In the midst of complaints about summer traffic, overbooked restaurants, and the price of lobster salad, there is a very special place of hope that puts everything in perspective. It is a ring on a beautiful farm where a horse and a child find each other and connect, a knowing and trust beyond traditional communication. A smile grows as the pair moves forward into a better future, “Walk on.”
The Center for Therapeutic Riding of the East End (CTREE), a not-for-profit organization located on Eastern Long Island, has harnessed, literally, the healing power of horses and uses its programs to bring not only joy but physical, emotional, and social well-being to its special needs participants. Executive Director Cathleen Curran commented, “These horses change these kids in so many ways. Also, for the caregiver, to see your child with so many struggles so happy is really rewarding. Their physical therapy is usually in offices with doctors, and it’s nice for them to do something interactive outside with another animal, and that’s fun.”
The program is extremely grateful to the Topping Riding Club in Sagaponack for its current home. Cathleen said, “It’s such a welcoming environment, and the students, instructors, volunteers, and especially the horses love it. There are beautiful pastures, an ocean breeze, and with an indoor ring, we can operate year-round.”
There is enormous excitement this year at CTREE for their aptly named rider, Hampton, who will be competing in the renowned Hampton Classic Horse Show. Hampton qualified at local shows in the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities. The Hampton Classic makes a special effort during these classes on Monday, August 25, to have a dedicated Chalet for lunch and even a world-class grand prix rider come to greet the participants.
Hampton, now 11, has been working with the same PATH-certified instructor, Shannon Bozzuto Chant, since he was five. It is a testament to the rider, instructor, incredibly dedicated parents, and also, of course, trusty mount “Lucky” who takes care of his precious cargo.
“I started with Hampton when he was five years old. He came to us minimally verbal, and it wasn’t easy for him to follow directions,” Shannon recounted, “But we noticed his hand-eye coordination was amazing. We unlocked something in him that he is a kinesthetic learner who has to do the thing to learn. He has been flying with lessons and now will spontaneously say things. It warms our hearts.”
Instructors understand the science behind the interaction with the horses. Shannon explained, “With Hampton, the horse’s movement stimulates the vestibular system, which engages speech.” The vestibular system, crucial for balance and spatial orientation, significantly impacts speech development and auditory processing.
Shannon was worried that Hampton, who is on the autism spectrum, might find horse shows too stimulating with too much noise. “I wondered if I was overdoing it,” she said, “But then his parents recounted he said, ‘Horse show now,’ the whole way to the latest competition.” Shannon acknowledges the incredible support of Hampton’s parents and family. They even get support from a donated trailer to get Lucky to the show, and The Rider’s Closet, started by Georgina Bloomberg, to provide show clothes.
Hampton’s enjoyment is clear (he even has his own Instagram page), and he has also learned to show empathy to his horse, “He will just drop the reins and hug Lucky around the neck,” Shannon said, adding with a laugh, “Although it was still the middle of the competition.”
For Shannon and the other instructors, Jill Carney and Jessica Garcia, it is a labor of love, and Cathleen acknowledges they are the backbone of the program, filling all roles. Shannon commented, “I work a full-time job and live middle-island and even if I show up tired or with a headache, it fixes me. I am selfish because being there makes me feel good. You see what these kids have gone through and their challenges, and to see them connect, I get goose bumps.”
A large portion of CTREE’s budget is raised through their annual fundraiser, Horses Changing Lives Sunset Cocktails at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, with Event Co-Chairs Chris Ritchey and Helen Gifford and Honorary Chair Joey Wölffer. Held on Thursday, August 21, from 6 to 8 PM, the event features music, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. Tickets are available at ctreeny.org, and bidding is also available online.
