Working with invisible magic
It
was eighteen years ago that this riding therapy started under the direction of
Dr. Mary Ann Evans. They relocated in 1999 to the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian
Center on Refugio Road near the river. It is here that they have a fine
facility with a tack room, stalls for several horses and a spacious riding
ring.
Staffed
by angels, both four-footed and two-footed, the center uses the horse’s
strength and spirit to enhance the cognitive, physical, emotional and social
well-being of people with disabilities. And those disabilities can be severe.
They include amputations, autism, brain injuries, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome
and disorders with hearing, learning, speech, visual and emotional
disabilities, as well as spina bifida, multiple
sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and several other serious afflictions.
The
positive improvements to humans that result from their workouts with these
horses are not just the effects of wishful thinking. In fact, they are
recognized by the American Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
Associations. Instructors are certified by the North American Riding for the
Handicapped Association (NARHA)
Peggy
Fowler, who is the head instructor, started as a volunteer about eight years
ago. She told us, “I took the tests and instruction to become certified. The
only problem was that in spite of my strong desire to help others in this way,
I was not a rider. In fact, I was a bit
afraid of horses.
“But
riding was part of this job, so I gathered my courage and got ready to ride!
They brought out what must have been a thirty-eight-year-old pony that was as
slow as molasses,” she said. Realizing this was not going to be a rodeo, she
passed the test with flying colors.
“I
am humbled every day,” she said, “because the students, other instructors and
volunteers give me so much. The parents are so proud when they see their
disabled child actually riding on the back of a horse. Some of the parents have
limited incomes and so we raise money for scholarships and other needs.”
There
are myriad ways to get involved with this equine magic, even if you’re not a
rider. You can feed the horses or muck their stalls, help with fund raising, do
a bit of grounds work or even join the Board. Readers can help with the
scholarships by contacting the Director at 686-6739.
The
good feelings and loving atmosphere there is so strong that Peggy said, “The
emotion of seeing a severely disabled child become joyful over their
accomplishment is so powerful that, at one time or another, we have all cried.
Over the years, we have watched little children grow up to be adults that can
cope with life better because of this activity.”
Many
of the volunteers are accomplished riders themselves. Lynn Petch
is originally from Australia and just got her Master’s Degree in Psychology.
She volunteers to perform several different jobs that include leading the
horses around the ring with their precious cargoes, feeding the horses and
mucking out stalls.
“It’s
interesting that the more I connect with the internal consciousness of a horse,
the less I want to get on their backs and ride them. They are fascinating
friends,” she told us.
Volunteers
are so devoted that they come from Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc and even
Arroyo Grande. The clients are fragile and range from three years old to
eighty-six. Safety is always on everyone’s mind.
Sometimes,
clients arrive in wheelchairs, or are barely able to speak or coordinate their
arm and leg movements. Physical Therapists say that retardation and physical
handicaps are very challenging to work with.
But
in these cases, there is another source of help…there is a horse working with
you.
Sometimes
a child will come that is actually afraid of all animals. One child who was
autistic would actually not look at other human beings face to face. But after
some time had passed, he was found holding a horse’s head and looking into its
gentle eyes as he quietly talked to it.
The
therapeutic horses have been donated by loving people and are only accepted
after a thorough test for gentleness and reliability. Volunteers have observed
the amazing patience of these horses. Each one is accepted with appreciation
and receives excellent care.
Imaginative
exercises and games are used to engage the rider’s minds and bodies while they
are on their horses. In addition to guiding the horses around the ring, they
walk their horses between poles and place hoops over tall posts etc. Muscles
are strengthened, attention spans lengthen, confidence is built…pride arrives.
Parents
say that after a lesson, their child brightens and can have better language
skills and improved physical abilities. Since horses simulate walking, cerebral
palsy children can improve in their walking ability. Many of the children need
medication to sleep at night, but often pills are not needed for a peaceful
night’s sleep after a ride.
There
are presently thirty students, and among the volunteers and instructors are:
Director of the Volunteers Judy Bates; Jenny Alexander; Kim Blades; therapist
Mary Beth Johnson; Eileen Maraist; Lauren Swanson;
Jane Politte; Leanne Hall; Kathi
Hames; Lynn Petch; Ginger
Hahn (who was just proclaimed Volunteer of the Year); Ruth O’Neill; Lynn
Boland; Carolyn Hurst; Susan Lisenby; Susan
Featherstone; Laura Wilvert; and Kylie Kelleher, who
is a 12-year-old and the youngest of the volunteers. Rob and Vicki Hunt created
an informational video for the organization.
Each person who is involved with
this loving work has a favorite story of a child overcoming heartbreaking
obstacles. One favorite is about the child who had never spoken a word until
the day he blurted out, “horse.”