Kathy McCarthy HORSEPOWER Volunteer

My name is Kathy McCarthy and I have been a volunteer with HORSEPOWER since its inception in 1995.  I started out doing whatever needed to be done: cleaning stalls and working around the barn, exercising the horses, working classes, recruiting volunteers, fund raising, and helping to get the word out in the community about this great organization!  I believed so strongly in the program that I joined the Board of Directors a couple of years later, a position I still hold today.  This spring session will begin my ninth year of working classes.

What has HORSEPOWER meant to me in my life?  As I began to reflect over the season of Lent, I was asked in an exercise this week at my Church to write down the five most important ìfulfilling eventsî in my life.  As some were commenting on graduate degrees and careers that they had succeeded in, I immediately went to the birth of my three children; then to the marriage of my second husband; and thirdly, I started telling a room full of people about what I do at HORSEPOWER!  My fourth event came just before Christmas during our last session with the Brooks Global children. Their teacher had asked that the volunteers stay after class for a moment because the children had something to give us.  As I stepped into the bus, I was handed a cute little reindeer made from a popsicle stick by Thomas, one of my favorite little riders and it touched me so deeply that I think it was the best gift I had last season!  I will place the reindeer on my Christmas Tree each year, along side the ornaments my own children have made, and I will remember the difference I made in the life of Thomas.  Like Thomas, most of the children who participate in our program have huge hurdles in their life with their mental and physical problems.  But as you watch the children ride around the arena on a horse, they are just normal happy kids with wonderful smiles on their faces and a gleam in their eyes!  It is a huge accomplishment for them to personally ride a horse, something that I take for granted every day.  The most fulfilling part of being a volunteer at HORSEPOWER would have to be hearing the laughter and knowing that the children love coming out to our facility each week!

Letter from Keith 

Father of Audrey, Rider at HORSEPOWER

As you know, Audrey is speech impaired, and I appreciate the instructor teaching Audrey to give commands to the horse.  Last session Cindy Ling, a speech therapist (and on the HORSEPOWER Board of Directors) instructed Audrey.  She is a wonderful "extra" benefit to her.

I am so impressed by your instructors.  They are so caring and so attentive to Audrey.  I feel very safe in letting Audrey ride the horses.  I am also so happy the instructors work with Audrey on her gross motor skills.  I liked seeing Audrey put rings on posts and her using the tools to groom the horse.

Audrey's confidence has grown since she started.  She has generally shied away from animals - but that has changed with the horses.  

Lastly, Audrey loves to come to HORSEPOWER.  She gets so excited!  Thank you for putting a smile on her face.  The opportunity HORSEPOWER provides is immeasurable.

Letter from Maureen

Mother of Morgan, Rider at HORSEPOWER

Our oldest daughter, Morgan, who is handicapped and now 17 years old, has been participating in HORSEPOWERís therapeutic riding program for at least 8 years.  Our daughter very much enjoys her time at HORSEPOWER and eagerly looks forward to each weekís session.  She is excited to tell us about riding her favorite horse and the fun that she has had with her friends at HORSEPOWER.

Our daughter has multiple handicaps, including seizures, mentally retardation, overall developmental delay and autistic characteristics.  The therapeutic riding program at HORSEPOWER has provided an opportunity for her to have a weekly athletic, recreational and social opportunity that is comparable to other youth her age.  Morgan has an activity of her own and is not just observing siblingsí activities.  She attends HORSEPOWER with other handicapped peers, who are her friends, and they look forward to the time together.  Especially now in their teenage years, these opportunities away from family are very important.  We see a definite positive difference in our daughterís mood and disposition when she has such opportunities.  Morganís great smile tells a thousand words.

HORSEPOWER has also helped Morgan develop needed skills.  She has improved her balance and physical awareness.  HORSEPOWER gives Morgan another means to enhance her communication skills.  She communicates with the volunteers at Horsepower and with her family concerning the events of the day.  She has increased her functional vocabulary and understanding of direction.  Morgan has learned some responsibility and self-reliance by learning to groom the horse that she will ride.  She has also had the opportunity to hear and learn to follow instructions, which is a basic step both in daily living skills and any vocational skills.  Morganís disability also causes her to have periods of agitation and distress.  Her time at HORSEPOWER has helped ease such distress and introduce calm and structure.  Over the years, we have seen definite improvement in Morganís skills in all these areas.

We greatly appreciate all the time, effort and funds dedicated to Morgan and the other students at HORSEPOWER.  We are very grateful for this opportunity and experience.