Therapeutic Riding

Time Spent on Horseback Builds a Stronger Body and Mind

- Jaana hatton

Jennifer Jensen of Wenatchee has spent all of her 31 years of life watching the world from the height of two feet, seated in her wheelchair.

However, starting a year ago, she suddenly had a whole new perspective of her surroundings, at the height of five feet, from the saddle of a Norwegian Fjord horse.

Jennifer began therapeutic riding lesson at the Alatheia Riding Center in Wenatchee after a co-worker’s enthusiastic prompting. Initially, it seemed an intimidating idea to Jennifer, but soon curiosity began to take over. In September 2015, after a month’s deliberation, Jennifer said to herself: “I only live once, so what the heck!”

“I had my first lesson with Frid. I still ride her during my weekly sessions. It was nervewrecking and I needed total support to stay up there. That means I had a person leading the horse and a side walker on both sides,” Jennifer recalls her initial experience.

Jennifer was born with spina bifida, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. It makes daily life a small challenge, having to get around in a wheelchair.

It hasn’t stopped her from attending regular school all through her education and from having a job. She has worked at a local resourcing company for two-and-a-half years.