On July 5, 2017, San Diego students of the AYLUS worked at a Therapeutic Riding Center dedicated to the healing of body, mind and spirit of United States Military Service Members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who have lost limbs, traumatic brain injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and are recovering from these and other injuries and illnesses.
The center also provides equine assisted therapeutic riding to children, youth and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities including brain injuries.
Unique to other forms of exercise, the horses’ three dimensional swinging gait moves the rider’s body in ways very similar to those produced by the normal human walk. The rhythmic movement and the warmth generated from the horse’s body soothes and relaxes tight or painful muscles, joints, and tendons and can also build strength and flexibility.
The San Diego Branch students are responsible for managing and maintaining 20 acres of property at the Therapeutic Center. They moved heavy dry sods on July 5 so that grass can grow again on the land. Since there are snakes living in the area, they took great caution to make sure snakes and scorpions can escape in directions away from them, when they moved sods. The kids did a great job harvesting and moving sods at the Therapeutic Riding Center and will return on a weekly basis!
