Every student who plans to earn privileges or even graduate from Wayland High School must complete a certain amount of community service hours. For many, this means taking off a couple hours every so often during the year to volunteer their time, but for senior Jessica Whittemore, volunteering takes on a much bigger role.

Towards the end of the summer, Whittemore came across Love Lane barn in Lincoln. She did some research and began to volunteer her time at the barn where she instructs therapeutic riding lessons.

This program, which started in 1988, is designed to combine occupational, physical and speech therapy with the fun that comes with riding horses. The lessons can aid those who need improvement in areas ranging from muscle tone and fine motor coordination to language skills, spatial awareness and self-esteem.

The students taught at the barn are typically children and young adults who have suffered or currently suffer from disorders including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury.

“The main reason I started volunteering at Love Lane was because I could combine something I loved with a program that would help others in need. Not only could I help assist them in learning how to ride a horse, but I could also help them try to have fun and just be themselves,” said Whittemore.

Whittemore’s love of horses began at a young age; living in New Hampshire, she grew up with two horses that were kept in a friend’s barn.

“I can’t remember a time when horses weren’t a part of my life,” said Whittemore. “I pretty much grew up in a saddle; I’ve been riding horses since I was four years old.”

As she got older, Whittemore began to compete in horse riding competitions, and by age eight, she was the State Champion of New Hampshire.

“As I got older, competing was no longer my passion when it came to horses, but I knew I didn’t want to give it up altogether. That is what drove me to instructing therapeutic riding lessons,” said Whittemore.

When the school year started, Whittemore decided to continue volunteering her time at Love Lane, where she goes every Wednesday after school.

A typical Wednesday afternoon for Whittemore means arriving at the barn after school, tacking the horses used for lessons and walking around with the kids during their riding sessions.

During her time at the barn, she assists in teaching three therapeutic lessons with her students Jake, Ian and Elizabeth. During their sessions, she focuses on helping her students with muscle improvement, speech and communication as well as many other topics.

Each of the lessons at Love Lane are unique to the student. For one of her students who rides for speech therapy, Whittemore tries to talk to him as much as possible and teach him about the horses and the equipment. For other students in physical therapy, the teachers at Love Lane have them utilize their body as much as possible with different stances on the horse.

“Over the weeks I’ve gotten to know the kids a lot better, and I’ve began to really make a connection with them,” said Whittemore.

As the students progress in their lessons, they try more challenging exercises or are allowed to ride the horse without as many restrictions. For example, as some students advance, they are allowed to take the lead off the horse.

With practice and encouragement, “the students turn into really strong riders,” said Whittemore.

For Whittemore, starting to volunteer at Love Lane was as an easy and welcoming process.

“Anyone can do it, whether you have prior experience with horses or know next to nothing. It’s a learning experience after all, for both the students and yourself,” said Whittemore.