Great Strides program is fun, theraputic

What started out as an idea that would allow a few physically challenged children to ride has become a nationally-accredited therapeutic riding program that serves about 35 children each year in Shelbyville.

"The reason I had an interest in (starting) this is because I love horses, owned some horses and have a son who has Down's Syndrome," said founder Kay Dennis.

With the help of the Child Development Center and Elaine Drake, Dennis got the Great Strides Therapeutic Riding Program up and running in 1993. Affiliated with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), Great Strides offers three six-week long riding sessions each year.

Great Strides is a United Way agency.

"(The program) gives kids an opportunity to ride and enjoy themselves," Dennis said. "They have social interaction, enjoy the horses, and they get therapy out of this, too."

Each participant is first screened by Great Strides volunteer therapist Mary Leta Shavers to determine his or her specific needs. Then, through the support of the program's large volunteer staff, the child works on those targeted areas. Some might need work on balance, some on stretching, and some on other areas.

"We target the portion of the body that's weak," she said.

But, to the kids, it doesn't seem like work.

"They learn socialization and to follow commands, but we play games, too," said current program president Janet Farrar, who has been involved with Great Strides for the last 13 years. "We just have a big time."

Three sessions are held each year, one in the spring, one in the summer, and one in the fall. The classes meet once a week, always on Monday evenings, for six weeks.

The program is open to children from about 4 years old to those in their early twenties, and for most of them, Great Strides is their first riding experience.

"A lot of them are scared at first," said Farrar. "But horses are a good ice breaker and such a novelty. And riding is really good for the muscles."

Great Strides is run primarily by volunteers (the only paid employee is the riding instructor), and Farrar says you don't have to have a horse background to be a volunteer.

"The volunteers get more out of it than the kids," laughed Farrar. "I think they enjoy the kids' reactions and seeing them change over time. It takes about three people to assist one horse and rider. It's pretty labor-intensive."

Sara Smith of Shelbyville is one of about 30 Great Strides volunteers.

"We've been involved as volunteers for the past 10 years," Smith said. "It's a wonderful program."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

For more information on Great Strides, contact Janet Farrar at 703-2966. For more information about United Way, call 684-6685.