The Power of Companionship
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding brings hope, love,
and purpose to those in need through the help of the innovative programs
N
o, no, horses don’t belong in the house!” Lynn Petr, the executive director of the Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR), vividly remembers an elderly woman who shouted that at her when she led one of STAR’s miniature horses into the assisted living facility. The staff were amazed. The woman had not spoken since she arrived at the facility, but seeing a horse like she had grown up with brought her back to life. It’s an experience Lynn will never forget, and this moment and others just like it are what makes programs like Minis in Motion so powerful.
Lynn and STAR have been offering therapeutic riding services for 38 years, beginning as Lynn’s Master’s thesis and becoming her life’s work. Participants—who range from people with developmental disabilities to disabled veterans—pay regular visits to STAR’s 63-acre Lenoir City stable, where they learn to care for horses and have the opportunity to ride with the assistance of skilled instructors. The program is accredited by PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International, and every day you can see the payoff from their dedicated work.
“There are goals and objectives for every single program that we have, and every person has individual goals. Together we figure out how we can make this person the best they can be,” says Lynn. “That’s why, when someone walks through our doors, their disability disappears.”
Horses on Wheels
STAR is more than just a place to ride, however. Through programs like Minis in Motion, STAR brings the healing power of animals straight to those in need. Minis in Motion began in 2009 as an effort to work with local schools to give students an alternative to expensive field trips, but it quickly evolved into a program focused on the needs of those struggling with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
“Minis in Motion travels to different adult day centers and senior centers for visits,” says Morgan Vance, the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement at the Pat Summitt Foundation. The Foundation has supported the program for several years through grants. “Those visits really brighten the day for patients, as well as the caretakers. It helps them connect, and it can be a soothing opportunity as well.”
Some facilities, like Concord Place Memory Care, have been partnered with Minis in Motion for a decade or more, and their staff can’t speak highly enough of the benefits for their residents.
“Every time STAR comes to our facility, it’s the number one thing that week,” says Lorie Warren, Life Enrichment Director at Concord Place. “When you have those horses here, it brings my residents complete joy. They will even go to individual rooms if the person can’t come out.”
Partners for Change
STAR also offers opportunities for invidiuals cared for at home. “We invite caregivers and their loved ones to come out to the stables through our Reflections program,” Lynn says. “Loved ones experience our horses for an hour a week, giving caregivers a break if they need it. Though, many of our families want to be part of it, too.” The reason, Lynn explains, is that the participants become something different when they come to the farm. It is motivating, allowing them to come out of their shells, as they meet and take care of some of STAR’s full-size horses. “It’s a breath of fresh air for caregivers to see their loved ones as their ‘old selves,'” Lynn adds.
Through the generous support of organizations like the Pat Summitt Foundation, STAR is able to keep the cost low for participants, making the therapeutic power of horses available to as many in the community as possible.
“For our participants, it really just gives them a spark of joy,” Lynn says. “It rejuvenates the family as well as the individual. We just want them to know that we’re here for them.”
To learn more or find ways to get involved, visit rideatstar.org.
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding
865-988-4711
11800 US-11 East
Knoxville, TN 37772
rideatstar.org