Mya’s Story
Mya loves her horsies!! Mya cannot speak or sign, but boy does a smile say a thousand words!!
Mya, also known as The Little Fighter, has had a tough go of things since very early in her life. She started fighting seizures at 6 weeks of age and has been fighting ever since (she is now 4 and a half). This fight has taken her to hospitals all over North America, in search of the one thing that would stop the seizures. Ultimately this journey took us to the Hospital for Sick Children in Torontowhere Mya had brain surgery when she was 18 months old.
When we decided to have the brain surgery performed to try and stop the seizures, we were told that it could potentially cause paralysis down the entire left side of Mya’s body. Immediately after surgery, you could tell right away that she was indeed paralyzed on the left side. While in the recovery room we would hold her left hand and just pray for it to squeeze back and give us a sign that things were going to come back for her. After many hours of waiting and praying, those little fingers started to squeeze and we knew that things were going to be ok.
Now if someone had told me then, that in just over 2 years Mya would begin horseback riding, I would have been a bit surprised. Well sure enough it happened and here we are, now 3 years later and almost a year since she first began horseback riding. While Mya’s surgery did not cure her seizures, it dramatically reduced them. Mya does not communicate in many ways, except when she is really happy and that huge smile beams brightly. One of the best ways for you to see that smile is when Mya is on her horse Faensi. When Mya first started riding she could only last about 5-10 minutes on Faensi and would very quickly become tired and need to stop. Over time she has become much stronger and now likes to ride Faensi as long as she can!
Before Mya started riding, she would always lay on her mats in the living room and she would spend countless hours trying to sit up on her own, but was never able to do it without her Mom or Dad giving her a little help. Since the riding she has developed much more trunk strength and has finally been able to sit up on her own. This simple act of independence has been huge for Mya. She is so proud of herself when she sits up! Most of the time she will lay back down just so she can sit up again! And almost every time you will see that same smile that all started with her best bud Faensi!
Luke’s Story
My name is Lenora and I am an intervener/caregiver for a young boy named Luke. An intervener is what Anne Sullivan was to Helen Keller. Back then, Anne was referred to as Helen’s teacher and like with Anne and Helen, I am Luke’s link to the world around him. Luke is a ten-year-old boy and Luke is deafblind. Luke has no vision and about 60dB hearing with his hearing aids in.
Deafblindness is an “information gathering” disability and without intervention or a link to the outside world, children with Deafblindness often end up isolated and withdrawn into their own little worlds and rarely come out to experience all that is available with just a little information and a lot of trust. A person with Deafblindness must be able to trust the person they are with for that information link to connect and flow back and forth. The reason I am giving all this information about Deafblindness, is so that you may have an understanding into just how amazing the horseback riding therapy can be.
Luke was once that child, curled up, rocking and isolated from the outside world around him. I have been in Luke’s life since he was about 18months old and he has lived with my family and me for the past year and a half, receiving 24-7 intervention and life’s experiential learning. We have had a miraculous learning curve together and the curve is still definitely heading straight up!
At one time Luke would not venture outside, touch soft cuddly animals (real or toys), or explore beyond the rooms of a familiar house. After pre-school and then on to public school, Luke began a new journey of both needing to trust others along with learning that the world is much bigger and has far more interesting things in it than he previously knew about or even imagined.
One of those things was animals. Although Luke may have fleetingly and even accidentally, touched a cat or a dog, he really was not interested in what they were about. In grade one, Luke went to a farm on a field trip, climbed a fence to pet a calf…and liked it! We caught it on film and it was fantastic. The following summer we went downtown and he patted a horse from the horse and buggy tours and although not too keen, he did like the idea that I had to lift him up to pet the horse. The concept of ‘big’ gained new meaning.
By the time Luke was in grade three, he had tried many new things and yet something was missing….and in the winter of 2006 we learned what that was. Horseback riding!
Luke’s introduction to the world of horses, large barns, safety belts, helmets and boots went surprisingly well. He was not able to wear the helmet he brought with him…and he got over that. He did get to wear his new gumboots and squish in the mud…he thought that was funny. The smells were overwhelmingly wonderful from the hay to the tack room and even the manure! It is great to find a place that can come back instantly to your olfactory memory like a barn with horses, you can tell where you are as soon as the car door opens…and Luke did just that!
Luke had only begun speaking five months before coming to horseback riding and within his first three lessons; he could name his horse and the day of the week that his lesson was on. He began stringing together sentences like; “On Wednesday go horseback riding” and “Ride on Faensi” and “Walk on”. He even could name his side walkers! All of these wonderful experiences and I have not even gotten to the part where he is actually on the horse yet! Amazing!
On to the horse…well that was an entire orientation and mobility lesson in itself. From going up the ramp, to where to place his cane, stand and wait, lift your right leg over etc. Luke has learned so much more about directional clues by using left and right, forward and behind…all of these terms crucial to him for safety and survival in that big world he is learning to enjoy so much. For a blind person, let alone someone who is Deafblind, a sense of direction is imperative for the ability to locate where you are within relation to other people and/or places and it is esteem building and allows for independence and choice.
Physically riding the horse has given Luke a sense of wonder about the size of the animal that a horse is, helps with his posture and has allowed him to make more sense of his usable hearing. In the beginning, Luke used an FM system to connect the side walker’s voice directly into his ears, thus eliminating the background sounds of the other riders and the instructor’s voice. He could not discern who was talking to him back then. The disadvantage of the FM system is that he does not get any information about the other people and horses in the barn, and where everyone is in relation to him. In recent weeks, Luke has gone without the FM system and relied only on his ability to focus on his side walkers voice and is doing it successfully. Yet another incredible skill that Luke can use to gain more independence in the world.
The volunteer side walkers are fantastic! The program could not run without them and they are so attentive to each individual riders need and are amazingly patient and accommodating. They have gained Luke’s trust. Very impressive.
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
Helen Keller 1880-1968
With gratitude,
Lenora Spencer
Kelsey’s Story
Kelsey Jane was born early at 28 weeks, a 2 lb 11 oz bundle of determination and stubbornness. She fought every day to gain a little weight and a little independence from the machines and tubes that helped her survive her early entry into this world. When we brought her home we were sure that most of her troubles were behind her and she would continue to thrive and grow. At her 6 month preemie check up we asked the doctors why her legs seemed to be less active that what we remembered her brother Jordan’s to be at that age. We soon discovered that she had been born with Spina Bifida but that it hadn’t been detected due to her small size at birth and the various other issues that preemies are born with.
We began gathering information on her birth defect and we were told that she would probably never walk; but apparently Kelsey, Dr Penny and the VTRA weren’t listening too well to that train of thought. Kelsey had a number of surgeries and procedures geared at making her life more comfortable and she went off to preschool at 3 and school at 5 years of age. When she began at Sangster Elementary we were informed that she could take part in horse back riding as part of her P.E. Her dad and I thought it was a great idea as we were always looking for things that Kelsey might be able to do, and that list did seem to be limited.
What we didn’t know is that what she would gain from what we thought would be just a fun activity would literally change her life.
For two years she rode the bus with her school aide Sandra to the VTRA and rode Lilly and Princess (Lilly was her favorite, don’t tell Princess) and her dad and I thought that she was enjoying a nice activity. What we didn’t know was that all the while her handlers, side walkers and Stella were developing her muscles and balance to a point where Dr Penny, her orthopedic surgeon, decided that he could do something about getting Kelsey upright. In the fall of 2007 she had some more surgery and Kelsey took her first steps in a walker in early 2008. 
Just after that she went back to riding with the VTRA and Lilly and has been there ever since. Not only did the riding enable Kelsey to get to the point where surgery would make a difference it has also increased her self-confidence and self esteem. She is the only child in her class that rides a horse and knows the lingo and for a child who gets left out of a lot of things this is something that she alone can do and be proud of. Kelsey has had many volunteers help her as horse handlers and side walkers over the last 4 years and every one of them Kelsey has considered a friend. Some have even exchanged phone numbers and have kept in touch with her.
The VTRA not only does wonders for a child’s physical needs but also enriches their lives through friendship, encouragement and a sense of belonging to a wonderful organization. We cannot thank Stella and the VTRA enough for what they accomplished with Kelsey and we hope that the future brings more good things for everyone.
Cole’s Story
From the very first lesson, Cole could not stop talking about his horse Dinah – It was love at first site! He said that she was the fastest horse in the stables and expressed to me that his favourite thing was trotting with her. Cole is on the Autism Spectrum and has ADHD. He struggles with anxiety and has difficulty in social interactions. The dedicated volunteers at the Victoria Riding for the Disabled Society have been teaching Cole how to care for and ride a horse, and with those skills they have given him so much more – He has learned how to be flexible and adapt to different situations and to face his fears – they have taught him that with perseverance and consistency he can achieve anything he puts his mind to. Over the last couple of years of riding, Cole’s confidence level has increased significantly and at the same time his anxiety has decreased. It was a proud moment for all of us to see Cole ride with such grace and confidence during the Horse Show. He was bursting with pride to be able to guide this very large but gentle animal around the ring and through the obstacle course. Words cannot express the joy that I felt in my heart to see him so happy and proud of his accomplishments. Thank you to all the VTRA volunteers and staff for all you’ve done for Cole!
Flora: a story of success!
In today’s world a child’s learning is serious business, particularly if you have a special needs child. In my daughter’s case: a special needs child who understands words- spoken and written – even though she cannot communicate verbally herself. A special needs child who needs help mastering routine tasks that the average child her age acquired long ago. Not to be deterred, she repeatedly keeps on trying to learn. Flora is also a special needs child whose eyes light up when any potential encounter with a fur or hair-covered animal is mentioned. Thankfully VTRA offers her just that.
Optimum play can be defined as offering physical and emotional learning, sensory development, use and development of language and expression, spatial awareness and social interaction while allowing for feelings of achievement.
Through Flora’s three years of riding with top-level, caring and sensitive instructors and volunteers at the VTRA, she has been offered this perfect form of engaging play. At the commencement of this program she didn’t even want to sit on a horse. Now my beautiful, lively, engaged and engaging special needs daughter is able to say “walk on” and “whoa” and signal “stop” and can use the reigns to direct her horse. It is why she is able to sit straight up and high in the saddle as she not only walks but also trots in unison with her horse. Not only that, she has also learned to change in sequence from reins to handle to reins, over the course of this exercise. Again these are simple tasks for many adults; but for small children or special needs persons they are more difficult still; and for those who are both young and have special needs, they are nothing short of monumental accomplishments!
VTRA offers the best type of learning: learning as play, with a horse – and a whole team of dedicated individuals behind them!
Laura Scott
Laura Scott and Joey
Hello everyone, my name is Laura Lisa Scott and I would like to share my experience with the VTRA.
I used to have a pony when I was little; we spent all our days together. I experienced trauma when I was a child which left me with post-traumatic stress disorder.
I had not been around horses for more than twenty five years when I ran into an ad looking for volunteers to help with the horses and riders at VTRA. I was excited and filled out the paper work immediately, was thrilled to be accepted as a horse handler, but quickly realized my disability was getting in the way. I was out of shape and felt too much pressure being responsible for the horse, the rider and the side walkers.
I knew this was still the spot I needed to be. I shared with the staff that I had a disability and asked if I qualified for becoming a participant in the program. I was accepted and started riding shortly thereafter.
This is when my true healing began. The moment I was in the saddle I was home, safe and at ease. The feel of the horse beneath me was a comfort; to be connected with such a majestic animal and to feel it move underneath me gave me the sense of such freedom.
My self-esteem lifted, my confidence grew and my heart began to open to those around me with the gift I had been given. On the nicer days we would go outside. To be outside and hear the horses nicker and the sound of their hooves or feel the sway of their walk, while being surrounded in nature felt truly healing. No matter how tired I was or depressed I felt, I always went to my classes and always left smiling, energized and happy.
I have healed in leaps and bounds. I am no longer on medication, I have my self-esteem back and I have confidence in myself and my heart is now open wide ready to assist other.
The program is much more than just the horses. The instructors are wonderful, giving each person their attention and guidance. Their exuberance and compassion don’t go unnoticed and add also to healing. The amount of organizing and patience this takes is remarkable and Sam, Liz and Kyrie are perfect for the jobs they have.
Now for the volunteers; they are committed, compassionate, and truly love what they do. Their job is a strenuous; to walk in sand for three hours, to be in contact with the rider at all times and never is there a grumble just smiles and encouragement.
The organizer Sue is always busy at her desk, piled with papers. She too is on the ball and a real benefit to the organization.
The total mix of all of these amazing people keep the organization running like a well-oiled machine. One could not do the job without the other. Energies complement one another and in my opinion they all deserve a standing ovation.
I went to the barn today and was greeted with smiles and welcomes. I saw my favourite horse. This is not just a therapeutic riding program; it’s a place where magic happens.
