Local Riding Program Proves 'Magical' For Those With Special Needs
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
The aptly-named "Magical Meadows" gives mentally and physically challenged youth and adults an opportunity to create physical and emotional connections by riding horses.
Established in October 2007, Magical Meadows is just outside of Warsaw on CR 375E. Magical Meadows is modeled after the 20-year-old Reigns of Life therapeutic riding program in South Bend.
The organizations both offer therapeutic riding for children and adults with emotional, physical and mental disabilities. Reigns of Life is a not-for-profit entity, and Magical Meadows currently is in the process of applying for not-for-profit status.
Tammy Stackhouse, with the help of husband Larry, started looking into opening the riding center about three years ago when she attended a workshop related to therapeutic riding.
With the encouragement of a friend, Cindy Hilgenberg, who has an autistic son, Corey, Tammy looked into the benefits of such a program and decided to pursue opening a facility to help special-needs people.
"It's not just a 'pony ride,'" Tammy said. "There is definitely a therapeutic benefit for the kids. It's amazing to watch the kids and how they respond (to the horses)."
Once the decision was made to open the facility, Tammy did much research and attended several training programs related to therapeutic riding.
Tammy traveled to Iowa, where she trained for many hours, then came back to Indiana and spent more than 25 supervised hours teaching in another facility.
Currently, Magical Meadows has two students, but since there is not an indoor arena yet, the students are not able to ride when weather conditions are bad. Eventually, an indoor facility will be built and therapy sessions can be held year-round.
"My goal is to soon be able to have the means to have a barn and provide (an indoor riding facility) for the kids," Tammy said. "Once that facility is up, we will be able to allow anyone to come out here, the Cardinal Center, cancer center, schools. We want to be able to open up to a vast number of people in the county."
Staff member and volunteer Brittany Bollman assists Tammy and Larry at the facility, in the barns and with students.
Initially, there are three volunteers per student per horse to ensure safety. As the students improve, they progress to different levels of the program as their skills warrant.
Corey, a 17-year-old senior at Wawasee High School who is autistic, was Tammy's first student. He started at the initial level of training last year. To date, Corey has completed the fourth phase of training, which includes trotting and navigating the horse through poles set up in a riding area at the facility. In previous phases, he worked on handling and balancing skills, learning terminology and posture.
"The way I think of it, is it's fun," Corey said. "(Learning) is more relaxing on the horses. Tammy is a great teacher."
Each phase is designed to take about six weeks, but students never progress to a higher level until they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready.
According to a flyer created for Magical Meadows, "The personal goals set for each rider vary as much as the riders do. Highly individualized lesson plans can improve physical strength, muscle tone, balance, mobility and hand-eye coordination which are some of the visibly enhanced skills. The more subtle improvements are increased self-esteem, self-control and self confidence."
Corey's parents, John and Cindy, have noticed a great amount of progress since he started the program. His balance has progressed and his communication skills and confidence levels have improved as well.
"This is a nice opportunity for kids who are limited in what their opportunities are," Cindy said. "Corey has become so much more confident (since starting the program), it is amazing to me."
Along with participating in the program, Corey plans to work for the facility in the future as well. Currently, he helps in the barn and assists Tammy around the facility. Once the indoor riding facility is up, Corey plans to help Tammy teach other students.
"The center is about abilities, not disabilities," Tammy said. "That's what we're about, the kids' abilities. (The skill levels range from) being physically held on the horse to riding without assistance."
The flyer states, "Our mission is to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of children and adults with special needs through therapeutic horseback riding. Magical Meadows is dedicated to encouraging positive mental attitudes, physical fitness, trust, self-confidence and independence to children and adults with special needs, and we are strongly committed to community outreach programs."
Eventually, Tammy would like to be able to offer scholarships so any special needs child can ride. Since the facility is not-for-profit, it will rely on donations and grants to stay afloat.
For more information or to make a donation to Magical Meadows, e-mail [email protected] or call 574-453-3918.[[In-content Ad]]
The aptly-named "Magical Meadows" gives mentally and physically challenged youth and adults an opportunity to create physical and emotional connections by riding horses.
Established in October 2007, Magical Meadows is just outside of Warsaw on CR 375E. Magical Meadows is modeled after the 20-year-old Reigns of Life therapeutic riding program in South Bend.
The organizations both offer therapeutic riding for children and adults with emotional, physical and mental disabilities. Reigns of Life is a not-for-profit entity, and Magical Meadows currently is in the process of applying for not-for-profit status.
Tammy Stackhouse, with the help of husband Larry, started looking into opening the riding center about three years ago when she attended a workshop related to therapeutic riding.
With the encouragement of a friend, Cindy Hilgenberg, who has an autistic son, Corey, Tammy looked into the benefits of such a program and decided to pursue opening a facility to help special-needs people.
"It's not just a 'pony ride,'" Tammy said. "There is definitely a therapeutic benefit for the kids. It's amazing to watch the kids and how they respond (to the horses)."
Once the decision was made to open the facility, Tammy did much research and attended several training programs related to therapeutic riding.
Tammy traveled to Iowa, where she trained for many hours, then came back to Indiana and spent more than 25 supervised hours teaching in another facility.
Currently, Magical Meadows has two students, but since there is not an indoor arena yet, the students are not able to ride when weather conditions are bad. Eventually, an indoor facility will be built and therapy sessions can be held year-round.
"My goal is to soon be able to have the means to have a barn and provide (an indoor riding facility) for the kids," Tammy said. "Once that facility is up, we will be able to allow anyone to come out here, the Cardinal Center, cancer center, schools. We want to be able to open up to a vast number of people in the county."
Staff member and volunteer Brittany Bollman assists Tammy and Larry at the facility, in the barns and with students.
Initially, there are three volunteers per student per horse to ensure safety. As the students improve, they progress to different levels of the program as their skills warrant.
Corey, a 17-year-old senior at Wawasee High School who is autistic, was Tammy's first student. He started at the initial level of training last year. To date, Corey has completed the fourth phase of training, which includes trotting and navigating the horse through poles set up in a riding area at the facility. In previous phases, he worked on handling and balancing skills, learning terminology and posture.
"The way I think of it, is it's fun," Corey said. "(Learning) is more relaxing on the horses. Tammy is a great teacher."
Each phase is designed to take about six weeks, but students never progress to a higher level until they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready.
According to a flyer created for Magical Meadows, "The personal goals set for each rider vary as much as the riders do. Highly individualized lesson plans can improve physical strength, muscle tone, balance, mobility and hand-eye coordination which are some of the visibly enhanced skills. The more subtle improvements are increased self-esteem, self-control and self confidence."
Corey's parents, John and Cindy, have noticed a great amount of progress since he started the program. His balance has progressed and his communication skills and confidence levels have improved as well.
"This is a nice opportunity for kids who are limited in what their opportunities are," Cindy said. "Corey has become so much more confident (since starting the program), it is amazing to me."
Along with participating in the program, Corey plans to work for the facility in the future as well. Currently, he helps in the barn and assists Tammy around the facility. Once the indoor riding facility is up, Corey plans to help Tammy teach other students.
"The center is about abilities, not disabilities," Tammy said. "That's what we're about, the kids' abilities. (The skill levels range from) being physically held on the horse to riding without assistance."
The flyer states, "Our mission is to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of children and adults with special needs through therapeutic horseback riding. Magical Meadows is dedicated to encouraging positive mental attitudes, physical fitness, trust, self-confidence and independence to children and adults with special needs, and we are strongly committed to community outreach programs."
Eventually, Tammy would like to be able to offer scholarships so any special needs child can ride. Since the facility is not-for-profit, it will rely on donations and grants to stay afloat.
For more information or to make a donation to Magical Meadows, e-mail [email protected] or call 574-453-3918.[[In-content Ad]]
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