The Mission Coffeehouse at First Lutheran Church in Brookings is supporting the Special Training and Riding Skills (STARS) program for people with disabilities through their Mission of the Month for April. STARS is a therapeutic horsemanship program that offers horseback riding and other activities to individuals with disabilities aged 6 and older in the community. The program aims to teach basic horsemanship skills while providing physical, mental, and emotional benefits to participants.
STARS focuses on using horses as a means to improve core strength, balance, fine motor skills, communication, confidence, and social opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The movements of the horses mimic those of the human body, helping to enhance range of motion, flexibility, posture, and muscle strength. The interactions with the horses also help participants relax and gain confidence, as well as experience a sense of freedom from walkers or wheelchairs during their sessions.
Participants in the STARS program form bonds with the horses and develop relationships with staff and volunteers, creating joyful social connections that they look forward to each week. The program is inclusive and can accommodate a wide range of disabilities, encouraging disabled veterans to participate as well. Through horseback riding and other horse-related activities, STARS aims to provide a unique form of physical and emotional enrichment for individuals with unique abilities in the Brookings community and beyond.
