SUMMIT TWP — Most people don’t think of a barn full of horses when they consider physical or emotional therapy options, but Deborah Campbell and her legion of volunteers at Elliott Acres are dedicated to providing a therapeutic experience to clients regardless of their challenges.

The public will have the opportunity to view all the skills Campbell has imparted on her clients over the last year at the Elliott Acres Annual Horse Show, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at 168 Headland Road.

In addition to the judged equine competition, which will include trophies and ribbons for top contenders in each class, a basket raffle, a 50/50 raffle and light food and refreshments will be available.

The event will mark the 20th year since Campbell, grieving over the death of her husband, moved to a farm in Chicora to start Elliott Acres Therapeutic Riding Center.

After 15 years, she remarried and moved the Elliott Acres name to its current location on Headland Road. The farm was previously owned by her husband, Ray.

“I enjoy horses, and it’s something I could do where I can help somebody,” Campbell said.

A certified therapeutic riding instructor, Campbell said the physical improvements that are possible through riding include movement, endurance, sensory-motor integration, balance and equilibrium, spinal orientation and more.

Campbell has seen those on the autism spectrum who rarely vocalize at all talk while on horseback.

“It facilitates breathing and speech, and focus and concentration,” she said, “and they really do come out of their shell. It opens other avenues for them because they can ride a horse.”

The clients she takes on can be as young as 2 years old and must have a physical and psychological release from a doctor to participate in equine therapy.

They come to Elliott Acres each Saturday morning to ride the “sensory trail” Campbell created beside her riding ring.

Riders must retrieve a toy from a mailbox, ride over an arched bridge, pilot their mount over a series of poles laid on the ground, toss rings onto a stake and navigate a “car wash” Campbell created from colorful swimming pool noodles — all while on horseback.

The clients also play games on horseback, including throwing large dice and completing the task associated with the number they rolled, standing up in the stirrups, throwing horseshoes while riding and finding hidden eggs to put in a basket while on horseback.

The horses used for therapeutic riding must be unflappable and never react dangerously with a rider on its back.

Among the seven faithful and patient equines in her barn are one pony, a Percheron/quarter horse mix, a Tennessee walker and a gaited Paso Fino breed.

The largest majority of her therapy horses have been quarter horses, and many, regardless of their age, are older horses.

“Maybe they can’t do what they used to do, but they can do this,” Campbell said.

Campbell cannot operate all facets of her ambitious therapeutic riding program alone, and relies on her 40 volunteers to help keep things running smoothly on Saturday mornings.

Jordan Somma, of Hampton Township, Allegheny County, is volunteer coordinator and social media manager for Elliott Acres.

Somma began volunteering after his brother got a horse in 2017.

“He encouraged me to take care of it,” he said.

Somma then found Elliott Acres, where he started as a client on the autism spectrum.

“I was bullied my whole life, but I always persevered,” he said.

Somma said he had problems with speech when he was younger, which he said he feels was helped by therapeutic riding.

“You can talk to horses, and you can tell they’re listening,” he said.

Volunteering at Elliott Acres has brought him the singular joy of helping those whose challenges he understands.

“I like helping people who need a little extra help,” Somma said. “I like knowing I made someone’s day.”

Bob and Lorraine Kalcevic, of Cranberry Township, volunteer at Elliott Acres on Saturdays and take riding lessons on Wednesdays.

“I retired in March 2022, and I wanted something to do,” Lorraine said, “and I’ve always loved horses.”

The couple took a class on horse ownership at Butler County Community College in the fall of 2022, and the teacher suggested they volunteer at Elliott Acres.

“We’ve been here ever since,” Lorraine said.

The couple’s lessons are lead by Bill Schoenecker, who operates a veterans’ riding program on Wednesday nights at Elliott Acres. Bob Kalcevic is an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam.

“I never thought I could form a bond with a horse, but Brisco is my buddy,” Bob said.

Barbara Taylor, of Pittsburgh, said her adult son, William, has been riding at Elliott Acres since he was a toddler.

She said his cerebral palsy has resulted in very tight hips, knees, ankles and hamstrings and weak, floppy torso control.

“Getting on a horse is one of the ways William can really stretch his legs apart and move at the same time,” Taylor said. “He also has to hold his torso upright while riding.”

She said the horse’s movement up and down, back and forth and side to side as it walks provides sensory input to William’s spine that he can’t get from his own legs and pelvis.

“It’s hard to replicate walking any other way than on a horse,” Taylor said.

She said with cerebral palsy, the hips often become so tight that the legs cross.

“I really believe the riding has made it possible for us to avoid hip surgery,” Taylor said.

She said the Elliott Acres program has another major benefit.

“It’s really fun,” Taylor said. “He loves going to Deb’s and riding.”

All are welcome to attend the horse show Aug. 12, but only those in the therapeutic riding program will compete.

More information on the many programs at Elliott Acres is available at elliottacrestherapyriding.org