By Russ George
Members and friends of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley toured HorsePower Therapeutic Riding, Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Honey Bridge Ranch, 6N917 Route 25, North of St. Charles.
Barbara O’Neil, executive director and PATH Certified Instructor from HorsePower Therapeutic Riding, spoke to our group prior to our tour, stating “Over the years we’ve had many riders who benefited from therapeutic riding and equine assisted activities, who listed diabetes among their diagnoses. We currently have two active riders who are diabetic, and you’ll be introduced to one of them after your tour”.
Ms O’Neil’s interest in the benefits of therapeutic riding began in the 1980s and led to her first volunteer role at Ray Graham Association Hanson Center in Burr Ridge. Over the years, she volunteered with organizations like Blazing Prairie Stars and Strides in Motion, until she had an opportunity to work with HorsePower Therapeutic Riding. Since receiving her PATH International certification in 2014, she has served as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and for the past two years, as Executive Director for HorsePower.
Ms O’Neil gave credit to HorsePower’s hardworking staff, and growing team of over 100 enthusiastic volunteers, who assist with lessons, caring for animals, and fostering a sense of community at the ranch.
HorsePower started out twelve years ago, in Elburn, and then relocated four years ago to their current location. Lessons are provided on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Ms O’Neil and her staff are PATH International certified each year. They do mounted and ground lessons with the horses, as well as Critter Connections, using a variety of small animals for students to interact with, which include: dogs, rabbits, ducks, goats, small donkeys, and chickens.
Animal therapy allows children and adults with disabilities, including diabetics, to bond together with an animal by using frequency methods. When all other animals fail to connect with a student, the Chicken will come through, and form the bond.
Students coming to HorsePower have a variety of challenges: social, emotional, cognitive, and physical. HorsePower rearranges their program to fit each individual student’s needs.
Ms O’Neil said, “HorsePower currently has 17 horses on site. We keep a close eye on our horses for Cushing Disease (diabetes in horses). We watch their weight and look for any fat pockets that might develop on the horse’s neck or elsewhere on their body. If suspected, we confirm with a blood test. Cushings causes issues with the horses bones. Horses with Cushings have their diet carefully watched, their hay is soaked in water to reduce the sugar and no longer are fed grain”.
Brian Kenyon, Director and Board Chairperson, gave our members a well informed tour of the parts of the ranch used by HorsePower, which included their Hospitality Facility building used by students, staff, and volunteers. He took us through the critter connection area, the goats came right up to us wanting to be petted. We saw the start of Sensory Trail, a fenced in riding trail, safe for all riders. The completely enclosed outdoor arena has ten foot high walls, so that neither the student nor the horse gets distracted, making it safer for newcomers with disabilities to begin riding. They have a large outdoor area completely fenced in, giving the horses plenty of space to move around, which was next to their large horse stable, full of horses. We ended the tour in the large indoor arena, which had a mounting lift to assist handicapped students to be safely picked up and mounted onto the horse.
Upon completion of our tour, we were introduced to Ellison Kosky, a 15 year old, Type 1 diabetic, and her father, Rob Kosky.
Mr. Kosky thanked us for taking time to visit HorsePower, and went on to say “HorsePower is a really special place. Ellison has been riding for over eight years. When she first started, she had trouble sitting up straight on her horse and following directions. She would get frustrated easily and often shut down. Now, she is learning to steer her horse independently, talking to her team during her lesson, and having fun, while working hard.
The staff and volunteers at HorsePower are always friendly and accepting. They are patient and encourage Ellison to do her best. Her team is excited when she does well and it motivates her to try harder. It can be difficult to find ways for Ellison to be active. Riding is excellent exercise and helps with strengthening her core. She works on following directions, communication, and concentration, as well as riding skills. It really is amazing to watch her and her team work together”.
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley’s “Jerry Youngren Diabetic and Therapy Animal Support Fund”, made a donation to HorsePower Therapeutic Riding in the amount of $5,280. This will provide sugar-free treats for their horses, purchase materials to build a viewing platform, allowing the parents to watch students during their riding lessons. The club also purchased small storage containers, to be placed along Sensory Trail, to store first aid and other materials needed for safety and instruction.
The members of DCFV believe this donation will help children and adults with disabilities, including diabetes, now and in the future, while helping to keep the horses healthy with sugar-free treats!
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, thank HorsePower’s staff, board members, and volunteers for helping all of us touring, to better understand, “The Power behind HorsePower”.
The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley currently meets monthly, on the second Wednesday of each month, January through November, at Oak Street Restaurant, 945 Oak Street, in North Aurora. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.. Guests are always welcome!
Why not consider joining our fight against diabetes? You don’t need to be diabetic, to be a member of our club! Why not invite a family member, friend or business associate to attend one of our meetings or events with you! Guests are always welcome at membership meetings and club events! Yearly individual membership dues are $50 per year. Corporate dues are $150 per year, which includes a sponsorship listing on our website: www.diabeteshelpnearme.com
Members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley work together, to provide diabetes awareness in the Fox Valley area, while raising funds to provide aid and education for diabetics, along with investing in research to find a cure. Uncontrolled blood sugar (glucose) can cause vision problems, heart problems, nerve damage, dental problems, kidney damage and more! Eat healthy, stay active, and have a yearly blood test, to stay diabetes-free!