COMMENTARY: A place of horses and healing

December 8, 2023  |  By Dianne Lashoones

Rider Kathryne Silberman on Grace. Photo by Beth Belote

Kathryne Silberman remembers the first time she visited Rhythm of the Rein, a therapeutic horseback riding and driving program in Marshfield, nearly 10 years ago. 

Silberman, who has been battling a connective tissue disease for more than 40 years, arrived in a wheelchair. She was looking for therapy for her son, who has cerebral palsy, and she found a place that also provided relief from the pain and stress of struggling with her illness. 

“Things started changing when I got on a horse,” said Silberman, who is 71. At first, she rode with people walking on each side of her for security, and eventually she gained the confidence to ride independently. The horse, a mare named Grace, was quiet and reliable, she said. “My pain went away,” she recalls.

Rhythm of the Rein has been offering therapeutic riding services and other activities for people with special needs for more than 20 years. The program is accredited and staffed by myself, a physical therapist, and physical therapy assistant Libby Hale. Both of us are credentialed therapeutic riding instructors who work individually with adults and children to help them gain confidence, enjoy physical activity, and connect with horses. Beth Belote is the barn manager and our certified adaptive carriage driving instructor.

Horses are herd animals with a built-in perception for others’ emotions and the environment around them. Equine therapy is used around the world as a way to aid people who struggle with physical conditions as well as emotional regulation and impulse control. Working with horses has been proven to increase connectedness and confidence. At Rhythm of the Rein, an important part of the program is grooming and preparing the horses for riding, giving participants a sense of responsibility.

A driving lesson at Rhythm of the Rein in Marshfield. Courtesy photo

After 10 years at the farm, Silberman said she has seen equine work change peoples’ lives, including that of her son Charles. 

“There is something about horses that calms children,” she said. “Autistic children will be very vocal and active, and when they get on the horse, they quiet down right away. You see the happiness expressed in their faces, and the joy as they get more comfortable over a period of time.”

Rhythm of the Rein’s therapeutic riding and driving program relies heavily on donations and volunteers to make its programs available to all who need them. To learn more and support this community asset, visit rhythmoftherein.org.

Physical therapist Dianne Lashoones is the founder and current board member at Rhythm of the Rein.