Small Talk: A special place for special people, special horses

On Wednesday, I stumbled in on a big, happy family throwing a surprise birthday party at Thorncroft Equestrian Center in Malvern.

The group was served cake and brownies at the center during the 70th birthday party for the coordinator of lessons at the center, Gary Graham.

Graham is a military veteran and originally volunteered at the horse center.

“It’s good for the inside of a man to be on the outside of a horse,” Graham quipped.

Half of the 325 riders at the non-profit, therapeutic riding program have special needs.

“It takes them away from their problems and focused on the horse,” Graham said, about the center’s work with special needs children.

Sallie Dixon volunteered at the center 26 years ago and now serves as director.

She discussed the center’s work regarding riders who are on the autistic spectrum.

“Their brains are so full and when they’re around horses they focus and obtain a sense of peace and quiet,” Dixon said. “When they are around horses you can teach them better.”

Dixon said there are many theories concerning why horses have a positive impact.

“A horse moves the exact same way that you moved before you were born,” she speculated. “A horse is the only thing that recreates the exact motion of a mother’s walk.”

Dixon talked about teaching family values at the center on Line Road.

“We teach respect for each other – respect of animals – and you take that home and practice it in your life,” she said.

Richard Johnson is Thorncroft’s chairman of the board of directors. He enjoys traveling with his wife and riding all over the world. He also started off at Thorncroft as a volunteer. The name of his horse is “ZBart.”

Johnson talked about the value of exercise.

“If you are sitting in a wheelchair all day long, you are looking up at people,” he said. “Get on a horse and you are looking them in the eye or looking down from a different perspective.”

Johnson talked about a veteran at the center who was unable to talk. The first time that vet sat on a horse he experienced extreme pain and was unable to sit on the animal for more than 30 seconds. A year later, the vet was able to ride for more than a half hour at a time.

“He couldn’t talk, but you could sense it, it really meant a lot to him,” Johnson said.

At the 70-acre property, Claire Dobson was volunteering Wednesday with about a dozen fellow students from Villa Maria Academy.

“It’s almost like therapy stress relief from school and everyday life,” Dobson said about being around the 34 horses at the center.

Nicole Stein is barn manager.

“The horses can read the kids,” Stein said. “If the horses see that they are nervous, they try to calm the kids down and take care of them.”

Her horse, “Robbie,” is a little naughty around her but “calms down and behaves” with the young riders.

Dixon’s horse is named “Cleveland.” She visits him every day and rides two or three times per week.

“Being with a horse is as important as riding a horse,” she said.

Dixon said you can sometimes see a jumper smiling while performing.

“Everybody wants to work,” she said. “Everybody wants a task. Everybody wants to excel at something.”

Birthday boy Graham asks for kisses from his four-legged friends.

“You become attached, you know their personality and they get to know you,” he said. “I speak to them all individually. They get to know your voice.”

Graham has taken ownership.

“This is my stable,” the veteran said with a grin. “These are my horses. It’s my job to take care of them and they are dependent on me.”

The public is welcome at Thorncroft Equestrian Center, at 190 Line Rd., Malvern. Everybody pays the same price, while some special needs riders receive scholarships.

For more information, call 610-644-1963 or go to www.Thorncroft.org

Bill Rettew Jr. is a weekly columnist and Chester County native. The first horse he rode was named “Banana” and that horse lived up to his name. He may be contacted at brettew@dailylocal.com