Phoenix Rising
Therapeutic Equestrian Program

Kylie Bean

Kylie is a nine-year-old survivor! When she was four, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She has endured two neurosurgeries before the age of five and fifteen months of chemotherapy. Through it all she has been a real trooper. I credit a lot of her positive attitude to Ronda Carver and riding therapy. Due to Kylie's tumor and the surgeries to remove it, Kylie suffers from spastic hemipeligia. This is a paralysis or weakness on one side of the body. It affects Kylie's right arm, hand, leg as well as the right side of her face. She receives physical therapy, occupational therapy, and injections to help her make progress in using the right side of her body. She also wears a brace on her right leg and a splint on her right hand. Kylie currently sees a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a physiatrist, a neurologist, an oncologist, a radiologist, an endocrinologist and we will soon add an orthopedic surgeon to the mix. As you can see, Kylie has a lot of appointments to keep and it can be daunting. The trips to and from the various specialists take a lot of time--time that she would much rather spend at school or with her friends; a fact that she reminds me of frequently. However, I have never heard Kylie say, "I don't want to ride horses today." Through all her trials and tribulations, horseback riding has been our saving grace. No matter how bad she felt after her chemo, she was always ready to saddle up and ride. The emotional benefits to her are immeasurable. Physically, I can always see a positive difference in Kylie when riding season starts. She walks taller, holds her body in better alignment, she moves more fluidly and her strength increases. When she rides, her normally tight muscles relax and her confidence increases. At her last physiatrist appointment, her doctor commented on how strong and balanced Kylie was--I credited riding therapy. I cannot thank Ronda and Phoenix Rising enough for what they have done and continue to do for my daughter, not only for her physical recovery, but also for her self-image and confidence. In a world full of pokes, prods, shots and tests, Phoenix Rising is the one therapy where she feels relaxed and at home.

Larry Hunt

Larry Hunt is a survivor! Abandoned by his young teenage mother at birth, he started life prematurely, weighing only 2 pounds while struggling to hold on to life itself. He faced many challenges as he matured, not knowing if he would be able to communicate without sign language, walk without assistance, or learn without disabilities. Larry was part of PIE (Parent Infant Education) at an early age diagnosed with several learning disabilities and developmental problems. He attended Mt. Clair Preschool as part of an inclusion program for the integration of disabled children into the regular mainstream. He attended a regular elementary school and is now a rising 8th grader at the local middle school. He was so verbal at age 3 that the sign language issue was no longer a concern. Then he began to crawl, trying to stand. Eventually, with the assistance of a walker, Larry began to pull himself up and walk. Larry endured many hours of physical therapy in school and privately. Larry has been through a lot during his young life, and he continues to survive and persevere despite his challenges. He is a patient at the Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he has been followed since age 2½. He wore braces since age 2 until middle school when he would not wear them anymore because of children making fun of him. That caused him to regress with his progress. In 2004, he had surgery on both legs so that he could walk better and gain balance. Larry has been part of a therapeutic riding program for about 4 years, and has gained so much confidence and strength that he hardly appears physically challenged. His current issue is balance, walking on uneven surfaces, keeping his heel down, toes pointed in and gait. Larry was not doing well with physical therapy as he got older as he thought is was boring. But therapeutic riding has been especially beneficial for him, teaching him the "I can" attitude, giving him the opportunity to make new friends, and helping him gain strength and a positive outlook on the future. It also teaches him responsibility for the animals. The riding program has given him confidence in himself; he recently was awarded a medal and first place ribbon in pole-bending and a fourth place ribbon in the trail class at the TRAV horseshow in Lexington, Virginia. He is one proud rider! Larry continues to struggle in areas, but he has the right attitude to move on. He enjoys the program, looking forward for each Thursday to arrive. He now has new worries, such as getting his driver's license. His adoptive parents told him he could drive a horse- as that is something he can be good at and proud of as he continues to survive and overcome his challenges.

Brittany Leap

On February 10, 2006, after 7 years of tedious, often painful, ever worrisome doctor visits, tests, and surgeries, we heard the dreaded news. Our Daughter Brittany was diagnosed with Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA), a rare neurological disorder. This past year was quite dramatic in Brittany's life. From shortly after the time of her diagnosis in February till the end of the year, Brittany lost the ability to perform a number of functions. In June, she began losing the ability to speak and by the end of July her speech was gone completely. Walking became more and more difficult and even with the leg braces by the end of October assisted walking was a thing of the past. In October and November, her ability to take food in orally declined and we had to insert a feeding tube in early December. Through all of this, Brittany has maintained an amazing attitude. She quickly adapted to using the communication device (as well as a modified sign language). She thinks riding in the wheel chair is great fun and while not crazy about the feeding tube at first, she realized that the only thing she has to intake orally now is Ice Cream (via a syringe) it's not so bad. Brittany receives many therapies every week. Among them is riding therapy. Out of all the therapies she receives, riding is one of her favorites. She has been riding over four years. It is difficult for her to communicate but her face tells how much she enjoys riding. We thank Rhonda and all of the volunteers who help make a difference in our kid's lives.

Brianna Shilling

Brianna Shilling, age 6, proudly displays the three ribbons she had won at the October 2006 Fall Horse Show in Lexington, Virginia, sponsored by TRAV (Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia) Brianna placed second in pole-bending, third in equitation, and a participation ribbon in costume. Brianna was born with a rare disease, which affects her muscle tone. This condition is called hypotonia, which basically means weak muscles. It affects all of the muscles in her body. At age 3, Brianna lacked muscle tone, especially in her trunk and extremities. Her posture was loose and her balance unstable, causing her to fall easily. Based on recommendation from her doctors at Johns Hopkins University, Brianna began therapeutic riding as an effective therapy to help her develop strength and balance. After three years of therapeutic riding with the Phoenix Rising program, her posture is straight and erect, and her balance is normal. Although she received physical and occupational therapies privately, and at school, she needed more specialized therapy to address the global nature of her hypotonia. "The Phoenix Rising Program provided the key to her success," said her mother, Franziska Shilling. "It was such a joy to see Brianna enjoying horseback riding and improving her physical condition at the same time." When her parents first met Ronda Carver, Executive Director of Phoenix Rising, they did not know what to expect, placing a small child with special needs on horseback. But Ronda explained that horseback riding exercises every muscle in the body, and that she and her staff (NARHA certified riding instructors) are specially trained to handle children safely and securely on horseback. Today, Brianna rides with confidence, and she knows all of the horses by name. Her favorite horse is Flower, although Billy Jack will always be her friend. She smiles with joy when she rides knowing that she is doing something very special, and that she is among friends who enjoy seeing her smile, and laugh, and grow like other children. Brianna will continue therapeutic riding, and continue to compete in horse shows! Brianna also plays soccer, tennis, and swims thanks in part to the benefits she has gained from therapeutic riding.

Patrick Wood

Whether it is chilly, hot, damp, dusty, muddy, sunny, cloudy, or drizzling; horseback riding is the highlight of Patrick's week. He looks forward to it and enjoys the time on the horse as well as the individual attention he receives from the instructor and the volunteers. It is really the perfect athletic activity for him. Patrick has a rare genetic disorder that includes hypotonia (low muscle tone), ADD, and a propensity for adult relationships rather than peer relationships. Therapeutic riding meets all of his needs. He works all the muscles in his body, including his trunk where he has significant weakness. He is required to focus and give riding all of his attention in order to be successful on the horse. All of his interaction is with adults and with the horses he loves. Patrick enjoys the games he plays while riding Rosie or Flower that include some fine motor focused activities. The sensory trail is always fun and different. As parents, we love the positive outcomes we have witnessed following his riding sessions. His physical therapy needs in the school have decreased, his focus improves following riding sessions, and he benefits from the relationships he has with the adults and the horses. We are thankful for the program at Phoenix Rising and hope that it will continue to grow over the years and gain support from the community.