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Special needs children get boost from horsesKINGMAN, Ariz. (AP)--At Bollinger Ranch, the therapists are taller than the average person, they eat hay and weigh more than 700 pounds. Dotty Bollinger, her husband and a team of volunteers use these gentle giants to offer children with special needs a unique opportunity. The kids, many challenged with cerebral palsy or autism, flock to her ranch to receive riding lessons on any one of Bollinger's three horses. "It makes a huge difference. It's great for their self-esteem, their confidence and it works really well on their balance, for the most part," Bollinger said. "Watching the kids advance and be able to do things. Like we have an autistic boy who can now ride a bicycle who couldn't before, and just watching some of the (cerebral palsy) kids walk better." And it doesn't cost parents a dime. Kingman has children from all different walks of life, Bollinger said. Some are able to afford a program like this, but most aren't. Her granddaughter, a special needs child, can't participate in a program like this because it costs $40 a session in Las Vegas, too expensive for the girl's mom. The program started last August, and Bollinger believes it is the only program of its kind in the Kingman area. The idea came when she met Shauna Campbell. Campbell ran a riding therapy business as part of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. A registered therapist, Campbell's program used horses as a therapy for the children. While in the process of moving to Kingman, Campbell learned that Bollinger taught children with special needs and offered Bollinger her mare. "When she told me about what she did, I said, 'Why don't we do that here? Sounds like fun to me,"' Bollinger said. With backing from Kingman Presbyterian Church, which she attends, and help from local businesses, she was able start her program. Last year, the program was mainly funded by donations from the church, Bollinger said. Local businesses helped by donating items needed to take care of the horses or by giving substantial discounts. People who believe in the program donated the three horses, she said. All three horses are more than 20 years old; they're used to people and very gentle. The ranch currently helps nine children once a week. Twenty-four children in all have visited the ranch, some just one-timers. Sessions last anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour, she said. It all depends on the level the child is at and how comfortable he or she is with riding. One "side walker" (someone walking next to the horse holding a child's back or hand) is required at all times, at least until the child becomes a better rider. One more person leads the horse. The one requirement for children in the program is that they have to be able to sit on the horse by themselves, Bollinger said. Also, the children must have special needs. "It's amazing to watch them," she said. Date: 10/19/07
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