Like many other teens, Kaleb Isbill is crazy about horses. But his experience with horses goes beyond riding for fun and his relationship with the horses is more than that of an animal and its rider. For Kaleb, the horses at Dream Riders of Kentucky provide friendship, social skills, therapy and fun.
Kaleb was born with a congenital condition called Arthrogryposis, which caused his knee, hand and wrist joints to be contracted preventing normal use of them. Through years of therapy, Kaleb has regained the use of his wrists and fingers, but the contraction of his knees remains a challenge for him. In 2000, when Kaleb was 6 years old, he began riding with Ohio County Equestrian, but after a while the drive became difficult, so Kaleb’s parents quit taking him. Then in 2004, a volunteer from Ohio County Equestrian began a similar business at the Daviess County Fairgrounds and Kaleb was back to riding. He has remained with the organization ever since.
According to Janice Tomblinson, Executive Director, the mission of Dream Riders is “to provide those with physical, mental, and emotional needs an opportunity to experience the joy of horseback riding and a bonding experience with horses.” The group offers two 12-week sessions each summer for clients like Kaleb, but they also provide group sessions for students with special needs in the local school systems and for the clients at the Wendall Foster’s Campus.
Approximately 75 volunteers perform tasks such as leading riders, grooming horses, cleaning stalls, maintaining the grounds and organizing fundraisers. These volunteers must undergo training sessions each year to stay current on the best practices to safely assist the riders. As a non-profit organization, Dream Riders is funded mainly from donations (both private and corporate), grants and fundraisers such as their Fall Jamboree, which takes place in September. Clients pay only $100 for each 12-week session with scholarships covering the remainder of the $600 cost.
Kaleb’s parents, Jane and Pat, find the benefits of Dream Riders truly a dream come true. Pat believes that improvement of his social skills is the most important benefit Kaleb gains from his riding, but another significant advantage is that the therapy improves Kaleb’s balance and strengthens his core muscles, which is vital considering Kaleb is unable to use his legs. Jane has seen another value firsthand. At one session, a volunteer demonstrated the difference in Kaleb’s knees before and after riding, and Jane could see that the gravity of sitting on the horse had helped Kaleb’s legs stretch out farther.
Kaleb’s favorite parts of his therapy focus more on the fun he has than on the physical benefits he receives. When asked what he enjoys most, Kaleb responds, “The horses, of course, and the volunteers are nice, and the activities they offer are really fun.” Such horseback riding activities include weaving in and out of poles, maneuvering the horse over logs, and grabbing rings in the arena then placing them back where they belong. But the activity Kaleb enjoys most is maintaining his balance on the bridge. “It’s just a thrill ride!” he exclaims proudly.
Since Dream Riders offers their son so much, Jane and Pat are more than willing to help out. Jane, a nurse at Dr. Edds’ office, has been on committees for the Fall Jamboree silent auction, worked at the auction and called people for donations for the Jamboree. Pat, an Owensboro Police officer, has controlled traffic for the event and helped with the silent auction as well. Even siblings Alex, a student at Western Kentucky University, and Abby, a 6th grade student at Daviess County Middle School, have lent a hand to the organization. Alex has mowed the grass and helped out with the Jamboree, but what he enjoys most is just hanging out with Kaleb at the facility. Abby considers her job the best- playing with the kittens and rabbits- since all the animals a Dream Riders need love, not just the horses.
Kaleb is just one of approximately 300 individuals that Dream Riders assists each year. The volunteers do it all with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts. “It is a great program,” Jane adds, “the volunteers are amazing, not just the time they spend with clients but the training they put in.” Our community is fortunate to have an organization so committed to helping our citizens with special needs, but in order for it to survive, we must support it.