Published: April 18, 2008 09:37 pm            

Woman touts benefits of therapeutic riding

“Lacey’s Legacy” is benefiting others long after her death.

The children’s book by Cindy Goril of Strongstown is the story of Lacey, a 26-year-old palomino quarter horse who came to Goril’s Star Equestrian riding stable on Route 422 in 1997 and worked there until her death in 2004 at age 33.

Lacey, and now five other horses – Banjo, Belle, Tank, Stretch and Clair – are therapeutic riding horses, helping children and adults with physical, mental and social/emotional challenges.

Lacey’s special rider in the book is Adam, a boy with cerebral palsy.

Goril, who is 43, is hoping to spread the news of the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding through a series of children’s books.

She has self-published “Lacey’s Legacy,” which is illustrated by her friend, Sharon Jamison, and has two more books in the works, plus many more future story ideas.

“My plan is to send all three books to a publisher,” Goril said. “I had written some things five or six years ago with my older daughter in mind.”

Goril’s goal is have all three books ready for a reading contest at St. Francis University, Loretto.

“They’re short enough to read at bedtime,” Goril said. “I hope they open the door for discussion and teach acceptance. I hope they help people.”

Goril doesn’t think her own two daughters could grow up in a better environment for acceptance of physical or mental disabilities.

“They’ve seen children who are autistic or disfigured, and they’re OK with it – a lot of kids aren’t,” Goril said.

Goril’s second book will be about the courage of Stretch, another of her therapeutic horses.

Another story will involve Jay, a horse who had a disfigurement of his own – he had to have an eye removed.

“About 50 percent of the kids thought yuck or gross. But when we explained, they were fine with it,” Goril said. “We had to put down Jay last year.”

Proceeds from “Lacey’s Legacy” and Goril’s other books will benefit her therapeutic riding effort.

Goril has read her book at some local schools, and the response from teachers and students has been favorable.

“I never imagined writing a story,” Goril said. “It’s an awesome and scary door. The excitement about the book is surprising. It’s had a great reception. The kids loved it and could answer every question I asked them after I was done.”

The first page of “Lacey’s Legacy” features an illustration of Lacey and Goril’s daughter, Gabrielle, when she was a toddler.

The illustration was inspired by a painting and photograph of Lacey and Gabrielle, who is now 10, which won top honors at an equine art exhibit at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson.

When Goril bought Lacey, her horse friends laughed at her, but Goril knew the older horse would be gentle.

“She’s the best $400 I ever spent,” Goril said. “She was with me seven years.”

Goril said Lacey was unflappable, allowing children to wrap their arms around her legs or to groom her.

When Lacey had a rider with a seizure disorder, she would stop before a seizure came on and move again only when the seizure was over.

“Nothing upset her,” Goril said. “I think Banjo is a male version of Lacey.”

Children with behavior problems are calmed by the horses.

“They don’t feel closed in or tied down,” Goril said. “It gives them a sense of purpose, which everyone needs.”

Goril said she always needs volunteers, with and without horse sense, to help the children get on and off the horses and to lead the horses and walk beside them.

“I wish I could tap into the retirement community,” Goril said. “They could work with the horses, put on the saddles and help with fundraising.”

Goril, who received a degree in occupational therapy from Mount Aloysius in 1996, much prefers therapy on horseback to a more clinical setting.

She has known the majestic, gentle power of horses since childhood, and first found out about the benefits of therapeutic riding through a patient with a head injury who had tried it and improved.

“It’s a good form of therapy,” Goril said. “The horses have minds of their own.”

Goril’s husband, John, encouraged her to follow her dream, built her a barn and riding arena, and Star Equestrians opened in June 1998.

She is helping adults and children with special needs in Cambria, Indiana, Westmoreland and Armstrong counties five days a week.

Some riders have started as children and continued in the saddle as adults.

Goril’s therapeutic riding is nonprofit. There is a minimal charge for those able to pay something, but no rider will be turned away if he or she can’t pay.

The program is closed December through April.

“This isn’t my doing,” Goril said. “God wants me here. I’m just a vessel. This isn’t the usual career path for an occupational therapist.

“It’s no easy road, but the kids are worth it. As much therapy as we give, we get back more.”

In addition to the five therapeutic riding horses, Goril has four other horses for regular riding.

“Ninety percent of what I do is therapeutic,” Goril said. “The therapy horses need to be handled daily to get to be unflappable. Sometimes they get bored and need a break.”

Two llamas named Buddy and Cinco will serve as pacers, animals to walk with those who are overweight.

Even Goril’s Newfoundland provided therapy when a girl with Down syndrome brushed its coat for 45 minutes.

“Every animal here has a purpose,” Goril said. “I’m an instrument. I love my job.”

Goril’s menagerie also includes two other dogs, three cats, two rabbits and a herd of halflingers, a small breed of draft horse with a lot of energy.

Goril plans to have a drug prevention program for girls this summer, teaching life skills such as leadership and self respect to them.

She hopes older girls will be role models to the younger ones and will use the horses as a middle ground.

A major dream of Goril’s is to add on another building where agricultural and craft work such as leatherworking and woodworking could be done as occupational therapy.

“I’d like to involve soldiers with head injuries and others to grow produce that could be sold at a farmer’s market,” Goril said. “My dream is to have a healing farm environment, not sheltered, but protected. The world is tough.”

Goril already has started to work with Johnstown Area Regional Industries on a plan that would involve raised plant beds that would be wheelchair accessible.

        

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