Watch

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Brings Healing

Creator:
Published:
November 28, 2023
May 2, 2020
This therapist is helping others heal through an equine therapy organization.

After a particularly challenging time in her life, Heather Miner took a year off to get "back to basics." That's when she discovered therapeutic horseback riding through Ride For Joy. Now she is helping others find healing as a therapist there and says it "feels like home."

Video Transcript

Heather Miner lost several loved ones over a short span of months.Heather Miner: I lost several family members, and I consequently lost my job because I went to too many funerals, and I was just kind of a mess. She knew she needed to find joy again.Heather: I knew I couldn't function as a counselor because I needed to take time for myself to heal. I took a year or so, and I called it “getting back to basics.” If it was going to stress me out, I didn't do it. That’s when she discovered Ride for Joy.Heather: I heard about Ride for Joy. I had never heard of therapeutic horseback riding before. I was like perfect, I will just go ride some horses. It's all I had to do. Ride for Joy is a nonprofit equine therapy program. Heather works with riders of various needs and abilities to aid in their healing.Heather: So I got out here, and I realized my very first day out here, it was going to be more than just a job. It was definitely going to be a home for me.Heather could share her lifelong love of riding with others.Heather: I was working with a veteran, and he wanted to learn how to do something called lunging, which is making the horse go in a circle around the person. In the process, she found healing for herself.Heather: Teaching this veteran how to utilize his energy with the horse's energy and talk to the horse across a distance, he was really in the moment, and I was really in the moment. I'm like this is where I'm supposed to be. This is what I'm supposed to do. I'm home.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
November 28, 2023
May 2, 2020
On a related note...
Grotto’s Travel Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Grotto’s Travel Guide to Yellowstone National Park

Andrew Mentock

3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Winter Break

3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Winter Break

Cate Von Dohlen

An Open Letter to Anyone Sick with COVID-19

An Open Letter to Anyone Sick with COVID-19

Josh Noem

A Sustainable Snack: Roasted Crickets

A Sustainable Snack: Roasted Crickets

Grotto

Gardening Hacks for Every Living Situation

Gardening Hacks for Every Living Situation

Grotto

The Playlist that Turned My Life Around

The Playlist that Turned My Life Around

Brandy Norton

Finally, Vaccinated and Free! But Free For What?

Finally, Vaccinated and Free! But Free For What?

Matt Paolelli

What Training for a Triathlon Taught Me About Resilience

What Training for a Triathlon Taught Me About Resilience

Tim Pisacich

How to Be the Best Kind of Sports Fan

How to Be the Best Kind of Sports Fan

John Acquaviva, PhD

The Ancient Secret to Praying With Icons

The Ancient Secret to Praying With Icons

Grace Carroll

How I Learned the Value of Meaningful Work

How I Learned the Value of Meaningful Work

Isaac Huss

Designer Makes Clothes with Meaning

Designer Makes Clothes with Meaning

Grotto

Brewing Beer at a Benedictine Monastery

Brewing Beer at a Benedictine Monastery

Grotto

Free Download: What to See, Eat, Explore, Do, Try Near North Side

Free Download: What to See, Eat, Explore, Do, Try Near North Side

Grotto, Jennon Bell Hoffman

8 Ways to Deck the Halls on a Budget

8 Ways to Deck the Halls on a Budget

Lauren Lawson

The Rock Band Wilco Changed My Life Once and They’re Trying To Do It Again

The Rock Band Wilco Changed My Life Once and They’re Trying To Do It Again

Mike Jordan Laskey

Two Truths and a Lie: St. Bibiana

Two Truths and a Lie: St. Bibiana

Grotto

Feast of the Sacred Heart Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Feast of the Sacred Heart Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

How to Avoid 5 Common Decision-Making Mistakes

How to Avoid 5 Common Decision-Making Mistakes

Sarah Coffey

Learning to Pray Through My OCD and Perfectionism

Learning to Pray Through My OCD and Perfectionism

Molly Cruitt

newsletter

We’d sure love to be pals.

Like what you see? Make it easy on yourself and we’ll meet you right in your inbox next time.