Straight from the Horses' Mouth

That is when I became hooded. From then on, no matter what I did in my life, I was always pulled back in the direction of introducing this very unique form of therapy to the community. Now TREC is a reality!

My goal as the Executive Director is to continue to educate and let as many people as possible experience the way a horse, a volunteer, and an instructor working in a safe facility can change the life of their loved one. I want parents to glow with pride watching their child ride. I want riders to shine above and beyond their disability. I want volunteers to share their gift of caring with others. I would like to welcome everyone to the Therapeutic Riding and Education Center of Pueblo.”

–Virginia Steckman, Executive Director of TREC

Andrea’s Story-A Woman Overcoming Anorexia
“I am 44 years old and weigh 87 pounds. For the past thirteen years I have lived in this community and have never developed what I can now refer to as, ‘A Life’. Instead I had developed an eating disorder, an irritable bowel syndrome and slight depression. I filled my time up with shopping sprees that I really couldn’t afford and doctor appointments that only lead to other doctor appointments. A very dear friend of mine hopped off what I now call ‘my roller coaster ride’ after she realized that nothing she could say was ever going to direct me into finding out what it was really up to me to take charge of my life. That really scared me. My body was weak in strength, my mind was incapable of making sound decisions and my emotions were very unpredictable. I really felt that I was on the verge of self-destruction.

That very week, I read an article in the local newspaper about a therapeutic riding program in our community that catered to people with disabilities. It talked about improving their quality of life. I have always loved the old west and something about this story grabbed me and would not let go. It took me a week before I picked up the phone, but it turned out to be the best call I could have ever made.

Since being introduced to ‘Felicity’, my four-legged friend, my life has taken on meaning. I have developed strength within me to challenge my eating disorder and gain control of my body again. I have learned skills through the riding instruction that have helped to develop my mind into functioning in more of a dependable way, and I have gained control of my emotional state of mind in ways that I could have never imagined. These results are measured in small milestones each day of my life.

My goal is to continue to heal with the help of my four-legged friend and continue to turn the darker moments of life into nothing but bright days and wonderful, wonderful memories. I now weigh 96 pounds and I’m thinking I just might reach my goal of 100 pounds by the end of December. I love going for weight checks and watching the scale climb higher. I owe my beginning to Virginia and her TREC program.”

-Andrea, A Woman conquering Anorexia

Parents of Beth-A Young Lady with a Learning Disability Progresses
“It is not a mystery that Beth loves horses, most girls do. The attraction starts when they are five or six and by the time they are pre-teen they are kindred spirits with the most noble of God’s creatures, the horse. So it was with Beth, always wanting to be around them, never being afraid. Although Beth loved horses she never had an opportunity to ride more than a few times. You see, Beth has a learning disability and needs one-on-one supervision for most activities. It’s neurological, the connections that are routed to the brain don’t always connect, leaving Beth with cognitive thought and speech problems.

As parents we have always sought out special programs that would fit Beth’s special needs and help in her development. But we had never heard of any program involving horses in our area until we discovered TREC. Finally, we had found a place that would be sensitive and address Beth’s disability as well as her love for horses. We knew immediately that Beth would love the program and would bond with the horses.

What we did not know is the extent that therapeutic riding would benefit Beth. When Beth is riding her favorite horse ‘Chance’ she projects an air of independence and empowerment. Such feelings often elude people with or without disabilities. Beth plans for her riding day and she is excited at her awareness of time and place. Beth has bonded with her instructor, Corey and the volunteers Malory and Daniel. Therapeutic riding has helped Beth to focus, to communicate with complete sentences and at times to be theatrical (a gift we did not know Beth had). TREC has helped Beth to grow mentally from a little girl to a young lady who would rather make up names for people and animals refusing to say their real name. Now when you ask Beth what her horse’s name is she fondly laughs and with clarity says ‘Chance’.”

-Leonard and Kim, Parents of Beth

Rachel’s Poem-A Little Girl with a Developmental Disability Composes a Poem of one of TREC’s Horses

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