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Riding High
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Children with physical challenges don’t feel reined in when they ride horses at Whispers of Hope Horse Farm. This therapeutic riding program encourages them, offers freedom and boosts their self-esteem. The 15 donated horses and the 174 volunteers, mostly teenagers, “give an awful lot of time and energy,” says United Methodist missionary Mary Elizabeth Pearce, founder of the program. | ||
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In Wichita Falls, Texas, a United Methodist mission is finding a way to connect with children who have physical challenges. These kids are encouraged to saddle up, and ride high.
Riding High story:
“Good morning.”
THEY COME, SOMETIMES FROM MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY, TO SPEND A FEW HOURS IN THE HOT SUN, DOING SOMETHING MANY THOUGHT WAS NEVER POSSIBLE FOR THESE CHILDREN.
“Just trying to get him all nice and clean, get all the dirt off of him.”
THE PREPARATIONS ARE ALL DONE, THE HORSES ARE SADDLED UP, READY TO RIDE.
THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEERS AT WHISPERS OF HOPE, IN WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, MORE THAN NINETY CHALLENGED CHILDREN ARE BEING COWBOYS THIS SUMMER, LEARNING THE ROPES.
Jeffrey Nelly: “Like if you want to turn right, you do like this, see, and his head turns right.”
TEN-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY NELLY HAS A HEART CONDITION THAT PREVENTS HIM FROM PLAYING SPORTS SUCH AS BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL, BUT HE HAS MASTERED THE ART OF THE BARRELS ALL BY HIMSELF.
Mary Elizabeth Pearce: “He comes out, too, and helps on Saturday. He likes to volunteer, too. And that’s a good thing, because they can give back what they receive.”
DIRECTOR MARY ELIZABETH PEARCE, A UNITED METHODIST MISSIONARY, HAS 15 DONATED HORSES AND MORE THAN 174 VOLUNTEERS, MOSTLY TEENAGERS.
THREE-YEAR-OLD EMILY COMES ONCE A WEEK AND IS LEARNING MORE THAN HORSEMANSHIP. HER MOM SAYS SHE IS MUCH MORE VERBAL, AND HER ATTENTION SPAN HAS INCREASED SINCE SHE STARTED THE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CLASSES.
“For her to sit on a horse for 45 minutes, she won’t do anything and sit that long.”
FOUR-YEAR-OLD TASHAWNA HAS THREE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP HER RIDE.
FOR THE CHILDREN, FOR AN HOUR EACH WEEK, THE FREEDOM FROM THEIR WHEELCHAIRS HELPS BOOST SELF-ESTEEM.
Mary Elizabeth Pearce: “Every time I look around and I see my kids and what goes on with them, they just do an outstanding job and I am so proud of all of them.”