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Almost tangible joy seemed to flow through the stable as campers prepared for the recent horse show at Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center in Colfax.

It was a Friday, the last day of horse camp, and the children would show off what they had learned during the week.

This camp is different from the usual activities at Horsepower, a therapeutic equine program that provides services to more than 300 individuals with disabilities in our area. The summer riding camp, which started about two years ago, teaches able-bodied students how to care for and ride horses .

Funds from the riding camp are used to help finance the regular Horsepower program.

“This is quite a different experience for our horses,” Jan Clifford, the founder and executive director of Horsepower, said. “They are used to being led by someone on the ground in our Horsepower program. Now someone up on top is giving orders.”

Horsepower has 13 horses. Some were donated and some were leased and some belong to Horsepower employees.

This camp was sponsored by Greensboro Day School and run by instructors and volunteers who work with Horsepower all year.

Some of the skills campers learned at the summer riding camp include how to squeeze with their legs, how to back up, how to steer the horse and how to get the horse to trot.

During the final show, each rider goes into the arena and puts his horse through the pattern he has learned that week. Riders and horses also are judged on neatness.

“I love to watch the students’ progress,” said volunteer Mikael Murphy, a rising senior at High Point Central High School. “Many of them come in not knowing anything about riding.”

Jack Freedman is at summer riding camp for the first time this year. His older brother, Charlie, had talked about his experiences at camp last year, so Jack knew he wanted to come this year.

“I love camp,” Isabel Dover, 8, of Greensboro said as she groomed Trader for the horse show.

Tilley Grace Kirkland, 8, of High Point said her favorite activity has been “getting to ride.”

“I love camp and being outside,” said Noah Regal, who rode Little Dakota, also known as L.D., in the show.

Although riding camp is over, the regular Horsepower program is ongoing. Eighty to 100 people volunteer to work with special-needs kids.

Murphy remembers riding by Horsepower as a seventh-grader and thinking, “I want to work here.” She became a volunteer in ninth grade once she was old enough.

Steven Pelzer of High Point has been a volunteer since May and said he loves being part of the program. He got involved after seeing a class for autistic children at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in High Point, where he works.

“Working with children with special needs has not only helped them to achieve their goals, but has helped me to become more patient and understanding,” said Lauren Barrett, 14, a rising a freshman at High Point Central High School who started working at Horsepower in January.

“I love seeing the looks on children’s faces when they accomplish something they didn’t think they could do,” she said.

Research shows that horseback riding can benefit a disabled individual in three ways:

• Physically, the movement of the horse stimulates the back and hip muscles and mimics the act of walking.
• Riding also relaxes and stimulates other muscles, improves body tone, balance and coordination.
• Emotionally and socially, riding adds to self-confidence.

Like all nonprofits, Horsepower is always looking for additional ways to fund their work, said Tim Clifford, youth director at the school.

“We have been fortunate to have 16 Eagle Scouts complete their awards by designing something for Horsepower,” he said. “One Scout even did an irrigation system; another did a wheelchair ramp.”

Horsepower has received grants from the Weaver Foundation, Tannenbaum, Cemala, Joseph M. Bryan, Lincoln Financial, the High Point Community Foundation, J.E.M. Fund, the Whitener Foundation, Banner Pharmacaps, Ecolab and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The son of a board member cuts the grass, and churches and civil groups help with special projects, Tim Clifford said.

Horsepower also barters for some of its services.

“We could not have survived these 16 years without the understanding and support from the community,” he said.

“Thousands of community members living with disabilities have been the recipients of many benevolent acts of kindness, and their lives have been changed.”

If you have news of High Point, please contact me at mjohnson2@triad.rr.com