Inspire Equine Therapy Program

Inspire Equine is a marvelous, well kept facility that has a great heart for those with disabilities and those who need equine therapy to help their lives have value and success. They carefully choose their mounts for their individual qualities for assisting a person with special needs. They not only provide mounted therapy but assist their clients in learning all aspects of horse care that they are capable of understanding and participating in for their situation. Their grounds are immaculate and include a barn, well lit, paved aisles that are covered with non-slips mats. They have beautiful and large box stalls with each equine therapy mount having their own stall with their own nameplate, fans, thick shavings over the mats, clean buckets, great hay and continuous water. Each horse goes out daily to grass paddocks for playtime and exercise. They also have a large pasture for grazing several times per week. Inspire helps their students to excel at Special Olympics. They have a great covered arena with all the obstacles for learning and teaching horsemanship. Every student is given special attention to help them have a successful day at the program. The smiles are worth a fortune. Whether they have autism, cerebral palsy, chronic brain injury, a developmental disability or are one of our very special Wounded Warriors, Inspire is there to light their path to success and happiness. Their Director, Melissa Yarbrough, has a heart and a vision to assist people with handicaps learn that they have more skills and value then they could have every imagined. She carefully screens each rider to place them with the mount that best suits them. She has a drIving program to teach those who either can't ride or desire to learn how to drive horses. Driving can be very rewarding, especially for a person who can't mount and be astride a horse. She is currently working to raise enough money to buy a carriage that a wheelchair can roll right up to the driver''s seat. She not only teaches her students but enables them to compete in driving competitions. Inspire Equine teaches family values and enables the parents to see smiles and success when many times they felt all hope for advancement for their family member was lost. Equine Therapy can help a child who can not sit up erect to develop the muscles it takes to achieve that goal. The gait of the horse is similar to the gait of the human and riding helps the person to re-develop those muscles that they have lost. The grounds, the bathroom facilities, the tack room, the arena and the paddocks give the feel of a beautiful park. Families ate encouraged by the happiness there, even down to the beautiful flowers on the grounds. Many families lives have so many trials, Dr. visits, and heartache that the staff of Inspire give back that joy. The grounds are very conducive to peace and joy, even for only an hour out of a hectic day for family members. Inspire will reach so many hearts and the horses they use become best friends for the children and adults involved. Be it the smells and soft hair for a blind person, feeling the rhythm of stride for those who can't walk alone, grooming, leading and giving big hugs, Inspire is there. The quietness of the grounds, the magic of the smiles, the warmth of the animals and the tenderness of the teaching, makes a facility what it is. There are few facilities and staff members that can hold a candle to Inspire Equine Program.  Center's Facebook Page:: https://www.facebook.com/InspireEquineTherapyProgram/