Breaking Free Riding Center

A local farm is providing a therapeutic program for special needs children.

Horse therapy has been around since the late 1970’s and is often used for children with special needs. Breaking Free Riding Center in Norwich focuses on just that. After researching horse therapy, Linda Lake and her husband started Breaking Free five years ago; they celebrated their grand opening last summer.

"I think animal therapy is probably about one of the best therapies there is because kids can relate to them, the horses don’t judge the kids, and it seems like the horses actually know that these kids are special," said Center Director Linda Lake.

The sessions are seven weeks long and occur once a week. The children participate in various activities while riding the horse, like organizing shapes and reaching for different objects. The child is assisted by two volunteers while the horse is lead by a riding instructor.

"Kids can just be, they can just be having a bad day, and come out here and get on a horse and it’s all over (start video of boy riding) and you can’t replicate the movement of a horse with some kind of mechanical aid," said Therapeutic Riding Instructor Amanda Huber.

Many of the horses were donated by locals in the area. Lake says all of the horses are screened for six months to make sure they are qualified to work with children. She says many of the students have different forms of Autism.

"I wish there were more programs like this for kids, it’s a shame that there aren’t more people that are willing to go out of their way to do things like this for kids with special needs," said Parent Tiffany Wehr.

While the children are learning basic lessons, they are also there to have fun and feel good.

"It’s nice for kids that can’t just go in a field and jump on a horse like I’ve always been I’m able to, to get to come out here and ride and feel like their equals," said Huber.

Lake says sponsorships are available for families who may not be able to afford the fees.