If there’s need, there’s HOPE with supportive horsepower

Kaitlyn Eaton was born premature and weighed just over a pound. A bleed in her brain caused her right side to be compromised and her body to be weaker than a little girl’s should. Her technical diagnosis is cerebral palsy, but according to her grandma Barbara, Kaitlyn is “one of the lucky ones.” Now, Kaitlyn is 4. Last Tuesday, she wore small purple shoes decorated with rhinestones and tie-dyed peace signs. Her rainbow socks were pulled up high and the rims around her riding glasses showed pink and silver. A protective helmet sat upon her head as she sat mounted upon an American Morgan horse named Sailor.

April 21, 2011 9:00 am
Four-year-old Kaitlyn Eaton works to overcome her physical limitations imposed by a brain bleed at childbirth through lessons at HOPE Therapeutic Riding Center. Last week
Four-year-old Kaitlyn Eaton works to overcome her physical limitations imposed by a brain bleed at childbirth through lessons at HOPE Therapeutic Riding Center. Last week

Kaitlyn Eaton was born premature and weighed just over a pound. A bleed in her brain caused her right side to be compromised and her body to be weaker than a little girl’s should. Her technical diagnosis is cerebral palsy, but according to her grandma Barbara, Kaitlyn is “one of the lucky ones.”

Now, Kaitlyn is 4. Last Tuesday, she wore small purple shoes decorated with rhinestones and tie-dyed peace signs. Her rainbow socks were pulled up high and the rims around her riding glasses showed pink and silver. A protective helmet sat upon her head as she sat mounted upon an American Morgan horse named Sailor.

Katilyn is one of about 25 students who are participating in HOPE Therapeutic Equestrian Center programs this spring. HOPE is a nonprofit organization which uses horses and horse-oriented activities to provide therapy, education and recreation to people facing physical or emotional challenges.

According to HOPE Executive Director Karen Newman, working with horses is beneficial for many reasons. A horse’s walk moves the participant’s body in a way similar to the human gait, so riders with physical needs often show improvement in core strength, balance and flexibility.

“You’re not limited if you’re in a wheelchair,” Newman said. “We can get you on a horse. A horse’s walk mimics a human’s walk. It really makes people feel like they’re walking.”

In addition to overcoming physical limitations, HOPE lessons often aid people emotionally.

“They bond with the horse,” Newman said. “They can make this 1,000-pound animal do things what little ol’ them wants it to do. It’s very empowering.”

Newman said participants form unique relationships with the horses and are taught how to properly groom and care for them. Through these activities, HOPE clients have learned responsibility, how to work with others, confidence and have developed higher self esteems.

When clients come to HOPE, they are asked to fill out a questionnaire and to explain what their specific challenges and goals are. Then, HOPE instructors design lessons catering to those needs. Newman said clients have come to her with physical challenges along with emotional struggles, like the pain of going through a divorce or moving to a new place.

Kaitlyn is in her third eight-week session with the organization, and her Grandma Eaton said she’s already noticed a lot of physical progress. She said Kaitlyn’s balance has greatly improved and her core muscles have gotten stronger. While in the beginning she sat hunched over on the horse, she’s now able to hold herself up tall. Furthermore, Eaton said her granddaughter has gained more control in her hands from working with the reins and has greater mobility in her arms.

“It’s really exciting for her,” Eaton said. “The horse stops when she says to and goes when she says go. … It’s another form of getting therapy, but it makes it more fun.”

Kaitlyn’s father Patrick added, “She’s doing a lot better.”

Kaitlyn comes to a HOPE center in Coupeville once a week from Oak Harbor. HOPE also operates out of the fairgrounds in Langley. HOPE owns five horses, most of which live with sponsors and also has a fleet of “volunteer” horses owned by community members. All of the horses are checked by vets and are given trials to make sure they’re OK to work with clients.

This fall will mark the nonprofit’s 25th year on the island. Newman has been with the organization for 13 years, having started as a volunteer and eventually being appointed director. She’s been around horses throughout most of her life and wanted to find a way to be close to them again after moving to the island.

“Right away when I started volunteering it wasn’t about the horses anymore, though it was great to be around them,” Newman said. “It was about the students and watching them grow.”

For Kaitlyn, HOPE is an avenue to future successes. As she rode around the indoor arena last week, the little girl who was once afraid of horses looked down at volunteers from atop Sailor and said, “Today, I wanna race.”

 

Provide hope, get involved
HOPE is in need of volunteers, sponsors for horses, donations and another instructor. Additionally, the organization’s largest fundraiser, the “Mother of All Garage Sales,” is taking place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at the American Legion off Highway 525 on South Whidbey. Items are for sale by donation only. Call 360-221-7656 or email hope@whidbey.com for information about the program, lessons or to donate items to the sale.