Hayward corral home to program for disabled riders

Oakland Tribune, Oct 25, 2008 by Eric Kurhi

HAYWARD

Every Wednesday afternoon, Jeff Grow takes a paratransit bus from his home in Richmond to a pocket of ranchland nestled among single- family homes in the Fairview hills.

There, he doffs his cowboy hat, dons a helmet, and with a little help from some friends, mounts Echo -- a 15-hand Tennessee Walking Horse -- for some Western pleasure riding.

"Jeff is a great example of triumph," said Kari Ann Owen, director of Wildhorse!, a nonprofit organization that teaches horsemanship to both the able-bodied and the physically impaired. "He has excellent form and executes his tasks perfectly."

Grow, 59, is one of a dozen students who come to Wildhorse! for private riding lessons. About half are handicapped, and Grow's self- described "stiff leg from old age" is one of the less severe afflictions.

Owen's other students include one who uses a wheelchair and another who uses a walker. The facility is equipped with a special ramp that allows easy access on and off the saddle, and the large, imposing Echo is an ideal mount.

"He's got a very smooth gait," Owen said. "The perfect therapy horse."

That therapy is both physical and emotional, she said. Her goal is to foster a sense of human-equine communication, which in turn works wonders.

"Someone who feels limited, like they are under siege, can find healing in equestrian activity," she said. "It teaches calmness, focus, pride and self-esteem. They grow tremendously by doing different tasks, and completing tough tasks."

Owen should know. About 15 years ago the El Sobrante resident was diagnosed with sciatica and found herself using a wheelchair.

An avid equestrian, she was determined to not only get out of the chair but also to return to the saddle. She did the latter by joining a program at the Cornerstone Equestrian Center in Napa. She found it so helpful that she became determined to become an instructor herself. After teaching through Cornerstone for a couple of years, she started Wildhorse! in 2006. At any given time, she has 10 to 12 students. Some have been coming nearly from the start; others move on.

"I had one student who was anorexic and bulimic," she said. "Coming here and riding the horse gave her strength."

She said that student went on to complete a treatment program for her problems.

"I'm so proud of them all," Owen said of her students. "I love all of them -- they shine brighter than the brightest stars."

Eric Kurhi covers Hayward. Reach him at ekurhi@bayareanewsgroup.com or 510-293-2473.Saddle up

Visit www.kariannowen.com/Wildhorse_.html or call Kari Ann Owen at 510-860-8188.