SPIRIT EQUESTRIAN:
IT’S ALL IN THE NAME
By CYNDA ZURFLUH
Spirit is a gem. Its mission is to foster
healing and to teach life skills through
relationships with horses through a
team who is committed to improving
the quality of life for participants of
all abilities.

I would describe Spirit as a family
of wonderful instructors, volunteers
and rescued horses making a real
difference in the lives they touch. We
met the Spirit team when my daughter
took what I thought was just’ riding
lessons. What I really signed up for
was my daughter’s new passion, and
a meaningful way for me to pay it
forward. 42
October 2018
washingtonFAMILY.com Spirit Open Equestrian, conveniently
located in Fairfax County, offers
top-notch urban horsemanship and
beginning riding lessons. But at its
heart, Spirit’s goal is to serve those
with special needs
physical, psychological, developmental
and give kids and adults alike the
opportunity to build themselves up
inside and out. Watching the riders
sit proudly on the backs of the Spirit
horses makes me believe in all things
good again.

At a recent volunteer session, I met
David. I was tasked with leading
Sadie, David’s favorite mare, to him.

Sadie stepped out of the training rink
and came right up to David in his
(what I would have thought scary-to-
a-horse) motori ed wheelchair. She
nudged David’s face and nibbled on
his chair’s controllers. They chatted for
a moment, and David was placed on
the horse he was to ride for his lesson.

It’s safety first
with harness and
trained side-walking volunteers and
someone with more horse sense than I
have at the lead rope.

David was joined by five or six other
riders every one of them with
his or her specific gift. The students
are guided by instructors trained in
horsemanship, and when appropriate,
social work and psychotherapy. The
horses seem to understand who’s on
their backs and behave accordingly.

The founder of Spirit Open Equestrian,
Davorka Svorak, affectionately known
as Dada, seems to intuit her way
through the lessons. She anticipates
both the kids’ and the horses’ next
moves, and is not shy about insisting
they all work hard to bring out their
best selves.

My daughter’s first lessons with Dada
were a mix of typically developing
kids and kids with special needs.

Everyone could ride independently.

The kids were all laser-focused on
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ASHLEY HUANG
I
m decades away from my initial
love affair with horses, but I’m
enjoying a re-boot with my youngest
daughter. After 10 years of high-test,
energy-sapping DMV motherhood, I
have literally and figuratively found my
Spirit right here in Fairfax County:
Spirit Open Equestrian.




MORE ABOUT SPIRIT
Visit spiritequestrian.org and register for lessons
through Frying Pan Farm Park at 703-437-9101.

How do I qualify my child for the Therapeutic
Riding Program?
ada’ s instructions. I don’ t think I’ ve ever seen my girl
concentrate so hard on so many things at once: heels down,
feet under hips, toes front, chin up, quiet hands, straight
back.

ada teaches horsemanship for real, and the kids
make every effort to please her.

Visit the spiritequestrian.org site and click on
“Forms.” The online medical form takes a physician
through the necessary details to qualify a rider.

Part of their incentive is knowing that when they master
ada’ s instructions,
ada will sing their praises to the
moon and back. She calls out their successes, asking folks
in the arena to watch, and we all call out our
good
obs.” It’ s a perfect feedback loop: hard work with lots of earned
praise. Spirit Open Equestrian is a certified 501(C)(3)
nonprofit. Visit their website to donate or sign
up to volunteer!
I really do strive to be the mom who remembers how great
I have it, but volunteering at Spirit takes me to a place I
haven’ t frequented much lately. A place where the kids are
precious because they are, and the parents aren’ t straining
under the weight of the
s nex t- level academic and
competitive rigors.

My daughter and I leave Spirit filthy, smelling like the
horses we just worked with. But we’re refreshed. I find a
peace that is a rarity. I even drive home more slowly.

The Spirit team meets me where I am
ust like they
meet
avid when he rolls in for his lesson. We all have
challenges, and Spirit’s horses and team members offer us
moments of strength, confidence, humility and gratitude.

Cy da
r wit a e dle
i a a
ily arried, worki
to do li t a d le i
or t e lack o lee .

e o
ot er o t ree
to al o t
ake How can I help?
WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC RIDING?
Therapeutic riding is a proven method to support
the growth and healing of kids and adults with
physical and/or psychological challenges.

The interaction between people and horses
offers a variety of physical, mental, emotional and
intellectual benefits. Equine Assisted Activities
complement the work of a variety of therapeutic,
developmental and life coaching professionals.

Why is it effective?
Simply sitting upon a walking horse requires
strength and coordination, while stimulating the
muscular and nervous systems. There is a sense of
confidence that comes with cooperating with the
horses and taking part in directing them. Time-in-
the-saddle requires riders to be present and aware
of what’s happening in the moment, which helps
with concentration and attention. Plus, you get a
great horse buddy!
washingtonFAMILY.com October 2018
43