by Carol Mowdy Bond
”This was our third year to take our kids to the Oklahoma State Fair Equine Empowerment Horse Show,” says Andi Holland, executive director of Savannah Station Therapeutic Riding Program in Yukon. “This show was formed three years ago just for special-needs students. Our riders have the opportunity to perform on the big stage and compete for ribbons they earn. Many of our riders were in the top three this year. There were ribbons all the way down the class.”
Competitors from Savannah Station had one week of preparation before the event because the equine program’s classes started only one week before the fair. The competition was held September 18, 2024, at the OCK Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Savannah Station entered 13 students, including two ground students and 11 riders.
Proud Moments
Savannah Station’s riders and parents were thrilled with the results of participating in the 2024 competition.
Matthew’s mother, Heather, says, “Matthew thrived with this state fair opportunity! The horse time, the encouraging environment, and the opportunity to even show and compete (just like any person without a medical or mental difficulty) is so healing to his spirit.”
Stefanie, Garrett’s mother, says, “It’s always a proud moment to watch your children be so brave out there in front of so many people watching. It’s never easy for anyone, but to watch them learn a course and perform despite their challenges warms my heart and brings many happy tears. You can just see their confidence radiate!”
Other moms feel the same. “Marlie went around for two weeks showing off her ribbons and telling everybody that she was a winner,” says Marlie’s mother, Cindy. “In her eyes, she is. And in my eyes, she is. She overcomes so much to be able to do that. And she was just on cloud nine. It makes her feel so proud of herself! And every chance she gets for that confidence boost, it gets her through every day and helps her with the little things she faces daily.”
Angela, Sia’s mom, says, “This was Sia’s first horse competition, and she absolutely loved it! She was ecstatic to win two third-place ribbons. Sia is not in sports and does not get accolades like this often. So this was such a nice surprise and really boosted her self-confidence. She told us it was the best fair day ever! She’s hoping to enter in some of the more difficult competitions next year, if possible. As far as our family goes, we were all so humbled to see all the different people with different abilities compete. It was a heartwarming day and so nice to see so much joy on the faces of the competitors and their families.”
A Rare Opportunity
Holland says the Oklahoma State Fair Equine Empowerment Horse Show is “an amazing opportunity for our students to shine in an element where they normally are not considered or invited to participate.”
This was the third annual competition for equestrians with disabilities. Several classes have been added for veterans also. The event provides an opportunity for horse lovers to compete and engage in an activity rarely available to them, with the partnership of their equine friends and their therapeutic riding programs. They perform in various classes, showing off their determination, skill, and talents.
Classes include trail in hand, trail under saddle, showmanship at halter, western horsemanship, English equitation, and barrel racing.
Miracles and Magic
Savannah Station’s programs focus on cognitive, social, and emotional confidence. It is the the only therapeutic riding program of its kind serving special-abilities youths and adults and their families west of Oklahoma City all the way to the state border. Savannah Station is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, so services are free of charge.
“We are serving 85 students and their families,” says Blu Phillips, program manager at Savannah Station. “We have students from Canadian, Oklahoma, Caddo, Logan, and Kingfisher counties. We serve El Reno Public Schools, Okarche Public Schools, and Roosevelt Academy, which is a private school.”
Holland adds, “What we do is remarkable. We get to see firsthand the difference horses make in the lives of our riders and our volunteers. We see little miracles happen all the time in itty-bitty steps. Our riders are winners here. Our volunteers are the magic behind our work.”
Therapeutic riding is a proven form of valuable therapy. Equine-assisted therapy uses the movement of the horse to create muscle and sensory stimulation that brings about physical, emotional, and cognitive rehabilitation. It has to do with the rhythmic, repetitive gait of the horse. The movement of the horse gives the experience of normal pelvic movement in the rider. Riding the horse brings a sense of freedom that many riders are not able to experience in any other way.
With weekly programs, Savannah Station addresses a number of special challenges including autism, brain injuries, cardiovascular disabilities, cerebral palsy, deafness, Down syndrome, emotional and learning disabilities, mental deficiencies, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal-cord injuries, visual impairment, and other highly involved disabilities.
Savannah Station is a member center of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, which is the primary governing association for equine-assisted therapy programs.
To connect with Savannah Station, call (580) 303-2028 or go to https://www.savannahstation.org.
