These are just some of the comments we hear when going through the interview process prior to a new student or group coming to Driving Magic, Inc. What continues to astound, amaze, motivate, and create this heartfelt love for what we do is witnessing just the opposite. With a thorough understanding of each participant’s needs, a well thought-out lesson and skills progression plan and the extraordinary connection between horses and people with disabilities, so much can be accomplished by individuals with mild to severe/profound disabilities. When a participant steps up into the carriage (or rides up the lift), grasps reins (or a noodle or communicator) and commands into action a horse so powerful yet so docile and loving, something changes...you may catch it subtlety or it blows you away. And you know that their life and yours will, thankfully, never again be the same.
So, YES he CAN hold his head up for 15 minutes on a cross-country trail drive, and YES she has become an advanced independent driver, and YES she puts her own helmet on by herself now and YES he can lead, groom and drive his horse, and YES she does drive on active reins with her feet, and YES she turned that 1900-pound horse in the direction of the handbells to perfectly stay on the obstacle course and OF COURSE, there wasn’t a dry eye at the farm today!
groom and drive his horse, and YES she does drive on active reins with her feet, and YES she turned that 1900-pound horse in the direction of the handbells to perfectly stay on the obstacle course and OF COURSE, there wasn’t a dry eye at the farm today!
To Find Out More
To receive more information, to volunteer or to donate to Driving Magic, Inc., please go to drivingmagicinc.org or call 404-358-4129.
To learn more about carriage driving for individuals with disabilities, you can access the following resources:
www.usdfd.org (United States Driving for the Disabled)
How Many Angels Does It Take: The Remarkable Life of Heather Brooks, which can be purchased directly by sending an email to Janice Strang, Driving Magic instructor and mother of Heather Brooks, at [email protected] or 678-907-3247.
Many thanks to Steadfast Farms, Hoschton, GA, for hosting our program and for honoring Driving Magic at the December 5, 2015 ACTHA event at the farm.
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