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Horse therapy benefits the disabled to recover some abilities

By RHETT MORGAN
World Staff Writer

MIAMI, Okla. — Christal Clary is quick to extol the merits of EquiSpirit Academy.

And rightly so.

The equine therapy program for disabled children has benefited both her sons, Braden, 14, and Gavin, 12.

"Nurses, we kind of tend to think: 'That's kind of crazy. That's not going to do anything,' " said Clary, a registered nurse. "But I'm a full-on believer now. It's just been amazing."

Success stories such as hers are the reason Northeastern A&M College partnered with EquiSpirit of Jay to bring the program to Ottawa County this spring, said Tim Faltyn, NEO's vice president of academic affairs.

"This is a dream come true for us," Faltyn said. "Part of our role at the college is to give back to the community. This is a way to really impact people in a measurable way."

Braden received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and epilepsy about 12 years ago.

Unable to dress or bathe himself, he needs total care, Clary said.

"His mind is all there," she said of Braden, a freshman in high school. "His body just doesn't cooperate."

Gavin was 3 when he was mauled by the family's bull mastiff. He has endured four facial reconstructive surgeries and has had to relearn how to walk, talk and eat.

Clary took her boys to EquiSpirit in June, and the results have been dramatic.

Braden's speech and posture have improved and his increased flexibility has made him easier to dress, Clary said.

A post-traumatic stress disorder patient with separation anxiety, Gavin now is off his medications. Since starting the program, he hasn't had a night terror or panic attack, Clary said.

"My old kid is back," she said.

EquiSpirit at NEO will be among 700 centers across the United States that are members of North America Riding for the Handicapped Association Inc. The program is led by Kristal and Gary Brummet, both certified instructors with NARHA.

The effects of the therapy help those with disabilities, specifically those with cerebral palsy, mental disabilities, spina bifida, autism, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, attention deficit disorder or those who have suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

"When you have somebody on a horse, it's the closest thing in terms of the movement of their body that they can get to actually walking," Faltyn said.

"We try to get them as close to bareback as possible because the heat helps the riders kind of warm up to that.

"It has to do with the musculature of a horse and the musculature of a human. When they come together, it's exactly like you and I walking across this flat ground."

Faltyn became a believer of the program after volunteering at another EquiSpirit venue. That prompted him to write a $6,000 grant application to Rotary International, which provided a specialized lift and ramp to help students get onto the horse.