Using horses as a form of therapy allows almost all children and adults, a fun way to interact with others while becoming stronger. The heat from the horse helps to relax the muscles of the rider, who is generally only on a saddle blanket and a bareback pad. This allows the horse's body heat to transfer to the rider, and then the leg muscles relax, as does the trunk. The gait of a therapy horse is smooth and even. It stimulates the same muscles that people use to walk. A student who interacts with his or her horse may extend this interaction to others and form meaningful relationships with people. Building a relationship with an animal is very rewarding in many respects; for a person with an emotional, social or psychological disability, the trust and loyalty of an animal demonstrates to the student how important he or she is; they may then apply this newly-acquired self-esteem to personal relationships.  A horse may also help a person feel in control of his or her situation, since in dealing with horses there is a direct relationship between action and reaction. Riding a horse is also a unique experience, and it helps empower a person, enabling them to connect with others on a personal level. Our program at Marvin Picollo benefits all of our students who are able to ride. We strive to accommodate all of our students and provide them the opportunity to experience this wonderful program.