Preakness 2013: At Morven Park’s Party, Horses Provide Therapy

While some of the world’s fastest horses are racing in the 138^th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Maryland, horses of an entirely different nature will assist those with physical, psychological and cognitive disabilities at Morven Park during Loudoun Therapeutic Riding’s Preakness Party.

Participants in the event can watch a live telecast of the Preakness Stakes, live amateur horse racing, and enjoy a Best Hat contest, silent and live auctions, live music and a bar featuring "Black-eyed Susans."

Preakness Stakes 2013: Date, Race Post Time, Weather Updates and More

Loudoun Therapeutic Riding was formed in 1974 to empower and improve the lives of people with cognitive, psychological and physical disabilities through the benefits of equine assisted activities and therapies, while serving our industry through training and education.

Horses make excellent therapy partners because of their size, easily helping patients perform exercises for long distances and more repetitions than a human counterpart. Therapists strive to help people perform the basic tasks needed to function on a daily basis.

“There are a number of underlying skills we need to do that,” said Leslie Davidson, an occupational therapist with Shenandoah University, on a video on LTR’s website. “And you can use the horse to reach goals in each of those areas.”

Therapeutic riding gained some media attention during the 2012 election because Ann Romney was known for utilizing the therapy for her multiple scleroris. In fact, when she near Ashburn.

Learn more about Morven Park and Loudoun Therapeutic Riding.