Imagine this, you are walking through an older nursing home facility and as you look around you are bombarded with western décor and the sound of laughter. You continue through the facility and see out in the courtyard, three horses tied to their post. One Tennessee Walker horse, named Lucky, has bowed his head as an elderly gentleman in his wheelchair is stroking his beautiful mane. You see in his eyes an unpronounceable joy and know at that moment he is happy. Well if you are at Deerings Nursing and Rehabilitation in Odessa ,TX this is most likely a daily sight.

David Barnard, the "Range Boss" or Administrator, and a group of unbelievable employees have started a therapeutic riding program for the residents of Deerings. This program has received national recognition by Nursing Homes Magazine (March 2005,Vol.54, No. 3) ,as well as many other publications, and is the first successful program that we have been able to verify.

This all started when David brought his Tennessee Walker into a nursing home about 10 years ago, He noticed the residents really enjoyed the contact. He says that he had read several articles describing how children had benefited from therapeutic riding programs, and thought to himself why couldn't the elderly benefit from the program as well. So about 2 1/2 years ago he convinced his company to try the concept. They then hired Jodie Rose as the Equine Activities Director. Jodie had her master's degree in agriculture from Tarleton State University, and was experienced in this type of therapy from her work with a children's riding therapy program in Stephenville, TX. Now all they needed to do was get the doctors to release the patients for this therapy, and all but one was in agreement, saying "the risk outweigh the benefits. "So, David decided to try to convince him with let's say some of that "cowboy charm". The next day he saddled up Lucky and rode him up to the office of the doctor. He then waited for the doctor to pull up, and asked him if he "would care to take a ride". The doctor said no, but lent him an ear, and soon his patients were riding as well. This therapy needless to say has made a believer out of him.

The benefits have been incredible for the residents of Deerings. They have had as many as 20 residents a day ride and at least 6 regulars. This has brought a new life in patients that society has deemed as hopeless. David says they have had patients improve significantly with speech problems, balance deficiencies, Alzheimer's, dementia, withdrawn behavior, and brain injury. In fact, he says"There isn't much that spending a little time on a horse can't help.", and with their results you can't really argue too much with that statement.

David Barnard has said that he is more than willing to give advice to anyone that might want to start a similar program. Their only interest is not in having people glorify their actions, but improving the life of the elderly. When I asked David what the greatest reward of the program was he simply said, "The smiles on their faces." I believe this is why the program is so successful. Love of the elderly must motivate all that we do, in every aspect of the Long Term Care business, and this is where our rewards will be realized.