Thanks to the efforts of local horse trainer Linda Hendershot, 5-year-old Avery Holmes, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and 8-year-old Grace Myers, with cerebral palsy, serve as the epitome of how horse riding can bolster the self image of children with disabilities.

A native of Rhode Island who moved to the area four years ago, Hendershot and her partner, Shannon King, opened Dearborn Stable in May of this year, putting her 30 years as a riding instructor and horse trainer to use. Since then, Hendershot has continued the riding lessons she began with Grace in 2006 and recently added Avery. Dearborn Stable is situated in western Calhoun County east of the town of Woodford and caters to students of all ages riding in a number of English and Western saddle categories. It is Hendershot's mission to help introduce special-needs children to horse riding "just once."

"I think if parents can give their special-needs children the opportunity to connect with such a large and majestic animal -- brushing them touching them, stroking them -- even if it's only occasionally, they should do it," Hendershot said. "I started out with three special-needs children in Rhode Island. Even though I had other students -- they would just come and ride and do what they needed to do -- the special-needs children just warm your heart because they give that extra effort, and they're having fun."

Hendershot says although she is not certified in therapeutic riding, she has been reading about the subject in hopes of helping her special-needs riders have the fullest experience possible.

"I'm hoping to become certified in the future," she said. "I love the children and the beginners. We're hoping to get more here."

Dearborn Stable Marketing and Sales Director Joanna Godwin, who herself trained a young boy with autism two years ago as a favor to a friend, says Hendershot's years of experience carry over with the other riders that train at the facility, as well.

"What's so neat about Linda is that she doesn't turn anyone away," Godwin said. "(The special-needs riding) is something that she was approached about and she was open to. She's so good with the children and always so positive with them. As a mother myself, I've seen the benefits. Linda and Shannon are also the warmest, most generous people you would ever want to meet."

Godwin says the horses Hendershot chooses to use with her special-needs students is almost as important as the instruction she imparts.

"You have to be so careful about what horse you use with the children," Godwin said. "Linda has several she can use that have just the right temperament. Most of these are older horses who have been there, done that, and these are usually the ones that will be a little better for the kids."

She says it's rare to find a trainer as talented and gifted as Linda.

"She can spot something every time you go into the ring," Godwin said. "Her methods translate well, not only with the special-needs riders but also with the many other students she has, some of which have done very well in competition. One of her students, Gabriel Brickle, now rides for the College of Charleston equestrian team."

Hendershot also trained Godwin's daughter, Christi, who recently won two separate championships on two different horses.

Grace's mother, Mary Beth Myers of Orangeburg, says the most positive benefit her daughter derives from riding lessons is the sense that she is doing something on her own without the constant assistance normally associated with her birth defect.

"I think she has the sense of freedom to do what she really enjoys," Myers said. "It's almost like extra therapy for her because it's her sport that she can do on her own. She feels successful with the riding lessons because she is limited in the other things that she can do, and it's fun.

"I'm very thankful for Linda and everyone out here," she added. "They have given Grace the chance to ride and enjoy being a normal child."

Watching her son ride Dakota and bounce around the riding ring with the enthusiasm and energy only a small boy can muster, Vicki Holmes of Cameron says Avery has only been taking lessons for about a month.

"He doesn't have a lot of physical endurance, and he gets tired very easily," Holmes said. "He has an older brother who is into all kinds of sports. I wanted to find an outdoor activity for Avery that didn't require as much endurance to be enjoyed.

"The biggest benefit Avery takes away from horse riding is confidence," she said. "Although he's not able to do strengthening exercises because it breaks down the muscles into scar tissue due to his particular form of MS, this is almost like physical therapy because it helps his core strength that assists in better balance. And he loves riding."

But the main reason both women say they bring their special-needs children to Hendershot is because of the patience she exhibits and the caring way in which she interacts with her young charges.

Godwin says Dearborn Stable is also a full-service facility that offers boarding, training and personal riding lessons to more than a dozen current students. Future plans include the addition of a full jump course and a barn and paddocks.

"Linda is just as intent on the proper care given to the horses as she is with her training," Godwin said. "She checks their legs everyday, feeds them, blankets them and just fusses over all of them as if they belonged to her. No matter who comes here for horse training or riding instruction, everyone always gets that special touch."

For more information on riding lessons for special-needs children or other services at Dearborn Stable, call King at 803-534-6593 or Godwin at 803-707-8926.

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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