For some families in Wylie, Texas they say miracles happen.
“We’ve seen so many miracles through Equest,” said Equest volunteer Lynn Novay. “As far as kids are concerned it rolls all of those therapies into one and there’s not hardly any kids who don’t have love horses.”
Lynn Novay took her son Luke to Equest following his diagnosis of autism, ADD and epilepsy. Equest takes traditional physical therapies and approaches them in four different programs: hippotherapy which are treatments with help of the horse, sports riding, carriage driving and vaulting where gymnastic and dance exercises are performed on a moving horse.
“He had no idea where he was in space,” said Novay. “Since he’s been on the horse now he does vaulting, gymnastics on horseback and he can stand on the horse while the horse is walking. We’ve had people see him from when he was a little, bitty guy and when they see him now they are totally shocked. They see him and go my goodness I never thought he could grow into that.”
Without the help of the 300 volunteers that assist each week Equest would not be able to maintain its facilities. So what is it about this equestrian center that keeps volunteers coming back?
“When I’m having the worst day ever I still come out here because no matter how I feel it still makes me feel good,” said Equest volunteer Joanna Rubenfield. “I leave work behind. I leave home duties behind. This is what I come and do.”
“The horses only bring hope and healing to the riders but they also bring it to the families that volunteer,” said Equest volunteer Doug Rakow.
The horses unconditional love and teamwork help the riders achieve their goals. The relationship between the riders and the therapy horses are a major part of their success.
“Once you get here and be around them you’ll never want to leave because you just find that special bond with the riders and other people especially the horses,” said Equest student Becca Rakow.
“It seems that there is a small or large miracle almost everyday at Equest,” said Equest Executive Director Ariane Mele. “Any thing is possible here. To be here for any amount of time I think you can feel that walking in the door but to spend time with us I think it changes people’s lives.”
Equest has changed more lives in the last 29 years then they can count. One thing is for sure. They can count on Becca Rakow to be staying for a very long time.
“I’ll be here until the day I die” said Becca Rakow.
“The dedication from the students and volunteers at Equest cannot be denied. It’s the stories like the Novay’s and Rakow’s that make Equest the miracle it is.
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March 26th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
What a wonderful article about a place of miracles. I am forever grateful to Equest as it gave me a new life. I continue to do therapeutic riding and carriage driving out there and have been associated with Equest since 1998. Thanks for spreading the word about the miracles of Equest. Deb Lewin