A Parent's Story
With the World Equestrian Games coming to Kentucky in just a few months there has been much attention placed on the horse. Horses are powerful animals adapted for a variety of tasks. They are particularly useful as therapy animals. Our daughter, Hayley, participates in weekly riding therapy. Hayley was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder with developmental delays and has been receiving various services and therapies since she was three years old. Nothing has helped her as significantly as therapeutic horseback riding.
I had often heard about therapeutic horseback riding and its amazing benefits for disabled people. However, when I looked into it the programs were too far away and too expensive. Living in southeastern Kentucky has made it difficult to participate in many activities that would be beneficial for Hayley. There are a limited number of services that are offered in this part of the state. I often hear of wonderful opportunities in Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati but we simply cannot afford to travel that far very often. There have been many times that I have wondered how much farther along Hayley would have progressed if these services were more readily available to her. So when a friend of mine showed me an article a few years ago about a couple starting a riding program in Jackson County I was very excited!
Mark and Cheryl Martin began Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (now KFTHC) to help the disabled community in Southeastern Kentucky. On Saturdays during riding season they and their tremendous group of volunteers provide riding/therapy lessons for anyone, young or old, who would benefit from it. Hayley has been riding for several years now and it’s her absolute favorite thing to do. She has no real concept of time but somehow she knows when it’s a riding day and it’s a challenge to keep her in the house until it’s time to go.
We have seen the many benefits riding has provided for Hayley. Her posture and balance have improved by leaps and bounds. Her muscle tone and strength have increased. Once she is up on the horse her verbal skills just flow. She is never as talkative as when she is riding around the arena on her beloved Woody. She gets a case of the giggles and doesn’t stop until they tell her it’s time to dismount. Then it usually takes a little while to coax her off the horse. She is becoming quite a horsewoman and participated in the Special Olympics in the near future 2014. It is quite an accomplishment for a young lady who struggles with simple tasks on a daily basis!
We cannot adequately express the gratitude we feel towards Cheryl and Mark Martin and their wonderful team of volunteers who make this a reality for us. It is worth the seventy‐five minute drive and the car sickness from the curvy roads to see my daughter’s face light up with pure joy every time she rides!
Sharon, Hayley’s Mom
I had often heard about therapeutic horseback riding and its amazing benefits for disabled people. However, when I looked into it the programs were too far away and too expensive. Living in southeastern Kentucky has made it difficult to participate in many activities that would be beneficial for Hayley. There are a limited number of services that are offered in this part of the state. I often hear of wonderful opportunities in Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati but we simply cannot afford to travel that far very often. There have been many times that I have wondered how much farther along Hayley would have progressed if these services were more readily available to her. So when a friend of mine showed me an article a few years ago about a couple starting a riding program in Jackson County I was very excited!
Mark and Cheryl Martin began Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (now KFTHC) to help the disabled community in Southeastern Kentucky. On Saturdays during riding season they and their tremendous group of volunteers provide riding/therapy lessons for anyone, young or old, who would benefit from it. Hayley has been riding for several years now and it’s her absolute favorite thing to do. She has no real concept of time but somehow she knows when it’s a riding day and it’s a challenge to keep her in the house until it’s time to go.
We have seen the many benefits riding has provided for Hayley. Her posture and balance have improved by leaps and bounds. Her muscle tone and strength have increased. Once she is up on the horse her verbal skills just flow. She is never as talkative as when she is riding around the arena on her beloved Woody. She gets a case of the giggles and doesn’t stop until they tell her it’s time to dismount. Then it usually takes a little while to coax her off the horse. She is becoming quite a horsewoman and participated in the Special Olympics in the near future 2014. It is quite an accomplishment for a young lady who struggles with simple tasks on a daily basis!
We cannot adequately express the gratitude we feel towards Cheryl and Mark Martin and their wonderful team of volunteers who make this a reality for us. It is worth the seventy‐five minute drive and the car sickness from the curvy roads to see my daughter’s face light up with pure joy every time she rides!
Sharon, Hayley’s Mom