Wheelchair, Horses and Smiles: St. Augustine

Wheelchair, Horses and Smiles: St. Augustine

I had the pleasure of reading a great article about a local volunteer event. It was an article in the World Golf Village Community Journal. The following information is some bit and pieces I put together from the original article. There was no author to give any credit to.

Recently, Haven Horse Ranch hosted Brook's Rehabilitation's Adaptive Sports Program. Back in March of 2008 the ranch built special wheelchair ramps to enable patients from Brooks Rehabiltation Center to be hhelped onto horses.

This year they hosted 12 participants with 30 volunteers to help the participants eat lunch and ride horses. The volunteers helped transfer them to the horses back and then walked next to the horses to help the riders keep their balance.

The riders were all smiles. One rider said it felt like she was flying free.

Alice Krauss, the program's managing director, explained the overall goal was to expand the horizons of the riders in terms of how they are able to participate in life activities. Alice talked about how animals are completely giving and able to connect with people. She explained that riding the horse gave the person the feeling of walking when they normally can't. For a short time they can leave their cane or wheelchair behind.

Alice said if smiles were an indication this event was a huge success.

For information call either Ric Lehman at Haven Horse Ranch, 904-813-5710, or go to havenhorseranch.org. Also, you could call Alice Krauss at Brooks Adaptive Sports, 904-910-9738, or go to brooksadaptive-sports.com.