Saratoga Springs fundraiser helps children get equestrian therapy
Rosie Farias, 5, of Vineyard, places a smaller cone on a larger cone as Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, gathers himself as he stands atop a horse during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Placing the cones on other cones from horseback helps strengthens the core of riders. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Angela Gewondjan, lead trainer, fastens a helmet on Keyna Izatt, 4, of Eagle Mountain, during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Rosie Farias, 5, of Vineyard, prepares to throw a ball through a hoop and into a barrel while instructed by Angela Gewondjan, lead trainer, during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Carol Holt, of Lehi, tends to a horse during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, stands atop a horse led by Tiffany Hansen, of Eagle Mountain, during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Pritchett has autism, and rides in various positions while on a horse. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, adjusts his helmet as Tiffany Hansen, of Eagle Mountain, talks with him during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Aubrey Hansen, 4, brushes a horse as Chase Washburn, 3, both of Eagle Mountain, plays with a toy truck during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, places a cone on another cone held by Angela Gewondjan, lead trainer, during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, rests on his knees atop a horse led by Tiffany Hansen, of Eagle Mountain, during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, dangles from his horse as he places a cone on another cone during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
Tyler Pritchett, 8, of Lehi, lies atop a horse as he talks with Angela Gewondjan, lead trainer, during equestrian therapy sessions Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Summerhill Equestrian and Event Center in Saratoga Springs. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
A year ago, Rosie Farias could not answer simple “yes” or “no” questions. Today she asks for things, comments on the world around her, and can tell her mother how she feels.
Her mother, Camille Farias, credits her 5-year-old’s verbal progress, and much of her physical progress to horses, or equestrian therapy.
“It’s been absolutely life-changing,” Camille Farias said Wednesday while watching her daughter circle the arena high atop a horse at Summerhill Equestrian and Events Center in Saratoga Springs.
Rosie was born at 23 and ½ weeks, and struggled to even survive those first few months. Because of tubes and different medical needs, she physically developed later than other children her age. At age 4, she was also diagnosed with autism. She knew words, but only parroted them back when spoken to.
After trying a few other therapies, Camille Farias decided to try equestrian therapy. Rosie’s first session on a horse went like other therapy sessions, her mother said — Rosie bawled for about 45 minutes straight. Then something clicked, and she sat on the horse for the last 15 minutes in complete serenity — something Camille Farias said is completely unusual for her daughter.
As they drove home from that session, it was the first time Rosie used speech to communicate.
“She said something like, ‘I like horses,’ and ‘I want to go back,'” Camille Farias said of that day. “All that other therapy we’d tried, none of it worked. But the horse did the first time.”
Camille Farias saw more and more changes in her daughter within just a few months of horse training. She still sees major breakthroughs almost daily.
“There’s something special about horses. They reach these kids in a way no other thing has,” she said.
The Farias family is able to utilize this type of therapy through the Angels Landing Foundation, a nonprofit equestrian therapy organization run by Angela Gewondjan. Gewondjan, who has been around horses almost her entire life and a Montessori preschool teacher since graduating high school, said Angels Landing was a natural combination of her unique skills. She started offering therapeutic horseback riding lessons in July 2017.
“It’s amazing to see the results that simply riding on a horse has for these kids,” she said in an email. “It might not look like they’re doing anything spectacular, but for many of these kids, just engaging their core muscles to balance on horseback is a ton of work.”
In addition to Rosie, Gewondjan’s students on Wednesday included Tyler Pritchett, an 8-year-old boy with moderate to severe autism; a boy with cerebral palsy; and others. Both boys loved riding horses with the vaulting pad — a type of open saddle with unique handles — and testing their balance atop the horse’s back.
“It’s so good for these kids. It’s incredible to watch these kiddos that struggle so much, do so well in this environment,” Tyler’s mother, Kim Pritchett said.
Gewondjan and members of the Angels Landing Foundation are holding an event for the community Saturday to raise funds to continue Gewondjan and her team’s equestrian therapy work. The event, called the “Fairies and Fantasy Festival,” will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Summerhill Equestrian Center. The center, which was formerly known as Coyote Creek, is located at 8194 Sage Hill Drive, Saratoga Springs.
The price of the event is $20 per family, which includes face painting, apple bobbing, a silent auction, light refreshments and the chance to take pictures with horses dressed up as unicorns. Families can pay $40 per family to add one ride per child on a horse or miniature pony. All money raised will go to purchasing equipment for the therapeutic riding program, and for the care of the horses.
“The fundraiser has something for everyone in the family,” explains Gewondjan, who also founded the Angels Landing Foundation. “Kids of all ages love taking pictures with our unicorns and with the addition of miniature pony rides, we’re sure it will be an event your children will be talking about for days.”
To find out more, visit the Angels Landing Foundation Instagram page at https://instagram.com/angels_landing_foundation2017.
The “Fairies and Fantasy Festival” will be held Saturday to raise money for the Angels Landing Foundation, a nonprofit that offers equestrian therapy sessions to those with special needs.
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Summerhill Equestrian and Events Center, formerly known as Coyote Creek, located at 8194 Sage Hill Drive, Saratoga Springs.
Cost: $20-40 per family
