Horse therapy helps kids

Brookston, Ind. (WLFI) - In this week's Helen Magazine segment, we are headed out to the horse stables in Brookston. We'll introduce you to one woman who is combining her love of horses and desire to help kids into a second career.

Several years ago Libby Marks-Shepard was looking for some inspiration.

"I was an unfilled thirty/fortyish-something looking for direction in my life and I found out about therapeutic riding," Marks-Shepard said.

She had long been a horse enthusiast and knew of the healing potential of companion animals. So, she decided to get certified as a therapeutic riding instructor. She worked for several years before successfully opening Therapeion Therapeutic Riding Center in Brookston. Marks-Shepard, along with her all-volunteer staff, have three programs using horses for therapy. "Ride to Renew" was the pilot program. It is for children who have been victims of abuse and neglect.

"My initial concept for this was to use horses that had been rescued to help kids that have been abused and neglected and I got a, 'No, you can't do that. Rescued horses are too unreliable.' Our star pupil out here, Popeye, came from Indiana Horse Rescue and has was our 2008 Therapy Horse of the year," she said.

"Ride to Win" is a program for children with disabilities and the "Ride On" program is for at-risk kids from the Cary Home for Boys. But Marks-Shepard hopes to add more, including a program for women recovering from abusive relationships.

"Our riders need year round programming and we obviously in this weather can't offer it. We don't have an indoor arena where they can ride, we can't have classroom activities," she said.

Plans are in the works for the biggest project yet--expanding the facility. But that's going to take major renovation including indoor classrooms, arena, and handicap accessible areas. Marks-Shepard said it will take about $330,000 from donations and grant money but she is confident she will reach her goal. She said this is her calling and she is committed to see it through.

"This really is my focus, the focus is the center and the kids," she said.

For more information on Therapeion click here.