Riding for the Handicapped

Upcoming Events

Past Event Photos

Westwind 4-H Riding, along with  BOK, held a horse show at Westwind Barn on Saturday, May 22nd. Click here for Photos!

Riding for the Handicapped - March 13, 2000

Riding for the Handicapped - April 20, 2000

Riding for the Handicapped - July 17, 2000

WESTWIND 4-H RIDING FOR THE HANDICAPPED/WESTWIND RIDING INSTITUTE

Westwind 4-H Riding for the Handicapped was organized and began classes in October 1978. It has been providing horseback riding instruction for children with physical handicaps since its inception. Riders, ages 5 to 19 years, are eligible to participate. Volunteers come from all walks of life. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age to help out.

The 4-H program is a year-round program. Riding sessions during fall, winter, and spring are held on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 4 to 5 PM. Riding sessions are eight weeks long, and a different set of riders and volunteers come on each Monday and Thursday. A shorter summer session is held during the month of July.

Westwind Community Barn in Los Altos Hills is the home base of the Westwind 4-H riding program. The 4-H club (through Westwind Riding Institute) owns its own horses and has, thanks to the funding support of five local foundations, a fully equipped 4-H barn. The program currently has eight horses and ponies.

The benefits of horse riding are both psychological and physiological. The program: builds confidence and self esteem; develops coordination and balance; affords freedom of mobility not usually available to the handicapped; offers outdoor fun and a sense of accomplishment; allows disabled and able-bodied people in the community to work together; and allows riders to develop horsemanship skills and independence in riding to the extent that each individual child is capable.

Horse riding is one of the few recreational activities, other than swimming, that is truly physically therapeutic. Horseback riding requires the involvement of the whole body and utilizes every muscle and joint. Sitting astride a horse helps stretch shortened muscles and increases range of motion. At the same time the movement and warmth of the horse can be soothing, helping spastic muscles to relax and stimulating and rebuilding unused ones. Exercises that would be tedious in a clinical setting become exciting and fun in these surroundings. The lessons incorporate exercises ranging from simple stretching to turning “around-the-world” in the saddle. Games and occasional trail rides lend interest and variety. Riders also have the opportunity to compete at Westwind hosted horse shows.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Westwind 4-H program, either caring for the horses, assisting in leading or side-walking horses during lessons, or riding with a child. No previous experience is necessary, just an interest in horses and the handicapped and a desire to help. Training sessions are provided before each riding session begins.

If you are interested in volunteering or participating as a rider, you can contact Westwind 4-H at (650) 947-8680.

Anyone involved in the 4-H become members or leaders depending on age. 4-H does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, mental or physical handicap, or age in any of its programs or activities.

Recent threat to the Westwind 4-H program:

4-H programs, including Westwind 4-H, are in jeopardy of losing their funding as the County of Santa Clara looks for ways to cut their budget. 4-H operates under the auspices of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). Because UCCE is not a "mandated" program, the Agriculture & Resource Management Agency for the County of Santa Clara has targeted the UCCE programs in the County for elimination.

Westwind 4-H, along with all other clubs in Santa Clara County, is asking supporters to write to the Board of Supervisors to request that a minimal amount of money that could sustain the programs be allocated for the upcoming fiscal year. You can find a more detailed report from the 4-H Treasurer by going to the following 4-H website: http://clubs.ca4h.org/santaclara/ Click on “County Budget Explanation.”

Westwind 4-H is solely supported by tax-deductible gifts and donations from interested individuals, clubs, and organizations. It is self-funding. However, the affiliation of Westwind with 4-H and UCCE provides the necessary liability insurance for all the members and leaders which is essential for the operation of the club.