MONTAGUE, MI — Kimberly Patton always wanted a horse growing up. Now with five horses of her own, the New Era resident is sharing them.
Through the use of equine therapy, Patton is helping children with mental and physical disabilities at the Center for Equine and Youth Rehabilitation.
"Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted my own horse, but my parents were not horse savvy," Patton said. "I didn't get my first horse until I was 38 years old. My best friend was a horse trainer and through him I learned a lot about horses."
It was because of her best friend that Patton created the program four years ago. After losing her friend to Osteosarcoma – a form of bone cancer that normally occurs in children – Patton did research on the subject and created Heal with a Horse.
Chronically-ill children who take part in the program have diseases ranging from cancer to autism. For one day a week for about 30 minutes, they ride a horse while being coached by social work interns.
"We work with them on their core strength, work with them on their speech," Patton said. "Whatever complements their current therapy, we enhance what they are already doing. It's great to realize the kids' bond with these horses, and that there is a real attachment that occurs."
What she discovered in her research was how when a horse moves forward it also moves side to side at the same time. Even with a 20-minute ride, a child will work the muscles they rarely use.
This equine therapy program teaches children not only to ride, but to take care of a horse. Through the brushing and feeding, children improve their mental and physical health, as well as their social skills and overall happiness. For those who are completely paralyzed and might not have as much control over their body as others, Patton said they use older horses that move at a much slower pace.
For most equine therapy clinics, the price is steep and the wait is long.
However, Patton said Heal with a Horse has no cost to take part in the program and a space is made available within the first three days.
"The one thing that makes our program stand out is how ours is the only one that is completely free," Patton said. "There is no cost to the kids or parents. It's all done with volunteers."
A place to heal
Currently, Heal with a Horse is working out of a barn in Montague on 64th Street, which is owned by Christina Brown.
Brown, who has been a volunteer since the program first started, said they began using her facilities a few months ago.
"I built a really nice facility for my own private use," Brown said. "The second I heard (about the program), I told them to use my place. It was a no-brainer."
Not only has the program benefited the children and their families, but it has also given the horses a new purpose. For some of the children with disabilities, Brown was able to see her 30-year-old retired show horse be around people again.
Something that also surprised Brown was the impact some of the parents have had on the volunteers.
"What I didn't realize is these parents are saints," she said. "What they deal with on a day-to-day basis is amazing."
For the last four years, Patton has been burning the candle at both ends. While putting in as much time as she can with the non-profit program, Patton also serves as a health care executive at GE where she sells cancer diagnostics throughout Michigan, Ohio and Canada.
Patton has spent so much of her own time and money on this non-profit program that it has helped more than 150 children and families. Because of this, JOLLY TIME Pop Corn went on to name her one of its 100 Kernels of Kindness award winners.
With the award comes the $1,000 grant, which Patton said is a big help to the program's future.
"In five years I see us with our own facility, working Monday through Friday and doing evening and weekend sessions with families," Patton said. "I see us holding clinics -- having a big enough place to hold clinics for the public."
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