Riding horses works wonders with blind and visually impaired students

With the school year winding down it’s the season for field trips. There was a very different kind of field trip Wednesday were local students who are blind or visually impaired got to ride horses

Carver was not able to see Doc, the horse, but he was fascinated by his soft fur and gentle disposition. He loves horses.

“I feel like hey link up with humans,” Carver said.

Diamond is visually impaired, but he was thrilled to hear the horses heartbeat and loves riding them.

“You feel like your ten feet above everyone and it makes you feel good,” Diamond said.

“There’s just something special about getting children involved with horses.

“I don’t pretend work any magic,” Larry Cudmore said. “It’s really the horses that do the work and they just seem to gentle down when they’re around children with special needs.”

Cudmore runs a program called “Champs Heart” where he lets children with special needs come ride horses with volunteer supervision.

When Janell Jarman from the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired learned about it, she thought it would be the perfect field trip and it was.

“Some of these kids don’t really fully participate and they’re out there loving it,” Jarman said.

Students talked about the experience with the horses.

“I think the funnest part for me is knowing that when I’m riding it doesn’t matter that I cannot see and that I’m different from people in that respect.” Nicole said.

It’s great feeling a big ginormous animal hugging you,” Allison said.

For Larry Cudmore this is a rewarding experience.

“Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces to give them a break from the challenges they’re going through every day and have a positive experience in a life that’s pretty challenging for them,” Cudmore said.

Janell Jarman said there are a lot of people that don’t know about the services offered by the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, especially older people who are losing their sight. She hopes anyone with questions or needs will contact her.

You can call her at 208-525-7028, email at jjarman@icbvi.idaho.gov or visit at 1920 East 17th Street Ste. 115 Idaho Falls, ID 83404.