Dear Therapy Horse,

Yes, it's the cookie lady, who likes to make you work around the ring with the screaming children. You did so well last week when that little boy had a melt down on your back and even though he kicked and screamed you stayed perfectly still. You were so wonderful when little Sally was yanking on your mouth to turn right, and you just turned right. You were amazing when that new student came in and was afraid to reach his hand out. You just stood there and waited for him.

Most horses spook at the sound of a crinkled leaf, but you, Therapy Horse, you don't bat an eye at the sound of hand crutches coming up the ramp, you stand still as the wheelchair rolls next you, you ignore the yanking of your mane during the ride, you ignore the rocking of the child flapping on your back, and you wait patiently for the mounting of a tight and nervous rider.

Therapy Horse, you are able to focus on your rider and leader at the same time. You are able to calm a rocking child with a lengthen of your stride, build a rider's self-esteem, teach your rider to read your emotions, strengthen your riders muscles, and so much more.

Therapy Horse you come into the ring each time I ask you, and you give me the absolute best that you can. You focus on that rider and you do your job.You don't care about the way your rider walks, the crutches they use, the different way they stand, the language they use, or the way they were born. All you care about is the rider behind all that and the bond that you share.

I just wanted to say thank you.

I know we have the rider give you cookies after a ride sometimes, and you and I will share our bonding moments but it's not enough. No amount of cookies or carrots in the world can tell you how thankful I am to have you in my lessons (thought I'm sure you'd let me try). I want to say thank you for the smiles you've left on your riders' faces, I want to say thank you for the time you kept the little boys out of a wheelchair longer, I want to say thank you for the riders who can hold themselves higher, I want to say thank you for the kids who were afraid to talk and now whisper in your ear, and I want to say thank you for the self-esteem you've given.

Your job is incredibly tough. You have to be patient, quiet, bombproof, and attentive, you can't bolt after every plastic bag or butterfly that you see. You have to ignore your fight or flight response and stay calm in situations that would scare some "bombproof" horses back to their stalls. Your work is exhausting on your body and on your mind. Therapy Horse, thank you for all of the work that you have done and will continue to do. Without you I wouldn't get to do what I love and our students wouldn't get to learn what they have from you.

Therapy Horse you make a huge difference in everyone's life that you enter and there is no way for me to repay the service that you've done. You are my hero.

Sincerely,

An Equine Facilitated Therapeutic Instructor

P.S. Yes, heroes deserve apples too. No, I don't have any...

P.P.S. I'll be back with one soon.