Gabriella Agostaro, a senior at Rondout Valley High School, knew that the final presentation would be the most challenging part of WISE. In order to help improve the special education program at her school through a horse therapy WISE project, she would have to confront her fear of public speaking. But after seeing the communication challenges of some of the students in the special education program, Gabby realized she could rise to the occasion and overcome her shyness.

“The students taught me to be more outgoing and more talkative,” said Gabby. Being confident in who you are is “how opportunities fall into your lap and help you succeed in the future.”

Coming out of her shell was worth it. Gabby made a difference to other people and learned valuable public speaking skills. And she could not have done it without the support from the life skills students, her mentor, the WISE community and her school.

Horse Therapy Improves Special Education

Rondout has a large special education program. The self-contained life skills classroom is designed to support students with severe cognitive and/or adaptive behavior deficits. With disabilities ranging from autism to language delays and physical handicaps, these students are the most challenged when it comes to academic and social learning.

While working with the life skills students, Gabby observed that they “spend a lot of time worrying about stuff that we normally would not worry about.”

Gabby believed that horse therapy, a type of therapy that involves the use of an equine environment, would be a good way to give the students “a sense of relaxation” and help them overcome social fears. Interacting with animals, specifically horses, can help individuals with disabilities gain advances in many types of daily tasks such as trust, communication skills, and learning boundaries.

The Field Trip to Stone Wall Farms

Gabby set up a day trip for the life skills students to visit Stone Wall Farms in Sullivan County, which hosts the BOCES Animal Science vocational-tech program. Barbara Moran, who owns and operates the facility with her husband Ed, was “more than willing to take on her task.”

On the bus ride to the farm, the students were energetic and enthusiastic.

Under Barbara’s guidance, they learned about how to care for the horses on the farm and how to be safe around them. The students also had the opportunity to ride the horses.

Barbara was “such a great instructor for the day,” said Gabby. “I truly could not have asked for anyone better.” From quickly learning the students’ names to making sure they were always safe, Barbara “knew exactly how to handle the different needs of the students while also making the learning experience very fun and entertaining.”

After the trip to the farm, the students were in for another surprise: ice cream at Panda Parlor, an ice cream parlor and restaurant in Liberty, NY. The students were able to cool off and continue practicing their conversation skills by ordering ice cream.

The Outcome

Even the one student who did not want to participate was smiling by the end of the day. She turned out to be the first student to brush the horses, and she said she “wanted to go back” when the farm visit was over.

“Everyone seemed happy,” said Gabby after the field trip.

Because Gabby believes that the students will “feel relaxed and gain social skills” if they continue horse therapy, she would like to see the program continue.

“In order for this type of therapy to be implemented, I believe we must collaborate with the Sullivan County BOCES to see if we can come up with a program that allows these students to travel to this farm,” said Gabby.

“If we find this therapy is not economically feasible,” Gabby continued, “I believe we should consider dog therapy, because there are different groups that will come right into the school with the dogs, cutting out the traveling costs.”

“WISE has definitely helped me prepare for college”

Gabby was able to give something to the life skills students at Rondout Valley and received as much as and more than she gave.

“WISE has definitely helped me prepare for college,” said Gabby, who is graduating high school a year early.

One of the main things she learned through WISE was that “there are some great people out there who are very willing to help you achieve your goal, so you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Gabby will take all the life lessons and skills she learned with her when she attends Emmanuel College in Boston, where she has big plans. In addition to majoring in neuroscience and participating in track and field and intramural sports, Gabby hopes to continuing working with students with disabilities.