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Trail blazers

Team Fairchild children enjoy a trail ride during a horseback riding day camp June 22, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. The Exceptional Family Member Program coordinated the five-day camp where children learned how to interact with and ride horses. Horseback riding helps build muscle, improves joint movement and enhances balance and coordination. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Shelley Gregory)

Happy on horseback

Marlee McDaniel, daughter of 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander Col. Brian McDaniel, rides around an arena during a five-day horseback riding day camp June 22, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. The Exceptional Family Member Program coordinated the summer camp where children learned how to interact with and ride horses. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Shelley Gregory)

Mail time

Kathryn Steege, daughter of Chief Master Sgt. Jason Steege of the 92nd Medical Group, rides her horse up to a mailbox to retrieve a plush toy during a day camp at a Hippotherapy facility June 22, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Several Team Fairchild children participated in the five-day camp where they learned how to interact with horses and did activities on horseback that translate to everyday life. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Shelley Gregory)

Ready to ride

Kids from Team Fairchild line up their horses before embarking on a trail ride June 22, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. The Exceptional Family Member Program coordinated the horseback riding day camp with a local Hippotherapy facility in an effort to keep kids active in the summer. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Shelley Gregory)

Fairchild EFMP youth ride into summer on horseback

Published June 30, 2015
By 2nd Lt. Shelley Gregory
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Six children enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program from Team Fairchild attended a five-day horseback riding day camp in the Spokane, Washington, area June 22 to 26, where they learned how to interact with horses and spent the mornings riding in an arena and outside on trails. In the afternoons, they made crafts to take home.

The EFMP coordinated the five-day summer camp with a local Hippotherapy facility. Hippotherapy has the rider do activities on horseback that provide a foundation to improve neurological function and sensory processing. This foundation can then be generalized to a wide range of everyday activities. Horseback riding also helps build muscle, improves joint movement and enhances balance and coordination.

"I wanted to offer families with dependents who are enrolled in the EFMP an opportunity to experience something they may not have the opportunity to experience in a safe, fun and nurturing environment," said Steve McMullen, the Fairchild AFB EFMP coordinator. "When I look at the pictures and videos I took over the course of the five days, I can see improvements in each of the participants."

This is the second year the EFMP has held a Hippotherapy camp for Fairchild families enrolled in the program.

"My hope is that some of the skills learned during the camp will carry over into the lives of the participants and that they might find something they enjoy that will enrich their lives for many years to come," McMullen said.

For more information about the Exceptional Family Member Program and upcoming events, contact Steve McMullen at steven.mcmullen@us.af.mil or (509) 247-2246.