TEAM Hope Levels Playing Field

TEAM Hope Levels Playing Field

Story by: Kari West
Photos by: Jeff Kirkbride Photography

To succeed according to Webster’s Dictionary is to "accomplish what is attempted; to flourish; to thrive." That’s exactly what 18-year-old Quarter Horse enthusiast, Mycah McColm of Baxter Springs, Kan., has done. Mycah not only thrives in the AQHA show world riding her new horse, Chrome on My Zipper, she shares her favorite pastime, her past world champion horse Classically Tuff, and her passion for helping others. She volunteers with riders with disabilities, at Horses of Hope Riding Center, Inc., in her hometown.

Horses of Hope (HOH) is a therapeutic riding center in southeast Kansas that’s grown from modest beginnings 10 years ago to more than 500 clients today. In addition to the site in Baxter Springs, HOH operates a second site in Buffalo, Mo., just north of Springfield. Both sites provide equine facilitated activities to physically improve, emotionally empower, and socially enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities.

According to Kari West, HOH Marketing Director, "Even though each session with the client is individualized, one of the many session outcomes is the same. Our riders leave the barn with a smile; that makes this profession one of the most personally rewarding."

Volunteers agree. "Seeing the look on a client’s face when they accomplish a task they thought was impossible is more rewarding than any amount of money. I wouldn’t trade my volunteer experience for the world," said Stephanie Hopkins, an eight year volunteer. Hopkins is not alone. She is one of nearly 125 volunteers at the two sites who help with riders and other barn activities weekly.

But the activities go way beyond therapeutic riding, therapeutic driving and hippotherapy sessions. Both facilities provide opportunities for summer camps, educational programming, business retreats, at-risk programming, personal development, and team building programs. However, its newest initiative is TEAM Hope.

HOH clients have the opportunity to compete as a member of TEAM Hope in the AQHA’s Equestrians with Disabilities Classes. The team has been competing on a small scale for the past two years, however by the end of 2006, TEAM Hope competitors will have ridden in more than six AQHA sanctioned shows. TEAM Hope is made up of more than 12 riders with disabilities. They compete in the Equestrians with Disabilities Hunt Seat Equitation, Horsemanship and Trail classes.

"Everyone looks forward to going to the shows. It gives the riders the opportunity to compete on a level playing field," said West. "They have become a fixture at the Kansas shows, and for that we would like to thank the Kansas Quarter Horse Association for its encouragement."

In fact, the KQHA is calling its fall show the "Hope in the Heartland Futurity". KQHA President, Jeff Mellott, shared that the organization would like to see Kansas as a leading promoter of the Equestrians with Disabilities classes. And to help, the KQHA will donate a portion of the proceeds from the futurity to therapeutic riding centers in Kansas.

Not only has the AQHA and KQHA recognized the importance of disabled riders participating in the arena, several other association’s have recognized riders with disabilities. Six members of TEAM Hope rode in the Challenged Riders class at the Palomino Horse Breeders Association World Show; all were named World Champions. Those riders included Emily Oswald, Shelby Owens, Jerry Clawson, Carol Kimrey, Abi Brown, and Debra Finley.

The following week, TEAM Hope member, Sarah Smittle of Columbus, Kan., won Reserve Champion in the Challenged Riders Walk-Trot Class at the American Buckskin Registry’s World Show.

Horses of Hope’s TEAM Hope has gained state and national success as a leader in the Equestrians with Disabilities classes, however, at Horses of Hope, riders with disabilities succeed everyday.

That’s why AQHYA member, Mycah McColm rides her horse, Chrome on My Zipper, in honor of all disabled riders.

Horses of Hope is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation (as allowable by law), please call (620) 674-3458 or send an e-mail to hoh@ckt.net.

	Horses of Hope's TEAM Hope Member Emily Oswald of Springfield, Mo., rides Classically Tuff during the Palomino Horse Breeders Association World Show in Tulsa. Emily was one of 13 riders from seven states across the U.S. to compete in the PHBA Challenged Riders class. Photo by Jeff Kirkbride Photography.
Shelby Owens of Long Lane, Mo., shakes hands with a judge during the PHBA Challenged Riders Class in Tulsa, Okla. Shelby along with 12 other riders were named World Champions. Shelby is a member of TEAM Hope at Horses of Hope Riding Center in Buffalo, Mo. Photo by Jeff Kirkbride Photography.