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Sheri was having trouble posting this news to share with us all, so I am doing it for her.
Cheers, Frankie
Equine therapy program helps kids
Situated on six acres at 7317 Ave. P, the center includes a covered arena, tack room, office, small pasture, barn and 10 therapy horses.
Founded in 2002 and funded through grants from the Children’s Fund of Houston as well as donations, fund-raisers and sponsorships from area businesses and individuals, the center utilizes the energy, time and vision of its founder and executive director, Sheri Holmes.
What began as an attempt to fill a gap left by the demise of Hope Therapy of Galveston has blossomed into a facility with a clear “flight plan” for the future.
Holmes became a certified therapeutic riding instructor in 2003. She has 20 years of experience teaching English and Western riding.
One day, a student asked if her 4-year-old cousin with cerebral palsy could ride the lesson horse, Faith. Two weeks later the child, who was wheelchair bound, had her first horseback ride. Holmes says she “grinned from ear-to-ear” the whole time.
As her mother placed the girl, who had never purposely verbalized, back into her wheelchair, the girl looked right at her and said, “Had fun.”
Shortly afterward, with the encouragement of her student, Holmes attended a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association conference in Baton Rouge to learn about equine-assisted therapy.
“I was hooked,” Holmes said.
She began working at Hope Therapy and remained there until it closed six months later. With no other facilities in the area for the children, Holmes decided to start her own.
Ongoing and new expenses include horse board and care, repairs to the arena from Hurricane Rita, a proposed therapy room and a new barn with stalls for the horses. Volunteers clean stalls, wash and groom horses, clean tack, lead lesson horses and help with fund-raising.
Jamie Thibodeaux, barn manager and instructor, volunteers her time and expertise as a certified therapeutic riding instructor. Donna Lindsley, a diagnostician at Clear Creek Independent School District, volunteers her time to develop the special education program.
Equine-assisted therapy is used to help people with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Riding a horse promotes balance, coordination, relaxation and teamwork. But, for the children who come to Flying Free Equitherapy, fun tops the list.
“I look forward to it all week,” 9-year-old Pete Weisner said.
Pete’s mother, Jolie Weisner, wanted “gentle horses and a place where my son would have a safe and positive first experience.”
She says she found just what she wanted at Flying Free Equitherapy.
“Riding helps him focus,” Jolie Weisner said.
Pete Weisner, who suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder, says his favorite horse is Faith, a 14-year-old chestnut Quarter Horse mare who was one of two horses that helped launch the therapy program. Weisner won a first-place buckle for barrel racing at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in February on the other horse, Capacina, a 20-year-old purebred Arabian mare.
Therapy horses receive special training, and patient, gentle dispositions are a must.
Besides the two founding horses, there is Chip, an Appaloosa gelding, R.J., a Welsh pony, Trovador, a chestnut Peruvian Paso gelding and three miniature horses named Jewel, Shadow and Dakota.
The two newest additions to the stable are Haflingers from Ohio, a matched pair of stocky golden draft-pony mares named Pearl and Kristy who were purchased with grant money. Used for therapy riding, they will also be used as cart horses for people unable to sit astride a horse’s back.
Special equipment allows riders with physical challenges to mount and ride a horse. Bareback pads, a vaulting surcingle with special handles, breakaway stirrups, colored “rainbow reins” and “bicycle reins” custom made from nylon webbing and rubber handgrips make staying on the horse’s back safer and easier.
For those who cannot ride or are too large for the therapy horses, there is Lily the “Equicizer,” a horse simulator.
A custom-built mounting ramp allows wheelchair-bound riders to mount safely. English and Western Saddles, bridles, harness and other regular horse tack are used, as well.
Logan Willard, 9, and his brother Ronan, 4, are autistic and come once a week for their riding lessons. Their mother, Tammy Willard, saw an advertisement and decided to give it a try.
“The therapy helps with self-confidence, muscle tone, teamwork and balance,” Tammy Willard said. “So far, it’s helped Logan a lot with his confidence to do other things.”
Beverly Arnold’s daughter Sara is 10 and has Rett Syndrome, which renders her nonverbal and unable to stop wringing her hands.
“On the first day, she connected with the horse.” Beverly Arnold said. “She reached out to the horse and the horse lowered its head and it was an instant connection.”
But the best part of the therapy for Beverly Arnold is the progress her daughter has made since she started riding last November.
“Sara is more alert; she’s awesome out there.” Beverly Arnold said. “It gives us an incentive to be proud of her.”
For more information about Flying Free Equitherapy call (409) 925-1942 or visit the Web site www.flyingfree.org.
Information on equine-assisted therapy is available from NARHA a national nonprofit organization that promotes and issues accreditation for equine therapy.
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