Run, Walk and Roll with Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship
A conversation with Camelot student, Alicia Draper
By Sasha Graham
I have not done a 5k before, however, a couple years back I walked about a
half mile and that walk ‘n roll was sponsored by a local nonprofit called K2
adventures.
That experience was fun because I did it with a family from Camelot. In my
opinion, I feel it is easier to exercise and just more plain fun, when you have
a group you know who participates alongside you. That way you can be each
other’s cheerleaders with ease without feeling uncomfortable. For me, doing
the walk ‘n roll with someone that I knew, it made it easier to feel comfortable to step out of the box and participate in something new.
Like so many Arizonans, Alicia Draper, 31, loves to swim, hike, and ride
horses. Recently, she has also taken a couple of dance classes in modern
dance and hip hop. Unlike most other Arizonans, however, Alicia also lives
with cerebral palsy.
On Saturday, January 11, 2014, Alicia will join a team from Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship, where she is a student and volunteer, on a 5k (3.1
miles) “Run, Walk and Roll” to raise money for the Camelot program. I
recently spoke with Alicia about her disability, Camelot, exercise, horses and
her great big dreams.
Please tell me a bit about your disability. What is it and how does it affect
your mobility?
My disability is cerebral palsy. I was born three months early. When I was
born, I did not get enough oxygen to my brain. As a result, the part of my
brain which controls my fine motor skills and balance is paralyzed. This is
why I use a walker, or as I like to call it, my “silver chariot”.
How long have you been a student at Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship?
I came through the gates of Camelot when I was only 12 years old. For three
years, I was a student. Then at age 15 I became a mentor to an 11-yearold female, who also lives with cerebral palsy, who was also a student at
Camelot. I mentored her until I was eighteen years old. At age 18 I left
Camelot to pursue a college degree in journalism and mass communications, and start my own public speaking business.
However, as I was in the mass communication field I realized how much
I missed being around horses and being a mentor. This is why, after being
away from Camelot for 10 years, I asked the executive director of Camelot,
Mary Hadsall, if I could come back to Camelot to learn how to teach people with disabilities horsemanship. My ultimate goal is to become a certified horseback riding instructor through the Professional Association of
Therapeutic Horsemanship also known as P.A.T.H. But, before I could be a
student again at Camelot, Mary wanted to see my commitment, and asked
me to volunteer for six months first as a stall cleaner, a fancier way of saying
a person picks up horse poop.
After my six months of volunteering was over, I was able to become a student again. Since 2010, I have been a student at Camelot working towards
my goal of being a certified horseback riding teacher.
Which horse at Camelot is your favorite and why?
Scout is my favorite horse. Scout is gentle and patient, when I have trouble
haltering or bridling, he will stand there as long as he can, letting me struggle through the task of tacking him, despite my poor fine motor skills.
In addition to riding horses, how do you get your exercise?
I swim for exercise and sometimes I swim competitively through the organization Arizona Disabled Sports during their once a year event called the
Desert Challenge Games. I also work out at a gym for people with disabilities called Spofit. I hike and participate in dance classes offered through
community colleges around the valley.
Why do you think exercise is important and what benefits does it give you?
Exercise is important, because I have found the more exercise I do, the more
mobility and core strength I gain. The more mobility and core strength I
have, the better it is for my everyday living with a physical disability because
your body can get pretty worn down when you live with a physical disability.
Have you ever done a 5k before?
Before participating in this walk n’ roll, I had never thought about participating in one, because I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I do other
sports. I walk with a walker and I thought that walking longer distances
would be extremely taxing on my body. However, I got to talk and take
breaks along the way if needed. I enjoyed the company of two boys who also
have cerebral palsy and use walkers to get around and we were alongside
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