INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — With the same spirit of optimism and determination exhibited in the children’s book classic The Little Engine that Could, the all-volunteer staff and board of Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast are chugging their way into a 20th year, providing therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with physical, developmental or emotional disabilities.
Originally founded in 1992, its most stalwart volunteers Vickie and Dr. Richard Penly got on board in 2004, with Richard donating his time as an instructor and Vickie taking over the reins as its program director.
The Penlys were still living in Texas when their pediatrician recommended a similar Special Equestrian program for daughter Michelle, then-4.
With her constant grin and infectious giggle, it’s no wonder that 27-year-old Michelle, a regular volunteer at the barn, was also hired to work as a people greeter at the Sebastian Wal-Mart.
“Horses are her life now; it’s all she thinks about,” says Vickie Penly. “She goes to Sun Up for classes and she drives. I never thought that would happen. I swear it’s because of horses. She even pulls a horse trailer; she knew I wouldn’t learn so she learned. The drivers’ education teacher told us she was one of the safest drivers he had.”
“I like everything about horses; I ride every day,” Michelle admits. “I’m training a 5-year-old quarter horse to be good with special equestrians. Hottie is her name. She spooks a lot and I train her to be better with kids. She’s not here yet; she’s not ready yet. She needs to be a little bit older.”
Vickie Penly explained that while they have been using older horses, which tend to be gentle and patient, they frequently have foot problems which require expensive shoeing, and they can only be used a few years before being set out to pasture.
The barn and its three rings are bustling with activity on a Saturday morning, as families arrive with children eagerly looking forward to therapy disguised as play time with their favorite horses.
Lessons are also given Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings to accommodate various schedules.
“A lot of our students stay; we have some who started when this program began and are still riding. It’s fun to see them grow up,” says Vickie Penly.
She and the instructors work with parents to devise lesson plans and goals for students to help with physical development, self-esteem and independence.
Many are non-verbal or have difficulty speaking, others are lacking core strength or have paralytic limbs.
“Noah started verbalizing a lot more after coming here,” says Todd Bank of his 6-year-old son Noah. Noah has cerebral palsy and has been riding almost three years.
“He wasn’t talking at all beforehand. I think the interaction with the volunteers and the coaches has brought him out a lot more socially. Walk-on was the first thing he learned to say. He really enjoys it; it’s helped his overall development.”
Special Equestrian’s three instructors, Richard Penly, Darlene (Dar) Dennis, and Joan Swiderski have been trained, tested and certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, formerly known as North American Riding for the Handicapped.
“It takes two or three volunteers every time we give lessons,” explains Penly. “One to lead the horse, and sometimes one on either side of the rider, depending on the students’ balance.”
Volunteers also groom and saddle the horses and feed them twice each day. The organization leases the facility, located in a pastoral area west of 66th Avenue, but the land has been for sale since they moved there in 2006, and they are continually worried about having to find another location.
“That’s one thing we really need; we wish we had our own place,” says Penly. A recent grant allowed them to have a ramp built so that wheelchair bound riders can be rolled up and then lifted onto the horse.
“We have some that use walkers and go up the ramp,” explains Penly. “I think our oldest rider is in her 60s. She’s physically disabled but she’s always loved horses and always wanted to ride. It’s very hard to get her on but she just loves it.”
Since his 13-year-old daughter Milan began riding three years ago, Tom Carvery has seen a remarkable improvement. Milan had gone into a six-week diabetic coma, and when she came out needed to relearn how to walk, talk and eat.
“It was like starting with a baby; before then she had been a run-around 9-year-old kid with no issues. Prior to that she rode constantly; but with the illness she lost everything,” explains Carvery. “She had no core strength; she couldn’t walk, couldn’t stand up straight or sit up for long periods of time. It has helped her tremendously. Her endurance from working the horses is incredible.”
Although still dealing with one weakened side, there has been marked improvements in Milan’s core strength and stability, enough to have earned her first and second place ribbons in Special Olympics Equestrian competitions here and in West Palm Beach.
“They work on whatever weaknesses the children have here. It’s just not a matter of working the horse. There’s therapy involved,” adds Carvery. “The volunteers are just incredible; they’re so patient with the children. You can tell they really care about what they do here. And the horses are so kind and gentle; it’s just amazing the way they seem to know. I can’t explain it. It’s just a blessing out here for these kids.”
Susie LaCorte echoed his remark, having seen significant progress with her 6-year-old daughter Natalie, born with complications as a result of a premature birth.
“What this program has done for her, with core stability and balance, has been amazing. When she first started she was slumped over and they had to hold her up,” says LaCorte. “It does take time, but over the last two years we’ve seen a big improvement. I think that if more people knew about the program and saw what it was dong for these kids, they would want to donate to it.”
“And she likes it, so she doesn’t know she’s working. To her it’s recreation; she just thinks she’s having fun. But it’s really therapy. This program has been such a blessing for us. I don’t think people realize the costs of having a special needs child. When people donate to these programs it helps so much.”
Insurance does not cover Special Equestrian lessons, which cost $15 per half hour. The organization is primarily funded through donations and grants.
“I’ve seen thing that have just thrilled me with our young children,” says instructor Dar Dennis. “We’ve heard children speak that have never spoken before. It inspires me; that’s why I’m here. We had a breakthrough with Natalie [LaCorte] about three or four weeks ago. I was trying to get her to say whoa; she’s never spoken here before. At the end of the lesson she actually said ‘whoa.’ That why we come here; for things like that. It was so incredible.”
“When she said ‘whoa’ I had tears in my eyes,” agrees Angie Jones, a 5-year volunteer. “That was a big accomplishment. I tell you what, this is the only thing that would bring me out in the summer heat – the horses and the kids. Their transformation is just incredible.”
