By By TRICIA PETERS / Niles Daily Star
BERRIEN SPRINGS – Excitement was in the air Saturday at the Twin Cities Classic Horse Show in Berrien Springs.
Riders from the Therapeutic Equestrian Center, We Can Ride 4-H Club, and Reins of Life participated for the first time in a horse show competition. All three organizations promote equine therapy to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities.
Twelve riders competed in two classes each. The therapeutic horsemanship class judged riders on rider position and use of aides such as voice, hands, seat and legs during walking and trotting.
The therapeutic obstacle course class was judged on how well the rider could walk and trot their horse through a series of obstacles such as ground poles and various series of cones.
"The judges are basically looking for how well the riders control their horses," said Carol Mansfield, a 28-year volunteer of the "We Can Ride" program. "It's amazing to see how their self-esteem grows," Mansfield added.
According to Danielle Greulich, facility and equine manager of the Therapeutic Equestrian Center, the inclusion of therapeutic riding classes at the show was the result of great team work between all the therapeutic riding centers, Twin Cities, and Robert C. Egan Training Stables in Buchanan.
All items were donated, including the arena, ribbons and class fees.
"It ran really well. The horses behaved, the riders had fun, and there were more than enough volunteers to make sure everything ran smoothly," said Greulich.
Trevis Maxwell, a participant that takes lessons at as well as volunteers for TEC, placed first in both classes. Both Maxwell and another TEC rider, Emily Kowerduck, have been invited to compete in two weeks at the Exceptional Challenge Cup horse show. If they do well, they could qualify for a national competition.
Maxwell and Kowerduck were not the only winners of the day. Every rider that participated placed and received a ribbon.
"We wanted to emphasize (to the riders) that the most important thing is that they are showing and making progress," said Greulich.
To find out more about the therapeutic riding centers in this area, visit TEC at www.tecfarm.org/, Reins of Life at www.reinsoflife.org/, and We Can Ride 4-H at www.wecanride4h.org/index.html.