Mentorship Awards, Monadnock Community Connections School 2005-2007

"From the first moment our daughter sat so proudly upon a horse we witnessed her transform from a little girl with physical challenges to a confident individual who excelled in a sport.

Our daughter has nemi-paresis (heightening of her right side muscles in her arm and leg). We have engaged her in a myriad of activities such as swimming, gymnastics, and yoga along with PT and OT services. All have been influential in her mobility. However, as parents, we have seen her enthusiastic yearning to do many of her activities just like the other kids and it would break our hearts when we would see her work twice as hard as those around her and typically she would fall or usually take longer to complete a task. Seeing our almost three year old with her petite little body sitting on this massive horse was a moment like no other.

It was the first time that she was just as "normal" as the other children who had excelled around her in the physical sense. She not only engaged in movements that were a challenge for her in OT and PT but she loved taking risks on the horse like riding backwards, laying down on the horse, throwing basketballs in a hoop mounted on top of the horse. Our daughter is proud and talks constantly of her ability to ride a horse and "post" among other activities.

The experiences through Miracles in Motion have allowed us to see our child's strengths highlighted and her physical differences minimized. What an empowering experience to watch when our daughter demonstrates in front of our eyes that anything is possible! We feel blessed to have access to such a life-changing program. And we are fortunate to be surrounded by so many volunteers and staff who are obviously passionate about horses and believe in their therapeutic purpose. Without their humble services a program like this would not be possible. They are the angels that bring the miracles to fruition."

A Parent of a Participant