Dr. Curtis Creach, Rising Star Farms Veterinarian, Jim Reynolds, co-founder and board member, and U.S. Congressmen Charlie Stenholm view the foundations facilities during Open House.

Michael, age 9, stands beside "his horse" after demonstrating his riding skills.

Eastland Telegram, Ranger Times & Cisco Press

Eastland County Newspapers
Weekend Edition

Sunday, May 4, 2003

Rising Star Farms Foundation Holds Open House

Dignitaries and Guests Included U.S. Senator Charlie Stenholm

By Margaret Hetrick

Located in the rolling hills only a few miles from the rural community of Rising Star in Eastland County Texas, Rising Star Farms Foundation is situated in the perfect setting for riding and recreation.

Although offering excellent riding facilities, including an indoor arena and outdoor riding trails, the Foundation is not a recreational center per say, but rather an equestrian therapeutic center providing Equine Facilitated Therapy (EFT) to mentally and physically disabled and non-disabled persons.

It is believed that the working and bonding with horses by clients of the program can result in positive therapeutic benefits.

The mission statement of Rising Star Farms Foundation is "to provide enlightenment through experience and knowledge in an equine environment."

For some clients of the Foundation, just balancing on a horse is a huge challenge, and several benefits of Equine Facilitated Therapy can be an activation of postural control, balance, and motor and sensory systems facilitated through the horse's movements.

Other benefits listed by the Foundation are control of one's mobility, access in an elegant and easy manner to places for clients using wheelchairs or with walking problems.

Individual programs based on specific client needs and recommendations given by doctors, therapists, the clients themselves, as well as parents, caregivers or guardians, are created by instructors and staff.

"The clients are assigned a horse based on their needs or disabilities," said Rising Star Farms instructor Becky Gover.

Safety of the clients receives a high priority at the Foundation.  Each client must wear a helmet while riding, and one certified EMT and two certified ECA's are on site, a spokesperson emphasized.

Clients who do not ride are offered non-riding programs, which include grooming, tacking, and caring for the Farm's horses.

Even lifting the saddle is good exercise, instructor Gover commented.

Both trainer/assistant riding instructor Sarah Davis and riding instructor Becky Gover emphasized the extensive training that the Foundation's horses go through before being assigned to a client.

The horse's training remains ongoing.

Temperament is of maximum importance, and the horse must be trained to deal with disabled riders.  Situations, including seizures on horseback, are simulated before the horse is ready to be used during riding sessions.

Rising Star Farms is volunteer driven, and the volunteers must also participate in training sessions, which teach them about every facet of the Foundation.

Since the Foundation is a NARHA (North American Handicapped Association) member, not only must its facilities meet NARHA standards and ADA requirements, but the volunteers must also learn about NARHA and its standards and rules.

"Our volunteers must be very knowledgeable [concerning the program, clients, and facilities]," a spokesperson said.

An Open House on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 gave dignitaries and guests an opportunity to view the facilities, speak with the Foundation's Board and personnel, and see a rider demonstration held by two clients.

Among the visitors was U.S. Congressman Charles Stenholm.  The Congressman stated that the therapeutic regimen provided by the Foundation had been brought to his attention, that he had been positively impressed, and that he looked forward to learning more about the operation.

Also present were representatives for Texas House Representative Jim Keffer and Texas State Senator Troy Fraser.  Representing Rep. Keffer was Judge Scott Bailey.  Representing Senator Fraser was Blake Woodall.

Attendees included Eastland County Judge Brad Stephenson, Rising Star Mayor Earl Bob Harris, Cisco civic leader and businessman Eris Ritchie, MHMR representatives, media staff from Brown and Eastland counties, KTXS TV, and many others.

Ryan, 16 years of age, and Michael, 9, gave a demonstration of their riding skills in the indoor arena for guests of the Open House.

Both learned "basic horsemanship from the ground up," instructor Becky Gover said.

Ryan and Michael not only demonstrated their expertise as riders, but also accomplished feats of placing rings around pipes, playing basketball and mastering obstacle fields by horseback.

And if one or two of the balls or rings didn't quite meet their goals, it was all taken in stride, for both boys were very proud of their achievements, and obviously enjoyed performing for the guests.

An instructor explained that the games played by horseback practiced and reinforced the skills accomplished through individual riding programs.

The Rising Star Farms Foundation is the extension of a dream of the two families, Lawrence and Rita Shepherd and Jim and Connie Reynolds.

In California, they worked with the Special Olympics for 13 years, and were also inspired by a visit to a therapeutic equestrian center.

The rural setting near Rising Star is perfect for the Rising Star Farms, and there is a need in the counties serviced by the center, a spokesperson said.  And the rewards are great for staff, volunteers, and clients as well, he added.

The counties being served by Rising Star Farms Foundation blanket our area and include Eastland, Brown, Comanche and Callahan.

The Foundation is open during normal business hours and on weekends by appointment.  Presently 15 clients attend classes there, which last from 45 minutes to an hour.

Rising Star Farms Foundation is a non-profit foundation, and a National Heritage Foundation.  The facility was built to meet ADA requirements and the standards of NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicap Association).

For more information visit their website: www.risingstarfarms.org, http://www.risingstarfarms.org or contact the Foundation at (254) 643-1177.

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