Therapeutic horse riding brings joy in Rathdrum
CAROLYN BOSTICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 3 weeks AGO
Jackson Shtein lights up as he throws a stuffed animal from the back of Jubilee at Harmony Ranch. The disability agency Chrysalis took summer campers to the ranch in Rathdrum for some equine therapy Thursday morning.
Left to right: Sean Mahon, Peggy Zappone and Jackson Shtein.
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press
Hunter Nap receives a round of applause from Misha Shtein and Melissa Schroeder after succeeding during an equine therapy game at Harmony Ranch.
Ethan Starr pumps his fist after playing a game while on horseback at Harmony Ranch.
Diana Clemons celebrates Tanner Flinn getting a stuffed animal into a basket at Harmony Ranch.
Mark Poncato and Ethan Starr get ready to mount horses at Harmony Ranch.
Carolyn Bostick has worked for the Coeur d’Alene Press since June 2023. She covers Shoshone County and Coeur d'Alene. Carolyn previously worked in Utica, New York at the Observer-Dispatch for almost seven years before briefly working at The Inquirer and Mirror in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Since she moved to the Pacific Northwest from upstate New York in 2021, she's performed with the Spokane Shakespeare Society for three summers. | August 16, 2024 1:00 AM
RATHDRUM — Mark Poncato's heart remained with Rodeo the horse even after he finished his ride at Harmony Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center.
"I love him," Poncato said.
Rodeo, a 20-year-old horse blind in one eye, along with Heiress and Jubilee, left a lasting impression on the riders during their session.
Chrysalis CEO Terri Johnson said that equine therapy was chosen for Camp Chrysalis' penultimate day because it offered both excitement and a calming experience.
Tanner Flinn, who learned to use the reins over the course of the morning, shared his favorite part: Telling jokes on horseback. "Two goldfish are in a tank," he said. "One turns to the other and says, 'Do you know how to drive this thing?'"
Diana Clemons, who has run the horse therapy ranch for 20 years, designs activities adaptable to riders' varying needs. Johnson praised Clemons' understanding of the challenges faced by children with disabilities.
"For those that are afraid of animals, horseback riding can help that. Some of our kids are afraid of horses and getting up on them. So, for some it can be about overcoming fear in a safe environment" Johnson said.
Hunter Nap receives a round of applause from Misha Shtein and Melissa Schroeder after succeeding during an equine therapy game at Harmony Ranch.
Ethan Starr pumps his fist after playing a game while on horseback at Harmony Ranch.
Diana Clemons celebrates Tanner Flinn getting a stuffed animal into a basket at Harmony Ranch.
Mark Poncato and Ethan Starr get ready to mount horses at Harmony Ranch.MORE LOCAL-NEWS STORIES
PHOTOS: PRCA Rodeo at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Big Sky Memorial Ride brings endurance equine event to Lincoln County
The Western News | Updated 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Wheels of time: Stagecoach tours provide peak into history at Wrangler Springs Ranch
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 8 months, 3 weeks ago
ARTICLES BY CAROLYN BOSTICK
Watching a roadway romance blossom
Bumper to bumper morning traffic on I-90. Cars have drawn to a standstill. The illuminated sign warning “heavy congestion” appeared too close to the traffic to assist much in avoiding it.
Kootenai County officials, Lakes Highway District to move forward with one-year Bayview lease
Kootenai County Commissioners and Lakes Highway District Commissioners met Thursday in an attempt to iron out major issues and decide a course of action for the Bayview property owned by the district and previously maintained by the county.
Mustangs laud Post Falls veterans on May Day
The polite charm of Greensferry Elementary School students on a mission worked its magic Thursday on the residents of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls. “Thank you for your service,” Ada Snook said as she handed a bundle of flowers to Army veteran Ken Siirila.