Video by Nick Wilson and Hailey Hess.

By Mallorie Munoz
Staff Photographer
@munoz_mallorie

“I feel happy,” Reagan Robinette said.

Reagan has no trouble communicating how she feels about Spirit Horse Therapeutic center, as if the huge grin on her face is not enough.

Reagan is a second grader at Cottonwood Creek Elementary. She plays Coppell Youth soccer and softball. She talks, laughs, and loves attention just like any 9-year-old does.

The only difference between Reagan and her peers is that she lives with Down syndrome.

However, this does not stop her from experiencing life like everyone else.

“We want to try and expose her to as much as we possibly can,” Reagan’s father, Randy Robinette said.

Part of this exposure is taking lessons at Spirit Horse in Corinth. Founded by Charles Fletcher, Spirit Horse is a non-profit organization that welcomes children with special needs and provides a unique way to develop healthy habits and skills.

Equine therapy is used to promote emotional, physical and mental development through caring for and riding a horse or pony with the help of a trainer. For Reagan, benefits include muscle toning and strengthening, balance, confidence boosts and feeling comfortable around large animals that many children might be frightened of. Reagan has taken lessons at Spirit Horse for four years now.

Part of the therapy is learning to care for the horses. Riders are able to brush the horses, which teaches them to be gentle and loving. They also assist in putting on the horse’s equipment.

Riders are then helped onto a horse or pony and are led by a trainer that works one-on-one with them. Reagan’s trainer, Jamie Barnhart, has worked with her for two months now, and watched Reagan grow.

“You can see the joy in her face when she gets here and when she gets to see her pony,” Barnhart said.

Another part of the therapeutic experience is forming a bond with the horses. This relationship between the horse and rider teaches trust, compassion, empathy and gentleness.

“Pebbles makes me the happiest because I like to trot. Trotting is my favorite,” Reagan said about her favorite pony.

One of the most exciting experiences for the riders at Spirit Horse is reaching a level where they can trot with the horse by themselves, with their trainer standing nearby. Not only does this promote confidence and independence, but also works the core muscles and encourages balance.

“She’s definitely more confident,” Mrs. Robinette said. “She’s not afraid to approach any animals. She understands now how to act around them and treat them.”

There are many clear benefits of equine therapy. Although many children do not get to experience this relationship with a horse and trainer like Reagan does, her parents only see it as another way their daughter proves she is like everybody else.

“To see her riding a horse is just another thing that’s on her checklist of things that she is capable of doing,” Mr. Robinette said.

Reagan’s parents have no trouble introducing their daughter to new things.

“Why can’t she try like everybody else?” Mrs. Robinette added.

Spirit Horse is unique, for therapy is provided at no cost to the families who are involved. That being said, many of these families had to be put on a waiting list before taking lessons.

Taking into consideration the cost of caring for horses

, running a facility as large as Spirit Horse, and assisting as many as 400 families a week, free services sound impossible. However With the help of outside donations and the owner’s personal contributions, Spirit Horse is able to provide therapy at no cost.

Unfortunately, there are still many families waiting to take lessons.

“Parents can only donate so much,” Mr. Robinette said.

Thanks to Spirit Horse, Reagan has gained confidence and trust with the help of her trainer and her pony. To learn more or donate, see their website.