The Wisconsin Magazine; Easy riders; 621[?]

State to take on more responsibility for themselves become more integrated in society. One program in Dane County offers a number of benefits. It's called Ride the acronym for recreation and instruction for disabled equestrians ride programs have been available in other states in the past but this is a first in Wisconsin. We took a peek at this new activity for Wisconsin disabled people and found a group of easy riders taking part. Diane has a new friend in her life. It's a relationship that began only a few minutes before her command. She's working on her first equestrian experience with rebel as part of the ride program. There will be more. And that's what supporters of ride say makes it so important to the disabled who take part. You have to make you keep what turned right.

And it can't help but spill over into the daily lives of anybody who participates in the ride. Especially with her developmentally disabled people. Comments from their instructors that they've become more verbal learning the words. At home they're more confident they may try things and they feel good. That's something that disabled people can do. That a lot of normal people don't want to do and that's a big plus because most of their lives they've been treated differently and this is one time when they can say I'm I can do this and you can't. Handle. The economy and. You know you. See how. Good. You are doing is vegetating helping. Kyle Stubbs lost a bout with polio as a child and has been a paraplegic most of his life. His participation in the RIDE program has double meaning it's enrich

his personal life is an easy rider but has also been part of his professional life. Kyle is the executive director of the ride program in Dane County. And it makes him a biased supporter as the one on the left. Why do. I think that recreation programs are not available for disabled people. And this program is special in that it combines physical therapy and recreation and social interaction. It's a whole conglomeration. It's really a benefit in rehabilitation. Physically it's meant that I can I can move better. It's given me increased range of motion and it's let me know that there are some muscles there that I haven't been using that I didn't think I had and. I feel better and feel healthier and seeing the people riders which are gratifying. There aren't any other ride programs in Wisconsin right now.

I think state wide and it has a lot of potential. A Milwaukee Greenbay and Auclair areas have large populations and large disabled populations and there's an awareness in the cities of the needs for disabled people the opportunities just aren't that good. Could you of course vary. This is. A driving force behind the right programs instructor Ellen Shambo. She sees it as more than taking handicapped people and putting them in the saddle. We want to come around now to get on. Really. Well. Ellen also reports some students get a psychological boost from the program. To get out. A lot of the students become a lot more outgoing in general a lot more amiable quite a bit more enthusiastic in general. It affects their coordination because they have a greater ease with their mobility a greater range of motion and flexibility on the joints quite and which of

course gives an individual a better self concept. Yeah yeah. OK you ready. You say wait a second we have to wait for Jim to say when you want to tell I want a watch and you're like. You know. Sorry. For the talk. Well when Jim first came to us he was quiet a little bit with you know how do you make sure his attention span seemed very short. But he was as I said very non-verbal as the lessons of progress has become a lot more verbal a lot more outgoing very positive in his attitude a lot friendlier he talks to the volunteers he talks to his horse. He's beginning to be able to direct the horse himself at first he made no motion to do that and he clung to the saddle. And now he rides without holding on to the saddle with a lot greater reach my have just got. Stretch stitches. I can you reach to reach the target Yes I can

tell you don't have to touch him just straight. Yeah it is. Just you and it's OK. I can only afford one stretch alone here. You're going to show the churches here. What I'm. Trying to say here is part of that for you. It's going to do it. But you try he's going. For you. Yeah it. Was some of the students who ride in a group lesson I've seen afterwards. They're getting together a lot more and they're talking about their ride and then they're hanging around horses instead of running off and ask the door and and being very to you cells they found that they can talk to each other about their riding. And to me was just a little. It's. I go. On with

other students it's just a great improvement in relating to me as a person and first there weren't too sure of me and they wouldn't really talk to me. And now they walk in and they shake my hand and they put their arm around me and own good friends. And you threw me thanks. Is it good. For you. As with any program designed to do good. There have been critics who called Ellen Carlisle and their small band of followers crazy for even trying to attempt placing mentally and physically disabled people on horseback. But most of those critics have reportedly been silenced when they've witnessed a lesson in person and solar riders will keep rolling in my van or wheelchair to take part. And most of them as well as their instructors and volunteers have definite goal set

for the future. I like what I would like to see the program benefit and reach as many disabled people as possible. I would like to be able to take a trail ride and I don't know when but that's that's my goal to be able to walk out on the horse by your house. That's nice all. Morning. Funny I think now being nice all right. I think you're tough. Sunday afternoon oh yeah between. Them do game have between. Them. Yeah. They're. Just saying it. Brings you with.

You.