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Partners in Equestrian Therapy

By Judy Salamacha~

At birth Mia Campbell was not expected to live, let alone thrive. And after she surprised all, the doctors and therapists held little hope Mia would ever talk.

“She is our miracle baby,” said her mother, Holly Campbell. “Mia was born early – really early. She was one pound six ounces when born at 23 weeks. Today Mia is athletic and talks all the time.”

Holly wholeheartedly believes Partners in Equestrian Therapy (PET) has helped Mia “come a long way.” Now at 7-years-old, Mia loves horses as her toys, on television, in parades or corrals. She dreams of riding bareback someday. Since age three, she’s been riding.

“Horses are soft and talk to us in their own way,” she said. “They make me feel calm and safe.”

PET Director Melanie Williams Mahan has always loved horses – actually all animals – but didn’t get her first horse until her 40s. Now she is responsible for the health and training of four horses and a pony at the Rancho Del Rio facility. “I had lots to learn about horses and teaching with horses,” said Mahan. “Horses seem to know when to take extra care of riders with disabilities. They can feel and help overcome our weaknesses.”

The program has been active since 1994. Mahan volunteered to join the board of the nonprofit group 13 years ago. Her mother, a special education teacher, had suggested she look at the program when she and husband, Kerrigan, moved permanently to his vacation home in Morro Bay. She was transitioning from the film industry. PET became her passion and life’s purpose.

“Seeing what the program does – the response of the kids — horses mirror what we are feeling. And children with disabilities can say with pride they ride horseback – not a skill expected of them.”

PET describes its program as a safe and nurturing environment, encouraging children and adults with special needs to improve their cognitive, physical and psychological abilities. A visual experience of the entire program can be found on PET’s website at www.petslo.com.

Riders increase physical skills, confidence and self esteem through therapeutic horse back riding. Additionally, there is a there is an annual riding event for veterans with injuries or PTSD and their families at Rancho del Rio in collaboration with the Roy and Ida Eagle Foundation, Madonna Inn and the Veterans Outreach.

Group and private lessons are available Tuesday afternoons and Saturdays. Riders receive hands on experience with horse tack, grooming arena riding and trail riding. There are currently about 75 riders who come and go in the program.

Besides Mia Campbell, Mahan has regularly witnessed many miracles over the years. Rider disabilities range from autism-related, Downs Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke victims, and spinal injuries. Mahan described several success stories: riders with delayed speech or don’t wish to speak are introduced to communication skills that allow them to develop a “language” to maintain control and movement of their horse that often translates into their daily living experiences; a father brought his autistic son to PET to learn to sit up straight, which also improved his speech; PET training helped a girl to focus as she struggled to learn her letters and ultimately learned her numbers, too; a couple trying to retrain the husband’s speech and balance after his stroke, rode together and soon the wife realized she could understand what her husband was saying when they rode.

As a nonprofit the therapy program is fully dependent on donations, such as the support they have received from Rancho Del Rio owner/operator, Cynthia Nacey, and numerous volunteers who help with the horses, provide side and lead walking for the riders, and create fund-raising events to continue PET programs. For example, Cal Poly student Jacob Walden chose PET for his community service hours and intends to continue volunteering after his hours are completed.

Calendar August 19 for PET’s next fund raiser event. The 2nd Ponies and Putters Golf Tournament is a 4-person scramble at Monarch Dunes Challenge Course. Prizes include numerous bottles of take-home wine. Email or call Marsha Mantzoros with prize donations or to register to play at [email protected] or call 570-295- 4673.

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