One of the best quotes regarding the stable where Melissa rides her horse, is the tag line of Freedom Farm itself: "It has been said that 'in riding a horse we borrow freedom.'.....I decided to fulfill a dream to share that freedom with those whose lives, minds, and bodies are not as free."~Susie Bjorklund, Freedom Farm
When Melissa started riding this past fall, it was as though a huge cloud had been lifted from over her head. In all of.jpg)
the difficulties she endures on a daily basis, she was able to shed them all outside the barn door, climb on her horse and just BE. No worries, no conflicts, no struggling, no anxiety, no shyness, no failure, no lack of self-esteem, just pure 100% being a happy, normal kid. Though her disabilities may not be as readily apparent as some of the others who ride with her, they are real and challenging, and often seem unfair. For her to be successful in her riding ability is heaven for her on earth.
Getting into this program is easily one of the best moves we have made for Melissa. Restarting the program in full swing today gives her encouragement and hope to get through more difficult parts of her day. With her best friend still in Florida since December and there until May, Melissa has had a very long and strenuous winter at school. She has been alone on the playground and left to play everyday with her imaginary friends. She has finally been added to a "friends" group that works on relational skills with a school counselor, but much of the damage to her self-esteem has already been done. Her current skills are more befitting of a Kindergartner, not a second grader.
Riding her horse Ted, Melissa looked like all was well with her world again. School happenings no longer mattered, difficult fine motor tasks were non-existent, and she didn't have to struggle with proper breath support in order to make her horse understand what she wanted him to do. She got to "take it easy" while getting a workout....an emotional, esteem-building, physical core strengthening workout all disguised in a heavenly freeing horseback ride. How can you beat that for one sweet, wonderful little girl?
When Melissa started riding this past fall, it was as though a huge cloud had been lifted from over her head. In all of
.jpg)
the difficulties she endures on a daily basis, she was able to shed them all outside the barn door, climb on her horse and just BE. No worries, no conflicts, no struggling, no anxiety, no shyness, no failure, no lack of self-esteem, just pure 100% being a happy, normal kid. Though her disabilities may not be as readily apparent as some of the others who ride with her, they are real and challenging, and often seem unfair. For her to be successful in her riding ability is heaven for her on earth.Getting into this program is easily one of the best moves we have made for Melissa. Restarting the program in full swing today gives her encouragement and hope to get through more difficult parts of her day. With her best friend still in Florida since December and there until May, Melissa has had a very long and strenuous winter at school. She has been alone on the playground and left to play everyday with her imaginary friends. She has finally been added to a "friends" group that works on relational skills with a school counselor, but much of the damage to her self-esteem has already been done. Her current skills are more befitting of a Kindergartner, not a second grader.
Riding her horse Ted, Melissa looked like all was well with her world again. School happenings no longer mattered, difficult fine motor tasks were non-existent, and she didn't have to struggle with proper breath support in order to make her horse understand what she wanted him to do. She got to "take it easy" while getting a workout....an emotional, esteem-building, physical core strengthening workout all disguised in a heavenly freeing horseback ride. How can you beat that for one sweet, wonderful little girl?
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