Equine therapy clients counted down the hours until Elliott Acres’ opening day
SUMMIT TWP — Gabby Freshcorn, an 11-year-old from Freeport, had been waiting months to get back on a horse, and on April 7, she asked her parents every hour how long it would be until they drove to Elliott Acres Therapeutic Riding Center.
The equine center, which sits on farmland at 168 Headland Road, serves clients with a wide range of diagnoses, including those with autism and emotional, intellectual and physical disabilities.
April 7 was the day Elliott Acres opened for the year, the cold weather not enough to deter three clients who were scheduled to ride opening day. Jane Lehmann, whose son, Michael Lehmann, is a client at the center, said Michael has benefited from the program in the few years he has gone.
“He said that it makes his mind and his body feel connected,” Jane Lehmann said, after traveling to the equine center from Natrona Heights. “Because he’s nonverbal he doesn’t always feel connected.”
Lehmann said her son had no experience with horses prior to becoming a client at Elliott Acres, but the recommendation of a friend led him to the center, where he continues to ride at least once a week during its open season.
“His friend told him about it, and he typed out, ‘I don’t know if I’ll like it, but I’ll try it,’” Lehmann said. “Now he’s been riding since 2021. He loves it.”
The preseason for Elliott Acres began March 28, with an orientation event for those who wanted to get involved with volunteering at the center in some way. Deb Campbell, the center’s president, said the program is volunteer-run, and people can sign up to help with the horses, the clients or both.
Campbell said this is the 24th year of the program, and she and the volunteers help the clients get on the horses and become acclimated with riding, then lead them in activities that help them with their physical and emotional well-being.
“We just help them have a safe, enjoyable ride,” Campbell said. “We do exercises on the horse, and then we’ll do a horse-related activity.”
April 7 was a big day for the whole community of Elliott Acres. About a dozen volunteers showed up to the barn before the riders to prepare the horses — grooming them and getting them fed and hydrated for the coming afternoon activities. Some of the volunteers helped with the barn as well, and when the riders arrived, groups of volunteers led the horses to the ring where riders would mount them.
Darlene Callihan, who is entering her third season of volunteering at the center, said “the students aren’t the only ones to get therapy.” She said that it is therapeutic for her to be able to work with horses and help others become acquainted with the benefits of riding — and just being near the animal.
“I lead, groom, tack the horses,” Callihan said. “Just touching them (makes) you feel good. And when you get on, they can feel it too.”
Most of the horses at Elliott Acres are veterans — they have been trained and have been carrying special needs riders for years. Campbell said the volunteers, too, get some information about how to deal with the horses and how to help the clients, so everyone gets a pleasant ride.
When clients got on the horses April 7 for their long-awaited rides, Campbell and volunteers prompted them to raise their arms and do different poses on horseback as their rides circled the ring. They even brought out some toys to play some games with the riders.
“We have a ring toss and different things to do,” Campbell said. “We have a sensory trail for them, which is the chimes and the noodles and the basketballs and mailboxes, which is really fun.”
And although many of the clients had never ridden horses before coming to the center, Campbell said the volunteers help make the experience not only safe, but comfortable for the riders, who can go at their own pace with the equine creatures.
“Sometimes they’re afraid, sometimes they’re nervous, but usually they’re pretty good once you get on and get used to the horses,” Campbell said of clients when they first meet with a horse at the center. “There’s always that socialization — we make sure we talk to the horses and the riders as much as we can.”
Campbell said the sessions at Elliott Acres are Tuesdays and Saturdays, but only one client this season is scheduled to attend on both days of the week.
Campbell also said it takes a lot of energy to work with horses, and keeping them fed, sheltered and comfortable is a demanding task.
But the 45-minute sessions that clients have with the horses each week is enjoyable to watch and help facilitate, Campbell said. A horse-lover herself, she said working with them and people who benefit from equine therapy is rewarding.
“It’s a fun thing if you like the animals, if you like the kids,” Campbell said. “The kids are just very sweet, very nice.”
The parents who watched their children go around the ring April 7 also said they enjoyed seeing them happy, and pointed out that they were all smiles while they were on the horses.
Having come back for her third season with Elliott Acres, Callihan also said she was anticipating opening day. She has also gotten to know some of the clients who have ridden with the equine center over the past few years, and said she is happy to spend time with them for just about an hour every week.
“The riders are just special,” Callihan said.
