SPIRITed riders

MEET THE SPIRITED RIDERS

My daughter, Ginny, has been with SPIRIT's team for nearly a year. She has Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic syndrome that affects appetite, growth, metabolism, cognitive functioning and behavior. In just a few short weeks of lessons I noticed significant improvement in her balance and trunk strength and although her speech is significantly delayed she is motivated to say many words to get Spirit, Colby and Infiniti to "go," "trot" or "stop." SPIRIT's team, led by Davorka Suvak, Kate White, Whitney Fitzgerald and their dedicated volunteers are like "earth angels" to our family. They provide an environment where Ginny can do a physical activity in which she isn't the slowest or most awkward. She loves to ride and even though she's working on cognition, speech and physical feats while riding it doesn't feel like the rest of our weekly therapies because it's so much fun for her to do and for me to watch. Riding day is our favorite day of the week. The joy on Ginny's face when she trots just melts my heart.

My daughter Lia is 11 years old and has been challenged since infancy with eyesight problems, struggles with fine/gross motor skills and sensory perception. She has distinct muscle weakness that has delayed her physical development and coordination. This has impacted her so profoundly throughout her life that she approaches every physical activity with fear and a lack of confidence.

Which is why when she started riding Spirit it was such a joy to see her happy and confident on that HUGE animal. I thought she would be fearful but she couldn't wait for each lesson. It was so uplifting to hear Kate and Dada praise her and give her the courage to push herself to get better. I'm so excited for her that she has a skill that she can be proud of and share with her friends.

We are extremely blessed to have found the SPIRIT program and so grateful participate.

We have an almost four years daughter that is very seriously ill with extensive neurological and physical problems. We knew "Dada" as she call her almost one year ago. We never knew how much our daughter is missing by not having the opportunity to came in contact with the superb beings that are horses. The excitement, the warmth, the bond formed between what is wrongly considered an "animal" and our fragile daughter is hard to impossible to describe. And all this was facilitated with dedication, professionalism, generosity by Mrs. Suvak and her recovery team lead by Katherine White. We virtually found no equivalent for what our daughter is receiving by having horse therapy with this competent and passionate professionals both in terms of physical development support and from emotional and psychological point of view. Mrs. Suvak gained our complete trust and we are more than grateful for her help and highly valuable support. We can recommend her and her team without any reserve.

Thanks for all your understanding and hard work!

I really can see the difference you have made in my daughter, Jacqueline, and in Teyedings--both of them!!! I can see, too that Jackie’s confidence level and desire to ride has also increased, and as a result her fear and anxiety have also subsided.

Jackie, too, has verbalized to me that she really understands what you have been trying to teach her. She said, “I can feel it now!” referring to her independent hand and leg/seat contact with Teyedings. What progress!

Teyedings, our 12 year-old Trakehner mare, has been a handful for us, but your calm, confident approach toward her has made all the difference in being able to work with her. You truly are a gifted trainer with special abilities to communicate with horse AND rider!

We feel so fortunate to have you , Dada, as our trainer, and look forward to continued twice weekly lessons with you at “Hand-Me-Down” stables in Great Falls.

Our daughter Peyton's experience riding in the SPIRIT Therapeutic Riding Program has been absolutely phenomenal due in large part to the person who championed the program - Davorka "Dada" Suvak. Dada has surrounded herself and the riders in the program with professionals, most notably Kate White in the case of my daughter, who either work or volunteer tirelessly. As a client we can see no difference in the level of involvement and concern for our daughter between employees and volunteers. And the horses have been gentle spirited. Dada has a real gift in communicating with animals and children together, working gently and yet assertively, pushing and encouraging and making the experience rewarding and fun.

Peyton is crazy about Dada, Kate and Spirit and has benefited in numerous ways since beginning her riding early last spring. Peyton is currently a three year old who has been diagnosed with developmental delay, global and fine motor delays, ataxia and hypotonia. She has developed considerable trunk strength, stability, balance, improved walking skills and speech skills since riding in the SPIRIT Program. She had just started walking when she started riding with Dada and barely spoke. Additionally, Peyton continues to develop a spirit of confidence, exuberance and "can do" attitude which has benefited her tremendously. She is the twin of a normally developing 3 year old sister and has a normally developing brother who is 16 months older. So this opportunity to participate and excel in the SPIRIT Program has boosted her esteem within the family hierarchy. And Dada and her team have been very supportive of the entire family in our support of Peyton. We look forward to the hugs and smiles that greet all of us each week. And Peyton can't get her helmet on fast enough to begin riding Spirit when we arrive for each lesson!

I love riding with Dada, Kate and everyone at SPIRIT. But before I even get on the horse, I see why SPIRIT is needed in this community. A little girl rides before me. I know she has many medical problems, but when I see her and her parents, their faces are touched with joy, not worry about the future. The people at SPIRIT and the horses have given this little girl a place of fun and beauty in what must be a hard life. It is the same for me; it must be the same for other riders and that is why the community needs SPIRIT. -- Matt

My son, Robbie, has blossomed thanks to Spirit, Infiniti and the incredible people who work with him and his horse. We are so lucky to have found Davorka Suvak, Kate White and the other kind, caring and talented volunteers who make each lesson the highlight of my son's week. My son, who has been diagnosed with hypotonia, Ehlers-Danos Syndrome and gross motor delays, has benefited tremendously from therapeutic riding with SPIRIT and Infinity. Not only has his muscle strength and balance improved, but his self-confidence has increased dramatically due to his budding relationship with the horses and his instructors. Every time that Robbie's lesson has to be canceled due to bad weather, we are so disappointed. We sincerely hope that SPIRIT, Infiniti and the rest of the team will find a home to allow their dedicated instructors to provide lessons every week regardless of weather conditions. We would be devastated to no longer be able to continue our weekly time with these wonderful horses, excellent instructors and amazing volunteers.

Therapeutic horseback riding with the SPIRIT Team has been one of the greatest things to happen to our post-renal transplant, six-year-old son. There are not enough superlatives to adequately describe how positive it has been for him in a life otherwise filled with medical and learning challenges. All of the highly capable instructors' hearts are in the right place, and they all just really "get it". The best image I can give you is on the days when we tell Nate he has a horseback riding lesson, he smiles a wide toothless grin and shouts, "Yes!" Thanks to Dada and her Team. We wish them only the very best.

Just wanted to let you know how important you are in Ryan's life and coming to ride and see you is the highlight of his week. Thank you so very much for having high expectations and pushing him to do more. He will only let his favorite people allow him to do that. But I know you will read him to know when not to go too far.

We feel so blessed to have you, Hedy, Kate and the whole team.

Love, Judi

Davorka Suvak's SPIRIT program has been a tremendous help to my daughter. She sits straighter, stands stronger, and loves every minute of therapeutic riding. Just as important, she has learned to be matter-of-fact about her disabilities and those of others. SPIRIT's team is demanding, yet gentle; supportive, but with high expectations. This is a program that strengthens a community and nourishes its needy, in a warm, inclusive environment.

SPIRIT Therapeutic Riding Program has provided our developmentally delayed 5 year old son with an amazing opportunity to mature socially, cognitively and physically as he meets the demands of a challenging and rigorous sport. This unique experience allows him to succeed as a rider, learning to command a large-being, following multi-step directions from professional instructors, that use skilled interventions to promote proper development in individuals with disabilities. This one-on-one experience improves his ability to follow directions, strengthens his muscle tone and improves self-esteem. This organization is clearly on the right track to success in assisting individuals with disabilities. The staff are highly trained compassionate people who have dedicated their lives to a most respectable and self less vocation. They demonstrate the knowledge to provide exemplary service to the community by assisting these children in reaching their highest potential.