For some, it’s combating a fear. For others, it’s a dream come true. For our Life Skills students of Millersburg Elementary Middle School, a combination of these elements lend to just a plain, good ol’ time.
Most Thursday mornings, our Life Skills students head up to Loveway in Middlebury. Some work on combating their fears of being around large animals, Loveway being a therapeutic haven utilizing horses and horseback riding as its pitch. Some have been around horses before, and relish the stable time to continue to work with the animals. Some just enjoy being out of the classroom setting, working on homework with their peers in the comforts of a quiet and different atmosphere.
Whatever the combination, it’s a huge step in the process for MEMS teacher Sarah Schmucker.
“They’re working on physical therapy, movement, and both gross and fine motor skills,” Schmucker said as her students transitioned between riding and work sessions. “We’re continuing to work on controlling emotions and practicing being gentle. Riding the horses forces these kids to also work on verbal communication because the horse has to know what to do by the person riding it.”
Loveway, celebrating its 50th year in 2023, is designed to empower those with disabilities through therapeutic interaction with horses and its volunteers. Loveway serves over a dozen schools in the area and 350 different individuals, those to which include our students from the Fairfield Community Schools. The Millersburg crew rode horses, doing a series of riding and communicative functions to both interact with the horses as well as the volunteers that walked alongside during the sessions. Individuals also were given non-riding options as well, such as brushing the horses and helping clean hooves.
“This is so exciting to see,” glowed Schmucker as her next students were preparing to ride. “A couple of these kids have never been around large animals before. These kids are just so excited to be doing this. They can’t wait to go home and tell their parents about it. I hear it all the time, ‘Are we going to Loveway this week?’
“And I can’t lie, it’s the highlight of my week, too.”