By Zach Jensen,
Valerie Fox, late wife of Allamakee County resident Sam Fox, who was featured recently in the Driftless Journal, rides Sunny at Thunder Rode. The horse leader is Emma Bachelder and the side-walker is Tom Diggins.
Decorah’s Thunder Rode, which was founded in 2006, celebrated Christmas Dec. 2, at the Elks Club in Decorah, and the organization’s executive director said the road since its genesis has been very rewarding.
“I do this so I can give someone a chance to forget the rest of the world for a little bit, and be able to spend time with a horse,” said Nicholle Phillips, Executive Director and riding instructor. “Spending time with a horse can just make you feel better. For me this is my therapy.”
Thunder Rode provides confidence building and rehabilitative training to individuals of all ages with special needs, within aspects of the equine industry. The program has no boundaries regarding developmental growth, program growth and learning potential for individuals, enhancing their abilities to live and work successfully within the community.
“Sometimes, just being around horses is good therapy,” said Phillips, who’s been involved with equestrian/equine therapy for 26 years. “When I’m having a bad day, I go to the horse barn.”
Phillps said Thunder Rode helps adults and children with special needs, at-risk youth, and more recently, relies on its horses to help military Veterans who struggle with PTSD.
During equine therapy, activities such as grooming and taking the horses through an obstacle course are performed. There is no riding; instead, the focus is on the Veteran connecting with the horses and guiding them through the activities.”
Combat Veteran and former U.S. Army Sergeant Brandon Drost, who suffered with severe PTSD for years, was a guest speaker at Thunder Rode about how equine therapy saved his life.
“I’m one of those guys that tasted the barrel of a pistol too many times,” said Drost during his presentation, which was featured as part of an Iowa PBS documentary. “I lost a marriage. I lost a lot of my friends. I lost a lot of family. But, someone showed they cared and got me to go get help.”
The help Drost received was from Trinity Equestrian Center in Eau Claire, Wis., a facility similar to Thunder Rode.
“Horses almost show the same emotions as humans,” Drost said in the documentary. “And, horses, unlike humans, don’t have ulterior motives. They aren’t there for personal gain. They’re not there for themselves. We’re there together to help each other, and that’s worked for me. It’s my light on dark days.”
Since his presentation at Thunder Rode, Drost has brought what he’s learned about the effectiveness of service animals to a less-remembered population of former soldiers: incarcerated veterans. According to reports found online, Drost began a career at the Stanley Correctional Institution in Stanley, Wis., helping incarcerated veterans with service dogs. And, a few years later, he brought equestrian therapy to veterans in the prison. Today, Drost is the Primary Coordinator for the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Stanley correctional facility.
Phillips said working with and riding horses is also good for people with physical disabilities for a variety of reasons.
The physical action of working with horses helps people build strength and balance, and improves spatial awareness. Both riding and caring for horses help enhance physical endurance and dexterity; a common occupational therapy goal. People who may have physical limitations and can’t participate in other more physical activities often find riding to be an enjoyable outlet.
“Riding a horse works all the muscles,” Phillips added. “You’re working muscles you didn’t know you had. Even just talking with the horse helps, because they can tell the horse anything, and the horse can’t tell anyone. Being close to a horse is calming.”
Although equine assisted therapy was officially developed in North America in the 1960’s, its origins date back much further.
Ancient Greek literature, as early as 460 B.C. documented specifically the therapeutic value of horseback riding, and how a horse’s natural gait provides a variety of rhythmic and repetitive movement similar to human movement patterns.
Phillips said she fell in love with equine-assisted therapy shortly after she graduated from Decorah High School in 1993. “It’s just something I have to do,” she said. “I can’t imagine not helping people. The look on their face, when they accomplish something on the horse is … it really gets you.”
Thunder Rode, located at 1957 Meadowlark Road, Decorah, is open May through October each year. For information, visit the website at thunderrode.org or call 563-202-0307.
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