When Reagan Lowman was two and a half years old, a neurologist told her parents that their daughter would probably never walk. This was devastating news to Marie and Justin because they’d already been through so much in Reagan’s brief life already. She’d had a stroke in utero at eight weeks old, causing her to be born with the very rare condition of Schizencephaley. This meant challenges like low muscle tone, balance and vision issues, and very little fine motor control due to a significant tremor in her hands. Despite starting physical therapy as soon as was possible, she couldn’t even stand on her own.
But the idea of Reagan never being able to walk was a hard one to swallow. “On the drive home from Texas Children’s Hospital that day,” Marie remembers, “I knew I had to do something. I was Googling like crazy for an answer, and came across a woman named Jennifer Young who had started an equine therapy center. Hippotherapy. I called her immediately and set up an appointment, not knowing what to expect.”
A short time later, Marie and Justin stood outside a bright, red barn in Dripping Springs, Texas and watched as three handlers carefully placed their little daughter onto a horse. A horse that, unlike her worried parents, didn’t seem to mind that was Reagan screaming to get off. “Jen just quietly signaled for us to not intervene, and to give Reagan time to get used to the horse. And lo and behold, within a few minutes, that’s exactly what happened. She stopped crying and let them walk her around the ring on horseback. It was magical.”
The very next day, Reagan took her first steps.
Reagan at age 3 or 4 at RED Arena.
Marie told me this story a few weeks ago when we were out having drinks, and my jaw dropped. I know that’s a hackneyed expression, but it literally did. A little bit of chardonnay actually dripped out of my mouth. Because while I knew Reagan had challenges–the Lowmans lived down the street from us for years– I had no idea what she’d overcome or, more important, how she’d done it. So, of course being the snoopy person I am, I drove out to RED Arena the next day to learn more about this wonderful horse therapy.
The first thing you notice upon setting foot on the 20-acre property is how peaceful it is. RED Arena (RED stands for Riding Equines for the Disabled) is just what you imagine a Texas Hill Country ranch would be like, with live oak and cedar trees everywhere, airy barns, and 10-12 beautiful horses eating hay and living that equine life. Per Jennifer Young, RED founder, they “serve children and adults in physical, occupational or speech therapy sessions while on the horse as well as therapeutic riding lessons with PATH Certified Instructors. The dynamic motion of the horse is not only an extremely effective tool to improve strength, balance, coordination, communication, confidence; it is an incredibly empowering activity for the rider who deal daily with physical, mental or medical challenges.”
The key word in the above is “empowering” and I heard it over and over from the parents and instructors I spoke with at RED. Children aren’t coddled or told that it’s okay if they don’t try to push themselves during their sessions. Nope. It’s “get up there and try, kiddo,” not “aw, poor wittle baby.” And the kids definitely rise to the challenge.
Kids like Charlie Berghoffer, who I met the day I went out. (And who probably has one of the Top 10 smiles I’ve ever seen in my life.) Charlie’s mom Page was feeling frustrated because traditional cerebral palsy therapies weren’t keeping her son engaged. She took him to RED Arena when he was four-years-old and immediately noticed an improvement. Due to his lack of strength, she says, “I was constantly worried that if I didn’t have eyes on him all the time, he would fall over or fall off of his chair.” But now, just a year and a half later? “He sits on his own and I don’t worry about him falling at all. At RED, he’ll even yell, ‘Mommy, watch me do tricks on my horse!’ and ride backwards and get on his hands and knees in the saddle. His confidence is amazing.”
Charlie and Sven like each other quite a bit.
I can’t even begin to list all of the therapy techniques implemented at RED. The day I was there, I saw a little girl on horseback throwing a ball through a tire swing to work on her motor skills. I heard about autistic children who are quickly soothed by the repetitive motion of the horse. And I listened to stories about non-verbal kids spurred to finally start talking. Whether they know it or not, the sensitive, intuitive horses at RED have answered many a worried parent’s prayers.
RED also works with disabled military veterans and their families, offers a job training program for adults with disabilities, and they’ve recently added mental health services through equine assisted counseling. They’re able to schedule about 120 therapy sessions a week, and thanks to their wonderful volunteers, grants, corporate sponsors, individual donors, and the RED Arena Round-Up fundraiser, they offer partial scholarships to ALL participants and full scholarships to many.
Oh, did you notice that I said RED Arena Round-Up just now? I hope you did because it’s definitely something you don’t want to miss. The 6th annual Round-Up event, held on June 4, 2016 from 10:00am-2:00pm at Dripping Springs Ranch Park, is a fundraising opportunity as well as a chance for riders with disabilities to ride alongside able-bodied riders and compete in rodeo style events for prizes. And yes, they DO compete. There’s no “everybody gets a trophy” at this event. It’s Texas, baby. But because all riders are on horses, a level playing field is created. That’s got to make these kids feel amazing.
Last year, over 50 riders competed for ribbons or high point trophies and more than 500 people were in attendance. This year the event will also host a silent auction, provide community sponsored fair booth games, miniature horses, and a bounce house. Admission and parking to the event is free. I’ll definitely be there. And so will Charlie, riding high atop his horse, trying to win a ribbon.
And Reagan? The little girl who was told she’d never walk? She’s now a vibrant 10-year-old and the older sister to three siblings. She’s funny, sweet, loves her teacher, and is already mastering the tween eye roll. (I saw it firsthand. Watch out, Marie.) But more important, Reagan is a hard worker who now feels like she can do anything the other kids can do because, as she puts it, “I ride horses!”
Giddy-up.
Reagan, age 10 at RED Arena
Love this. So inspiring. And what gorgeous photos.
Amazing. Inspiring. Humbling.
Wish I could be there for the round up.
Wow. I love this. It is so amazing. Thanks for writing it.