Greene County News
CINCINNATI — Spirit Horse of Ohio in Jamestown announced their show team riders brought home two gold medals and five silver medals for various competitions at the Special Olympics Equestrian competition Aug. 27 at Winton Woods Riding Center.
The Spirit Horse Show Team competed for the first time this year and were highly successful with all five of their athletes winning awards including two gold medals and five silver medals for various equestrian competitions. Hannah Adams of Jamestown, Sophie Brand of London, Tristin Ford of Jamestown, Katy Miles of Beavercreek, Helen Riley of Beavercreek and Anthony Whitaker of Beavercreek competed at the largest Special Olympics Equestrian event ever held with over 101 competitors from 17 counties throughout the state.
This is the third horse show that the team has attended this summer and was by far the most successful show to date.
“The Spirit Horse program is designed to help children with a wide range of disabilities to improve through their consistent interactions with horses,” said Channin Ford, Executive Director at Spirit Horse of Ohio. “Each of our kids has their own personal challenges that they work through with their families on a daily basis. However, their work with our horses has helped them in so many ways in in their daily lives. Being able to compete at horse shows, and especially the Special Olympics, has been an amazing experience for the members of our Show Team. This unique program is simply the next step in how our therapeutic riding programs can help our riders and their families to go places together that they never believed possible.”
Director of the Spirit Horse Show Team Haley Horney said, “The impact that a horse can have on a child with disabilities is simply amazing. We have kids who live with TBI (traumatic brain injury), Autism and Down Syndrome every day. When you combine this effect that the horse has with the team work that we see in our Show Team, it’s quite incredible to see these kids grow as riders, as people, and as members of their families. The Special Olympics is such a great way to inspire these kids to do more!”
Spirit Horse of Ohio is located in Jamestown where trained staff works in close cooperation with teachers, therapists and doctors to achieve goals that benefit each individual client. For more information call 937-926-1324 or visit the company’s website at www.spirithorseofohio.com.