'They All Have a Desire to Win at Something': Why OTTBs Have a Place in Therapeutic Riding Programs

Manuel swings his leg over Rusty’s back, settling gently into the Western saddle. He slides his feet into the stirrups, picks up his reins, and softly says, “Walk on.” Manuel, who is autistic, rides the big bay Thoroughbred during his weekly lessons at Freedom Ride, a therapeutic horseback riding center in Orlando, Florida.

Although Manuel began riding three years ago, he and Rusty have only been partners for the last year. A nervous rider, Manuel would hold on to the horn every time that he rode — until he was paired with Rusty, that is. Over the course of the year, Manuel’s partnership with Rusty grew, along with his desire to learn new skills.

Manuel’s instructor, Farrah Abu-Hijleh, credits Manuel’s bond with Rusty with his progress in the saddle. “Manuel won’t get on unless he hugs and kisses Rusty first, and when he was first learning to steer, he was worried about hurting Rusty,” Farrah says. “The two of them make the best pair — it actually feels like they take care of each other.”

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Article written by: Maressa Taylor Levy