Testimonials
A summer at WindWalkers makes amazing things happen for our riders!
- Last summer, the teacher of one of our young riders was considering holding him back in Kindergarten for the second time. He struggled with colors and shapes but desperately wanted to move on with his friends. We designed a fun summer program that taught him riding patterns based on colors and shapes. By August when his skills were retested, he was enthusiastically moved into first grade!
- A young woman, leaving 4th grade and fearful of moving onto Middle School; she was shy, a bit timid, and uneasy in new situation and around older kids. At WindWalkers, she spent the summer connecting with her horse Gunner, improving her self confidence, growing stronger, and riding/picnicking with a group of youth mentors (older teens that help in our program). By September, she walked into school with a bit of swagger in her step, a dose of courage and a braid of Gunner’s hair in her pocket!
- Then there was a young boy whose family was cautioned that their son may not ever be able to walk, but it was suggested that therapeutic riding might help. Last summer he took his first step and hundreds after that!
- Consider another rider who was behind his peers physically, socially and emotionally who came to us to work on these issues. At age 7 he was still riding his bike with training wheels. The stigma of this was causing him to give up riding his bike or playing with his friends in the neighborhood. His mother called one afternoon in July her voice filled with tears of joy; he was riding his bike in the cul-de-sac without training wheels! An unexpected, wonderful benefit of his summer at WindWalkers.
What two of our Parents have to say!
“From the open and friendly staff to the well loved horses, WindWalkers offered our family a consistently positive experience each week. Our daughter was met with warmth and understanding, and she learned how to treat the horses with kindness and respect.”
- Valery Kelly, mother of Wren, age 6
“Dear WindWalkers (Beth, Mel, Tracey and our friends with 4 legs – Gunner, Cajun and all the others), The experience in your barn has been more than we expected, bringing together both physical, occupational and speech therapies as well as the emotional side of being connected to an animal friend. You have all been so patient and good mentors that forward progression is only natural. What a wonderful resource to offer to children needing therapeutic assistance and to the horses needing a new life!”
- Pam Turnbull, mother of Mac, age 4