GREENFIELD — At 32, Abby Marx is one of the older riders at Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources in Greenfield, but she radiates a child-like joy whenever she’s sitting atop her horse, Lexi, at the program’s ranch.
“Abby has benefited in so many ways from riding at Agape. Not only has she learned so much about caring for horses and the techniques in riding, but she has made real connections with her horse and her volunteers and trainers,” said her mother, Jamie Marx of Greenfield.
Abby is on the autism spectrum, which makes those positive connections even more essential. “I have seen improvements in her focus, balance, and coordination over the years. Her horse, Lexi, means everything to her, and when she finishes her lesson, the countdown begins to the next one. If she could, she would ride at Agape every day,” her mom said.
Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources was created in 1986 by a mother and daughter who wanted to develop a summer riding program for children with disabilities using the therapeutic value of horses.
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With headquarters in Cicero, the program expanded to Greenfield in 2017 after being invited to take over the previous Edelweiss Equine-Assisted Therapy Center.
Horses are great animals for therapy, said Agape’s executive director, Stephanie Amick.
“They are very much a special animal where they are a social animal and kind of mimic a lot of what students and our riders bring to class. They like to be led, they like to be communicated with, they like that connection,” she said.
“There’s just a special connection and bond that’s created that allows riders to work on cultivating personal growth in various areas they might need to work on, whether it’s physical, emotional, social or cognitive, which helps them to really connect with their horse,” said Amick.
Greenfield site director Becca Spitzig helps riders find a number of ways to benefit from interacting with their horses.
“Rather than just talking to them about a certain challenge they’re having, we encourage them to work it out with their horse,” Spitzig said.
“Horses will mirror their rider’s emotions. If you’re anxious, they’re going to pick up on that. If we see that happening with a rider, we’ll say to them, ‘What can you do to help your horse be less anxious?’ They might stroke their horse and talk to it soothingly, which can teach them how to soothe themselves.”
For information on how to become a rider or volunteer at Agape, visit agaperiding.org or call 317-759-9444. The Agape East center is at 531 W. 100 S., Greenfield.
