Samantha's Story...

Special help for special needs

Story date: May 29, 2009

By Cindi Nobles
Reporter

Since opening for business in March 2008, the Equestrian Zone (EZ) has doubled its operating hours and expanded from 13 clients to more than 40. EZ, which provides therapeutic horse riding and hippotherapy — a therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement to help individuals with disabilities — has one full-time therapeutic instructor, one part-time therapeutic instructor and seven therapists that work four days a week. The zone also logged 2,000 volunteer hours in 2008.

"We have experienced a lot of growth. I think that is what we are most excited about. The fact that we have been able to just build this much in one year," co-founder Jodi Kusturin, who becomes emotional when she talks about the "miracles" that occur at EZ, said.

The Equestrian Zone is funded by private donations from the community, grants, in-kind gifts. Less than 10 percent of rider fees go toward funding for EZ.

One client, Samantha Bartlett, who turns 10 today, personifies those miracles. She was born with chromosome deletion, which caused physical, mental and development delays. Her mother Kristi said she requires a great deal of care now and will for the rest of her life.
"The miracles that happen here day-to-day make such a big difference," Kusturin said. "I have seen so much progress with Samantha and her walking. She had a gait trainer and she started out taking maybe one or two steps, and then would have to rest before trying again. Now she is taking up to 25 steps consistently when she gets off the horse."
Kusturin said the horse's movements are therapeutic.
"It is really because of the movement the horse provides through her body while riding that helps her make other connections to help her learn to walk," Kusturin explained. "That is phenomenal. To me that is the biggest blessing."

Samantha, who does not talk, makes kissing noises to signal to her horse to walk. She also learned to use her hands to make the horse stop, showing effective communication skills that she didn't have before.
"Her overall happiness when she sees horses is overwhelming. She gets excited and we can actually see the horse get her attention and that she recognizes them," Kristi Bartlett said. "Just a few weeks ago she was able to make the horse stop and she just started giggling. She is realizing she can make something happen."

Bartlett said Samantha normally gets around in a wheelchair and when she is up on a horse she is able to look down at the rest of the people and can see the world from an entirely different view.

"I love it. It is the best thing ever for my daughter," Bartlett said.
The EZ will host its "Riding for a Reason" fund-raiser from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at 4800 South Frankfort in Russellville. Live entertainment featuring local musicians Nik and Sam, a chuckwagon dinner, an "evening at the races" and rider stories are planned for the event. Because the EZ is a non-profit organization, tickets for the event are classified as a tax-deductible donation.

"We would just like to thank our board of directors," Kusturin said. "They have no reason to be doing any of this, but are out of the goodness of their hearts. We plan to make this fund-raiser a yearly event."

Kusturin added the zone is always seeking new volunteers.

"We can always use volunteers," Kusturin said. "You don't have to know anything about horses, we will teach you. We also have office work that can be done. But we really want to stress that we are always open to volunteers."

For more information or to purchase tickets for the event, call 970-8351 or visit www.equestrianzone. org.