SVECares helps dreams come true at Imperial Acres Therapeutic Riding Center
The joy on the face of Lydia Sartain and the other children in the program is what makes all the work and time they donate to the center worthwhile for Herstik, Berger and volunteers Michael Barnes (left) and Buster Evans (right) who drive in from Chattanooga.
Among the allocations at their December meeting the SVECares board allocated $1000 to Imperial Acres Therapeutic Riding Center in South Pittsburg.
The center located on South Pittsburg Mountain was the dream of Miriam Herstik and Nicole Berger a team of pediatric physical therapists with Master of Science degrees in Physical Therapy. They began this program because they have a love for children and horses and a desire to offer an experience to people with special needs that is both unique and fun and can help them achieve their highest potential.
The center is committed to enhancing the lives of those children and adults with special needs through the use of horses. Founded and run by Herstik and Berger, the non-profit program provides therapeutic treatment, using the natural rhythmic movement of horses to meet each individual's needs.
The two-year old program is similar to one that Herstik founded in Florida before the beauty of the Sequatchie Valley lured her and her father to South Pittsburg Mountain.
Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy, the two types of therapy offered at the center are growing in popularity nationwide and internationally. "In Japan where they do not have easy access to horses, they have developed a robotic horse to simulate the movement of a real horse in an effort to offer this type of therapy," Herstik related.
In addition to the physical benefits to the participants such as strengthening and stretching muscles and improved balance, coordination and control of movement, there is also an improvement in self-esteem and self-confidence and a chance to have fun.
Many of the riders at the center have never before been able to sit atop a horse, much less explore an outdoor trail. Horseback riding at the center not only offers a means of therapy to the riders but a means of transportation that transcends the limitations of their disability. For the child in a wheel chair or with other mobility problems, the horse becomes their legs and imparts a sense of achievement that is not attainable any other way.
The center at present provides therapy free of charge to children who have such disabilities or challenges as: developmental delay, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury, autism, stroke, traumatic or congenital amputation and Spina Bifida.
"I hope that we can continue to offer our services free of charge," said Herstik. "In this way, we do not compete with other funding sources, but rather are an adjunct to other therapies that our riders are receiving. We give our time free of charge because we love kids and we see how much they gain from this type of therapy. It's fun for them. They don't realize that they are working just as hard or harder than they would in a clinical setting because they are outdoors in a beautiful setting sitting atop a horse."
All funds raised are used to maintain the horses year round and to pay for equipment, insurance, licensing and training for the staff and volunteers, etc. It costs about $325 a month in upkeep per horse. They currently have three horses they use for therapy and they could house one more if funds were available.
Volunteers are a critical need. All types of volunteers. You do not have to be a physical therapist or know anything about horses to help. They need help with everything from farm and horse maintenance to grant writing and of course working with the children. Volunteers of any age from 14 on up are welcome. The center provides training for volunteers in all aspects needed to run the program safely and efficiently while ensuring that it is fun and rewarding for the children and the volunteers.
They currently have about 15 volunteers for the program which generally operates on Saturday mornings from April through the middle of November. That is often not enough. They need at least three volunteers per child to assist while Herstik and Berger serve as the therapists. (One person to lead the horse and one person on each side of the rider.)
"We would love to run it year round but the weather is just too unpredictable during the winter and early spring. If we had the volunteers and if we could get the ring lighted we could offer therapy after school as well as on the weekends. To expand and to be able to accommodate all of the children on our waiting list is our dream," stated Herstik.
If you would like to help provide these life-changing experiences for children, support is needed in the form of volunteer work and donations. All donations are tax deductible. To donate time, money or services, or if you know a child that you feel could benefit from this type of therapy please contact the center at 423-837-5505.