Five year old, Brilyn Sands, sits atop "Empress" and learns the basics of riding a horse, as he undergoes therapy for
Asperger's Syndrome.
Shadow Ranch
Offering Therapeutic Hope
For Those With Disabilities
by: Bobby McDonald
Travel 10 miles west of Sulphur Springs, in the community of Brashear, and you'll see Shadow Ranch, located on the north side of Interstate-30. Shadow Ranch is one of the newest businesses opening in Hopkins County and are all about giving hope to individuals with disabilities. "We treat individuals from age 5 to 85," advised Marion Cox, Executive Director at Shadow Ranch. "We strive to help those with disabilities through their interaction with riding a horse, by teaching them balance, correct posture, and motor skills, that are developed as they learn to ride horses!"
"Shadow Ranch is a SAFE riding school, where we do not harm, but work to strengthen the individual, through their interaction with animals and other people, as they go about learning to ride the horse," expressed Cox. "I've always had a deep love for horses and children, so putting the two together was a natural, especially when I learned that learning to ride could help those with disabilities!"
"We work with the whole body, striving to improve eye coordination, balance, and to build confidence in the individual," continued Cox. "It's a cruel world out there, especially for some children, who must learn to work around disabilities. However, we're not all about kids. We have stroke victims who must learn to overcome paralysis and gain mobility again. Through concentrated riding, they can improve their balance and mobility!"
"We have individuals playing ball on horses, learning to properly sit on the horse, and to just balance themselves as we take them around on horseback," relates Cox. "We work with the whole body and mind, and consistency is everything, learning by repetition!"
Cox and her staff do work with those who are in wheel chairs and have the facilities to aid them in mounting the horse. Before one is eligible for riding at Shadow Ranch, they must have approval from their doctor and diagnosed with a disability that can be improved with the therapeutic riding.
"We have adopted the NARHA Safety Standards here at Shadow Ranch," continued Cox. "They have over 40 years of offering safety for therapeutic riding!"
When asked about locating her stables in Hopkins County, Cox expressed that first, she was a native of Texarkana and had attended high school at Liberty-Eylau. "Knowing I wanted to operate a therapeutic riding stable, I began searching for the needs in the area, stated Cox. "And, once I attended one of the local Handicapable Rodeos, I knew that this was the perfect place to open a stable, such as mine!"
Nick Cotten, Facilities Manager at Shadow Ranch, leads a saddled,
"Empress" to the mounting area, for Brilyn's riding lesson.
Nick Cotton is Facilities Manager at Shadow Ranch and works with the individuals riding, as well. "Nick keeps all of our equipment and the facilities safe, as well as serving as an aid during our riding instructions," allowed Cox. "He's always looking for a better and safer way of doing everything at Shadow Ranch."
"The movement of the horse is almost like the 'human gait,'" expresses Nick. "When someone can sit horseback and gain mobility, it improves their entire outlook on life! We're just striving to offer them this ray of hope in riding and becoming mobile again!"
Cox and other staff members at Shadow Ranch explain to Brilyn
how he will be mounting the horse for his riding lesson.
"Our horses are rescue horses, all except one, that was born, this past spring, on the place. So, we're giving the horses a 'second chance' and hope at life too!" continues Nick. "We're constantly having people want to give us horses, but almost 70-75% of them don't work, because our horses must meet rigid temperament requirements and the lessons are physically demanding on them, too! Many horses are too old to withstand the riding that is necessary in therapeutic riding classes."
Brilyn mounts for his first horse ride at Shadow Ranch, aided by the staff!
....And, he's up and going!!!
Enter a grand opening event at Shadow Ranch, and attending that day was Keisha Wilcher of Como, Texas. "I was in the crowd, when they opened, the week before Labor Day, and suddenly, I thought they might could aid my grandson," remembers Keisha. "My grandson, Brilyn Sands, is a first grader at Como-Pickton and has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. It's a condition that is 'akin' to autism in its mildest forms, and affects the child's ability to socialize and communicate effectively with others."
"Brilyn has difficulty focusing on some things, and can be compulsive about other things," advised Keisha. "There is no cure for Asperger's but after consulting with the staff at Shadow Ranch, they and his doctor felt that he could benefit. Brilyn had never ridden a horse, but it was worth a try. He mounted "Empress," the beautiful buckskin horse at Shadow Ranch, and quickly the staff had him counting each of her steps, that gave him something in which to focus on, and soon he was walking around the arena, counting and working with the commands that he'd been given. We saw progress immediately and before long, the staff had him placing a hand on the shoulders of each of the helpers, and he was perfectly balanced between them, as the horse moved beneath him! It was a miracle!"
"Testing has revealed that Brilyn's I.Q., is 'off the charts,' but he has problems socializing and communicating with teachers and other students in class," continued Keisha. "Shadow Ranch has given us hope that he will be able to learn to communicate better through his riding the horses and compensate for his disabilities, as he shares with the horses. I'm praying that he will continue to learn and interact with the horses and staff, here at Shadow Ranch!"
Soon, Brilyn is riding correctly balanced, as he makes his way around the arena, at Shadow Ranch.
"Shadow Ranch has definitely given us hope for Brilyn!" expressed Wilcher. "He is already learning and making progress! When you have a loved one diagnosed with a problem, and you finally find someone that understands his needs and diagnosis, it gives you an entirely new hope on life. We'd struggled with school counselors and others who didn't recognize the problem, and it's great to be working in a positive environment, where people understand!"
"I can only speak for our experience, but I'm seeing progress already and have a renewed hope, that we're going to 'beat' this difficulty and learn, despite those who didn't understand the problem!" affirmed Keisha. "I'm excited about the progress at Shadow Ranch!"
"That's what we're all about, giving hope to individuals and their families, through therapeutic riding lessons, as our patients learn to interact with the horse and our staff!" expressed Cox. "We treat each individual, as an individual, and assess the needs and the conditions, to work a plan that will give them hope!"
"To see the smiles on Brilyn's face and the sense of accomplishment that he receives from
riding the horse, is worth all the time and effort, to get him to riding lessons," expresses Keisha
Wilcher. "It's a miracle, happening!"
Keisha Wilcher related that she will be attending a seminar on October 28th and 29th, in Dallas, hosted by actress Temple Grandin, the Academy Award winning actress, who dealt with symptoms of Autism, as she was growing up. Grandin recently starred in the winning movie "Temple Grandin," and continues to raise awareness for autism in all that she does. In the movie, Grandin tells of her struggles with those who did not understand her disabilities and begs people to take note. The seminar is entitled "Autism Aspberger's Super Conference," sponsored by Future Horizons For Autism, and will help to open doors for those who struggle with the condition. Grandin, who has been voted as one of "Time" magazine's 100 most influential women in the world, and has her Ph. D., has won 15 Emmy Award nominations and states, "Autism gave me a Vison...now I must give it a Voice!"
______
