One Ride at a Time

"The therapeutic riding program at Canoe Creek Stables has offered me hope, joy, and possibilities. See, I was born with Spinabifida. I have nerve damage in both legs, which caused deformities, and eventually led to having one of my legs amputated just below my knee. I have difficulty walking, some days it's a real struggle for me. I have always wanted to ride a horse, to let it be my legs and carry me from one place to another without the struggle. Nicole contacted me and gave me that opportunity, and it was wonderful. They are all so knowledgeable and encouraging, and I can never describe the way I felt the first time I sat atop that horse, and we started moving. They explained the process to me beforehand, the safety measures in place, what we would be doing, and our goals. Nicole and the volunteers are such a blessing. They offer new possibilities to people with many different kinds of disabilities, along with a good dose of happiness, encouragement, and faith."

-Melissa Johnson, Program Participant

"As the mother to a child with special needs, riding has become a way to spend some much needed time for myself. The smell of the barn, the spirit of the animals, and the calmness I find in the motion of the horse all have a way of centering me back to a healthy place when life has become a cluster of worries. There is something about the simplicity of a horse and their unconditional acceptance that clears the air and helps me to regain my focus to do the job that God has called me to do. When I come to the barn each week, it is a reset for me. It restores my peace of mind, it calms my spirit, and it reminds me of what is truly important. It has quickly become the highlight of my week. I highly recommend riding as a way to remind yourself of the beauty in God’s creation."

-Johanna Vest, Program Participant

"Light of the World Adaptive Horsemanship has been such a blessing to our family. As parents of two older, typically developing children, it has always been easier to figure out what their interests were and provide opportunities for enjoyment and growth in those areas. Levi is our youngest son, and because of his developmental delays and cognitive impairments, it is often more challenging to figure out his strengths and interests. But something we've always known about Levi is that his two greatest loves in life are people and animals. That's why, when a friend gifted us riding lessons with Nicole, we were thrilled with this new opportunity! Over the past several months of adaptive horsemanship riding lessons, we have seen so many positive changes in Levi. The lessons are tailored specifically for his needs...meeting him where he's at, and then challenging him to grow further. Levi has gained core strength and balance as they continue to work on good posture in the saddle, which then translates into his overall posture as he walks. Besides the physical benefits of these lessons, the social and emotional benefits are plentiful as well. Nicole works on getting him to use his words, and has even integrated his speaking device into some of the lessons. Levi's confidence has grown as he's gained more vocabulary and is trusted with the responsibility of starting and stopping the horse all on his own. Of course, this isn't truly all on his own just yet, but he believes it is. And in a world where most everything is out of his reach or out of his control, this goes a long way in boosting his confidence. Overall, the joy that Light of the World Adaptive Horsemanship, Nicole, Jake, and all their precious volunteers bring Levi, is more valuable than anything else I could imagine. To see him during his lessons, laughing and giggling the entire time...what more could a parent want for their child, than for him to feel even a fraction of the joy that he brings to everyone around him."

-Dedra Adams for Levi Adams, Program Participant