Image 1 / 2
x-year-old Madeline enjoys a lesson at Reins from Above. Born with cerebral palsy and unable to sit up, speak or walk, Madeline has gained strength from the therapeutic riding center in the three years she’s been riding and can now sit up on her own.
Reins from Above, a therapeutic riding center located on Highway 42 several miles outside of Clayton, runs solely on volunteers. Stacey Ryder of Cleveland is the founder, director, instructor and barn manager. She saw a need in this area after she began volunteering with Horse and Buddy, a similar program in Apex. Reins from Above was formed in 2005 on a farm in the Cleveland School area. Within three months of opening, there were already 23 students taking lessons.
Reins from Above serves children ages three and up and adults with a variety of special needs, including autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, mental health issues and behavior challenges. For those struggling with physical disabilities, horseback riding helps them to gain core strength and muscle strength. Those with mental disabilities learn to stay on task and follow directions, as well as gain improved confidence and self-esteem.
“It’s really a God thing,” said Ryder. “I don’t know how it works, but it does, because I see it every day with these kids.”
Today, the center has found its permanent home on 22 acres on Millstream Farms in Kenly. They now have about 30 students, and there are more on the way. Reins from Above will begin partnering with the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities. The Center will be bringing out 10 children once a week to take lessons, and to help cover the growing enrollment, they will need about 12 volunteers to pitch in once a week over a 10 week period.
Volunteers don’t need to have horse experience or training, just a willingness to pitch in and train as you go. Duties will include side walking and leading the horses, grooming and caring for the horses, cleaning stalls, pulling weeds and more.
Ryder welcomes volunteers young and old and from all walks of life. She said they get many college and high school students helping out, some for volunteer experience and others for classroom or senior project requirements.
Corrie Walters, a sophomore at Clayton High School, searched for therapeutic riding centers online when she was doing research for a school essay. She began volunteering with Reins from Above a year ago. An aspiring veterinarian, she hopes to open a riding center of her own someday. In the meantime, she devotes several days a week helping out and working with the students.
“I like just seeing how big of a difference it makes in the students,” she said when asked what she loves most about volunteering.
Those differences are evident to the parents of the students as well.
Take Madeline – a six-year-old with cerebral palsy and a sweet smile, she has been riding at Reins from Above for almost three years. When she was younger, she couldn’t walk, sit up or talk. Now, she’s stronger, can sit up on her own and walk with assistance.
“She loves the horse therapy,” said Madeline’s mother, Citlalli Vela of Garner. “This has been very very good for her. She’s become stronger, and when there are other kids here in the same situation as her, it’s special.”
Greg Cockrell has seen the improvements in his son as well. Five-year-old Sam was diagnosed with autism at age two.
The Cockrell family lives only two miles from the center and after driving by countless times decided to enroll Sam in lessons a year ago.
According to Cockrell, the first lesson didn’t get off to the greatest start, as Sam was afraid of having things on his head and screamed at the attempts to put a helmet on him. These days, Sam can’t wait to get to his lessons every week.
“It’s helped his social skills, coordination and balance,” said Cockrell. “I can definitely see a difference in him, and it’s been a positive experience all around. Everyone here is so patient. I’ll be stressing out about the way he’s acting, and they’re just as calm as can be. He’ll actually listen to them.”
Beth Cohen was looking for an alternative therapy for her daughter Salena when she signed up at Reins from Above. Salena has low muscle tone and cognitive delays, as well as trouble with her core strength. After riding for almost two years, her legs have become stronger, she can stand up for longer periods of time and even engage in a little “weight lifting,” toting around her baby brother Robert.
“It’s an alternative to physical therapy, because that can get really boring,” said Cohen.
Unfortunately, since therapeutic riding is considered an alternative therapy, it is not covered by insurance. However, there are some organizations out there that will help with the cost, as well as the opportunity for people or businesses to sponsor a child for a few lessons.
“I just don’t want people to think cost is a deterrent, because there are ways of paying for these lessons,” said Ryder.
A great way for local businesses to get involved is to sponsor one of the center’s 14 horses for a year. The cost is $100 a month, and businesses will receive their name on the horse’s stall, as well as a certificate of appreciation at the year’s end. The deadline to get involved with this program is Oct. 15.
“I would encourage people to just come out and see for themselves, or go to our web site and look at the pictures,” said Ryder. “Seeing the kids progress the way they do is just amazing. This is a fun thing these kids can do - they can’t do football or cheerleading or dance, but they can ride a horse.
“It gets them out of the doctor’s offices and therapy rooms. It just so happens that there are benefits to riding, but these kids don’t know it - they’re just having fun.”
And even if you can’t give of your time, Reins from Above is always accepting monetary donations, which are tax deductible. But the smiles that beam from the faces of these children will become the only repayment you need.
Post a Comment
