot. Riding is a very physical activity that helps improve balance, muscle strength, flexibility and posture. Because therapeutic riding is flexible to the students needs, balance exercises are varied i.e. riding backwards, sidesaddle, trotting or holding rings while the horse is moving.
Children learn to communicate with the horse using the reins, legs and voice commands, for example "walk-on" or "go", "whoa" and "trot". With non-verbal students the use of flash cards is implemented or hand signals are used to communicate. Riding helps social development. Students interact with the horse, instructor and volunteers when they are grooming their horse, while playing games during their lesson, singing, petting and hugging their horse.
One of my students is a young girl with Asperger's (one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders). For months I would greet her and say her name, she never replied or made eye contact. I would always have her start brushing her horse before her riding lesson. One day she came skipping up to me and looked right at me and said, "Hi Marla! Can I brush my horse?"
Marla Spraker is a NARHA Certified Instructor and has been an Instructor at REINS for over 12 years.
Written by Marla Spraker Last Updated on Thursday, March 04, 2010
