May 22, 2025

Riding Through Resilience proves the power of equine therapy

MITCHELLVILLE, IOWA  --  Horses are beautiful, powerful, and graceful.  They also have the power to heal emotions.  Earlier this month, the Amanda the Panda team took a field trip – along with more than a dozen youth and adults - for a day of curative fun at Menagerie Stables in Mitchellville for a special event called Riding Through Resilience.   

“Grief can bring up some really hard emotions and seeing people find joy in riding horses. That’s why we love offering these kinds of things,” says Amanda the Panda’s Taylor Clemens, who helped organize the event. 

Amanda the Panda, founded in 1980, offers group therapy meetings focused on understanding grief and loss at its West Des Moines offices for adults and youths as well as day camps and special events. 

Mental health professionals say the magic of equine therapy comes from forming connections.  Grooming, walking and riding horses requires a caring touch and focus.  In return, the animals offer comfort without judgement. 

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In two sessions at the stables in rural Polk County, participants helped brush and saddle horses before leading them through an indoor arena training session, followed by a short ride around an outdoor corral.  Each ride finished with a round of applause for each rider.  For one adult rider, she said that applause was the first time in her life she can remember someone cheering for her. 

The Amanda the Panda team says the remarkable day of healing was made easier by Menagerie Stables owner Deanne Mundt, who offered the space and a streamlined program that kept participants engaged.   

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Hopefully, they say, this won’t be the last time they’re able to take folks for a ride.  “It was meant to spark some joy in their journey,” Taylor says, “If we can find the funding for it, we are hopeful that we can offer this again next year.”