Therapy.
To adults this is a scary word, usually referring to depression, trauma, physical wounds, or even marital issues. To a child, therapy means hope. Hope that loved ones are not giving up, hope that someday they can have fun like all children, hope that they can be better in a way they want to be, hope that life can be as full for them as everyone else.
At “The Right Path Riding Academy” (RPRA) in Drumright, the volunteers along with their galloping friends do just that, they give hope to hundreds of children.
Don’t believe me? Ask Kathy Mounts of Kiefer. Her two children Alex and Austin, whom were adopted from Russia and China, have improved substantially at the academy. Alex, whom at the age of 5 yrs old could not walk, started attending in 2013. After 15 months of riding Kathy said, “For Austin, the need was to improve his depth perception caused by his two lazy eyes and to assist him in learning the English language. He started riding in 2014.”
The horse is a motivator; children with cognitive disabilities, speech impairments and learning disorders often concentrate harder and produce better results in an effort to please the horse.”
Right Path had improved Alex’s confidence and improved his balance and coordination allowing him to jump, hop, and headed towards running.
Alex, now 10, loves to ride.”
Austin, now 7, loves horseback riding and we have seen great improvement in his depth perception and social/ language skills.”
Alex and Austin both participate in the “William’s Walk” program that was founded 20
years ago by Leslie Kirkland, a registered physical therapist. The program is named after
the current director’s son who rode out at the ranch for six years. She says, “
At RPRA they don’t only have a big heart for children but for our nation’s Veterans as
well. Through their “Hooves on the Ground Veterans Program” RPRA reaches out to honorably discharged veterans who are suffering from post-military related issues, both physically and emotionally. The program began in 2015 to help veterans learn to trust life again and find a new purpose after the trauma of war. The purpose statement of “Hooves on the Ground” is to create an educational experience which empowers veterans to develop a meaningful partnership with a horse, drawing them into a positive and rewarding relationship while learning basic horsemanship skills.
Veteran Stephan and wife Lola Carter of Bristow say, “It is an amazing opportunity and well worth the drive wherever you are coming from. They have helped my husband to have a weekly ritual that he looks forward to every week. They are even expanding their program so that guys like my husband can continue to challenge the skills they have learned or are currently learning.”
RPRA was founded in May 1996 by Leslie Kirkland, a registered physical therapist who has Multiple Sclerosis. She found that riding really helped her and started doing it for a few friends as well. The program grew from there. Operations were taken over by Mike and Joshalyn Ocker and family in 2012 and 3 new programs have been added since. RPRA helps roughly 500 children and adults every year through their four programs, “William’s Walk”, “Horse Tales Literacy Project”, “Trail Blazers Youth Program”, and “Hooves on the Ground Veterans Program”. Eventually they plan to grow their organization in various ways, from adding more trails to hosting camps in the summer to adding a convention center. RPRA said they constantly need more volunteers for sidewalkers and leaders.
You can learn more about “The Right Path Riding Academy” and read more about volunteering at their website www.rightpathridingacademy.org. You can also reach out to them via email walkon@rightpathridingacademy.org.
