Horseback Riding Provides Therapy for Those With Special Needs

There’s a quiet farm in Gray, Georgia, that offers a unique opportunity for children and young adults with special needs.

Shannon Milner’s horses are being used as a form of physical and emotional therapy.

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do,” Milner says of her farm.

Milner has an uncle who was born with special needs, which drives her passion to help out as many other people as possible.

24 year old Riad Akhras was born with autism. He says he comes out on the weekends to ride the horses, brush them, and teach them how to listen to him.

“It gives me something to do,” Riad says.

Riad’s mother, Josette, says the horse therapy has been a blessing to her and her son.

“Since he (Riad) started riding, he’s gotten a lot more confident. He’s willing to try different things.”

And 10 year-old Bobby Hill came out to ride as well. Bobby was born with spina bifida, and has left him mostly paralyzed from his hips down.

Bobby’s mom, Kathryn, says she knows riding horses has not only made her son stronger physically, but has sharpened his mind as well.

“When he was six, he still wasn’t hardly talking to people. But he started riding a horse named Laya, and he’d come out to the barn and talk to her like a person,” Kathryn laughs.

Milner says, teaching how to ride a horse is secondary to the main mission of the farm.

“Number one is…self esteem. Self confidence. And that’s what I’ve seen with most of the children and young adults, through therapeutic riding.”

If you would like more information about therapeutic horse riding at Milner’s Brave Meadows Farm in Gray, you can call Shannon Milner, or send her an email.

She says she is constantly in need of support and volunteers, and will not turn anyone away who comes out to ride for therapy.

Shannon can be reached at 478-319-0203

or by email at bravemeadows@msn.com

If you know of anyone in your community who is making a difference and Making Middle Georgia Great, we’d love to hear about them!

Send Kyle Warnke an email at kwarnke@41nbc.com with the details.