Testimonials: The Power of Ponies

Power Pony has literally changed my life one half-hour lesson at a time! At first, I had doubts whether simply riding a horse could even help my human gait, but then the first time I went to that stable, I learned quickly that this activity improves my trunk control, visual feedback, and balance, all weak due to a neurosurgery performed in 06. During the lesson, I do numerous stretches and trunk strengthening drills with my amazing instructor Annie. All during my four years post-rehab, the PT I received 4-6x a week did not do much to up
my balance, unlike Pony Power, and all my therapists tried to do was work on the trunk (Ironic). Each week after I ride and afterwards use the walker at home, I see improvement. Before Pony Power, I needed a spotter to catch me in case I fell with the walker, and ambulation was very difficult. Now, though, not only is ambulating worlds easier, I am able to walk unsupervised! I absolutely love going horseback riding and cannot wait to have it twice, not once, a week, starting next year! I highly recommend Pony Power!- Tiffany H

What can I say, it takes my breath away to see my girls ride together.  To see my Amanda ride and laugh from pure enjoyment is so ….I actually at this point can not find the word that would totally express how I feel…its just too wonderful for words.   To see Courtney wave at Amanda as she passes her makes me melt…At one time all 3 of my girls were in the ring together and it is a memory I will always keep in my mind.

Pony Power has touched all three of my girls in so many ways:

Pony Power has helped Amanda with strengthening her back and legs, has made her aware of how different it feels to sit on a horse and try to hold her balance.

Pony Power helped Samantha come out of her shell, to see and help other handicapped children, to find something she enjoyed so much she couldn’t wait to go back, most of all to find self confidence.

Pony Power is special  to Courtney in so many ways; she gets to ride with her sister and her best friend ever; she has found that she can ride as well if not better than her oldest sister; she has decided that she wants to work with horses when she gets older; she says she loves to see Amanda laughing when she rides; she thinks its so special that handicap kids can have as much fun as her riding a horse.

So what can I say, Pony Power has been a place where we have found happiness, love, strength, self confidence, and friends.
—Lee Hoeland

Inspiring; fun to ride with my sisters; challenging; painful at times but in a good way; rewarding; a blast; fun to ride past my sister; great to hear Amanda giggle on the horse; awesome to ride with my bff; love the smell of the saddle when I am in it; feel the love when I pat my horse for a good walk, trot or canter; barn time is awesome; feel great about myself when I get off my horse.
—From the Hoeland Girls

As I write this, it is a snowy cold day with no horseback riding available for a few more weeks. It is a good time to reflect on how Pony Power has positively affected our daughter with autism.

Everyone associated with Pony Power is kind, gentle, caring and professional. Somehow they understand that patience is a virtue and that patience and perseverance seems to work with individuals with autism. My daughter rides two to three times per week and it is the highlight of her life, thus it has impacted our entire family.

Pony Power is a phenomenal program and it provides a very valuable service to the community.

With appreciation,
—Alice M. Hirsh


” I have three boys who have been riding with Pony Power for many years now. My eldest Jonah, is disabled and uses a wheelchair. We started the riding program for him, and he loved it. As my other two got older they wanted to be a part of it as well. They joined the sibling program as soon as they were eligible.

They have loved being a part of it and have gotten so much out of the experience. Having the opportunity to do something WITH their disabled sibling is invaluable since there are very few activities that they can all do together. Dana and her staff have created such a warm, safe environment for these kids to learn and explore and share their lives with others.” -Tania Gold


“Douglas is autistic. We don’t usually talk about Douglas without mentioning that fact. We often look at the many limitations his disability has put on him and on our family. We tend to look at and center on what he cannot do. So it was a few years back with horseback riding. We had heard about it being an activity that could have positive results for autistic people, but we figured the odds of Douglas even getting within five feet of a horse were so remote that we should not even think about it. We prayed about it and felt that it was the right thing to try, even if we knew in our heart of hearts it was going to be a disaster.

The first day was all we had anticipated, a complete disaster. Douglas did not even get on the horse. He was extremely upset, hitting his head and yelling. Oh well, we thought, we tried. Even if we wanted to keep trying we were sure that Pony Power would agree that it was just another thing that Douglas was going to have to do without. Another win for autism and another loss for Douglas. Not so fast. Everyone at Pony Power was enthusiastic, Douglas had done “so well.” Next time they were sure he would get on the horse. Okay, we thought, these people are crazy, but what’s another few weeks of 30 minutes of hell as long as they are willing to go through it with us. A few more episodes like this week and those rose colored glasses will wear through and they will kick us out.

It was a struggle for the first fall session, but the people at Pony Power refused to give up and remained optimistic so we kept at it and signed him up for the Spring. Fast forward three years. Douglas loves his weekly rides at Pony Power. He walks right up and gets right on Rascal. He is learning to steer, stop, and start Rascal.

What we hope we have learned and Douglas has learned, with the help of Pony Power, is to persevere and not give up. Autism does not have to win every battle. Some battles are worth fighting, even if you lose. We don’t have to fight every battle by ourselves. There are people out there, like Pony Power, who are willing to get in there and fight with us. And, last but not least, God plus us is a majority in any battle.” - Doug and Maria