Horses and people find solace in greener pastures at Southern Reins
By Aisling Mäki, Daily Memphian
Clark Tompkins high fives one of his instructors while riding at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy June 20. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Chad Lovelace — 27, a Collierville resident with Down syndrome — looks forward to his weekly adaptive-riding lesson at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy, a 30-acre facility in Fisherville on the outskirts of Shelby County.
“He grew up with horses and rode when he was younger,” said his mother, Debbie Lovelace. “But he outgrew his little pony, and I just needed more for him.”
Six years ago, a friend referred the Lovelace family to Southern Reins, which harnesses the power of equine therapy to improve the quality of life for people with a wide range of disabilities and hardships.
The nonprofit was founded in 2015, and its first home was in Nesbit, Mississippi, where a board member owned an equestrian facility. But growing demand prompted the move in 2018 to a more centralized location in Shelby County.
Last year, Southern Reins served participants from three states and 26 municipalities throughout the Memphis area. Its 80 weekly program participants have a combined 26 diagnoses, including autism, cerebral palsy, trauma and developmental delays.
“Many of our participants have been with us for years because they and their families see the tremendous benefit of that horse-human connection,” said Jill Haag, Southern Reins executive director and a certified therapeutic-riding instructor.
Therapeutic horsemanship supports their cognitive, physical, emotional and social wellbeing, and instructors are certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
“We tailor that lesson to help them achieve improvement in their quality of life and the development of life skills so they have a more enjoyable time not only in the saddle but out of the saddle,” said Haag, who grew up in Virginia’s horse country.
Chad Lovelace learns to ride at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy June 20. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
In addition to adaptive riding, Southern Reins offers occupational therapy that incorporates horses, led by a licensed therapist who sees clients on horseback. It can improve flexibility, core control, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
Debbie Lovelace said she sees the benefits of equine therapy firsthand in Chad’s cognitive improvement in areas such as memory, comprehension and learning retention.
“And it works on his core, making it stronger and keeping his legs strong,” said Lovelace, who is also one of 180 volunteers at Southern Reins.
In addition, equine therapy boosts confidence and builds trust.
“The connection with the horse is very empowering, and it makes you feel special,” Haag said. “Here’s an 1,100-pound animal, and you’re directing this animal to do all these different activities and follow your lead.”
Chad Lovelace rides with his instructors at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy June 20. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Chad rides each week with Jute, a specially trained American Quarter Horse with a powerful build and gentle temperament. He’s one of 11 therapy horses stabled at Southern Reins, all of which are on long-term loan from and sponsored by members of the community.
“We look for a horse with a gentle disposition that’s comfortable being handled by a number of different people,” Haag said. “And they have to be very adaptable to a participant who may have more advanced riding skills and someone who requires high support.”
The horses are typically older — Jute is in his 20s — and have had previous careers in the show ring, on the polo field and as trail mounts. For these horses, Southern Reins is their second act.
“They become a pasture ornament,” Haag said. “But for us, these horses still have so much left to give. They may not be competitive in a show ring anymore, but they are truly changing lives here. And our horses love their jobs and know the empowerment they’re providing.”
Potential therapy horses undergo 60-90 days of assessment and training.
“Many of our participants have been with us for years because they and their families see the tremendous benefit of that horse-human connection,” said Jill Haag, Southern Reins executive director and a certified therapeutic-riding instructor. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
“We replicate everything that they are going to experience,” Haag said. “We’ll replicate a grand-mal seizure on horseback. We’ll introduce them to wheelchairs and walkers in their space. We want to set them up for success.”
And volunteers like Debbie Lovelace are crucial to the success of both the participants and the horses. In 2023, 183 volunteers logged 9,854 hours.
“We couldn’t do what we do without them,” Haag said. “We have three volunteers for one participant.”
Southern Reins’ numerous community partners include Youth Villages, the University of Memphis’ TigerLIFE Program, Memphis VA Medical Center, Perea Preschool and Collierville High School.
They also include a number of assisted- and senior-living centers whose residents participate in Southern Reins’ Silver Stirrups, a recreational program that involves individual interactions with therapy horses.
Dave Borchardt gets Rebel ready to ride at Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy June 20. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Southern Reins is also providing hands-on educational opportunities. It serves as a continuing-education fieldwork site for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and an internship location for Rhodes College and Concorde Career College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
About half of Southern Reins’ annual funding is generated by events, including its annual Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party held each May to coincide with the Kentucky Derby. Last year’s party drew 850 guests and raised more than $360,000 to support equine-assisted therapy services for Mid-Southerners.
Southern Reins’ remaining support comes mostly from individual donors.
“We have very dedicated donors who have been with us since the start, and some new donors who’ve come into the fold after starting with us as a volunteer or attending an event or because they know a family member who’s benefiting from our services,” Haag said. “So we’re always happy to welcome anyone to the farm if they want a tour to kind of get that backstage pass to see what we do and how we do it.”
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