Some months ago I attended an ACTHA Competitive Trail Challenge at Stongwater Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center, a PATH accredited facility in Tewksbury, Ma. As a photojournalist one of my jobs is to look for the story within the story and in this incidence I couldn’t help but wonder about a young man who stood stroking the neck of a chestnut gelding with a white blaze. He had a look of intense concentration on his face as he listened to the rider’s instructions being given by the ride host. At this time I did not know what a monumental task this was for this young equestrian. I hope that in sharing the story of Justin’s disability, his love for horses, and how horses have changed his life, it will serve as an inspiration to all people, not just those with physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
“The Boy Who Loves Horses”
As a photojournalist one of my jobs is to look for the story within the story. In this incidence I couldn’t help but wonder about a young man who stood stroking the neck of a chestnut gelding with a white blaze.
Justin & Timmy
Story and Photos by
Jen Wenzel
ACTHA Monthly | December 2014 |17
Continued on page 17 >
Meet seventeen year old Justin Brooks and his Strongwater Farm therapeutic horse Timmy. Not only is Justin a student at Strongwater, but in his subsequent years there this teenager has given back to the farm that not only helped him become a confident young man with his own voice but a Strongwater volunteer whose duties also include being a therapeutic sidewalker, and most recently learning to lead a rider.
Justin, the eldest of four children, suffers from ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, and Executive Function Disorder. Like many children, early intervention is paramount and Justin’s began in the first grade. It was Justin’s psychologist Dr. Larry Larson who suggested to his parents that they look into therapeutic riding. As an avid animal lover since birth, (Justin and his family currently have 3 cats, a bird, a bunny, a lizard, some sand crabs and a couple of fish tanks), Justin was able to focus on programs about animals and share that information with anyone who would listen. Dr. Larson felt therapeutic riding would give Justin the help he needed with focusing on other tasks such as multistep directions, while giving him confidence. Justin was put on a waiting list at Strongwater and it was a couple of years before a spot opened up and he’s been there ever since.