Apple's Kids
Mission Statement: To provide hope, confidence, strength, and a sense of normalcy to the lives of children of all ages that have either special needs or are battling an illness.
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History
In 2005, the Alabama Hunter Jumper Association added a new division into their horse shows. It is called Hopeful Hunter, and it is for any horse in their first year of showing. Why are we telling you all of this? In 2005, there was a new, up and coming show horse that traveled to only 3 of 20 plus horse shows, never placed below 2nd place and remarkably ended up 5th in the state. Sadly, she never got to see that pink 5th place ribbon. This hopeful hunter’s career was ended when she went blind halfway through the 2005 show year.
This very special horse is named Apple. While some horses go on to happily continue their careers without sight, Apple had a long road of adjustments to make. Her fear overcame her, as she had to put all of her trust into her trainer. She has had to learn to adjust to being a flight animal living in complete darkness. Apple is now happy; however, and she has learned to trust her trainer. Our farm has watched her bravery, and her courage is the inspiration for Lachlan Farm’s new riding program.
Who We Serve
There are countless children in our community that are fighting the same battle. Although they may not be blind like Apple, a child may feel invisible due to an illness or disability. Apple’s Kids is a riding program through which we strive to provide a voice for those children. We want to provide hope, confidence, strength, and a sense of normalcy to the lives of children of all ages that have either special needs or are battling an illness.
Some of the children that would be candidates for the program would be children with:
• Cancer
• Blood Disorders
• Congenital Abnormalities and Diseases
• Severe Burn
• Blindness
• Full or Partial Deafness
• Mild to Moderate Special Needs
• Autism
• E.B.D.
• Learning Disorders
How Are We Different?
This program is not a therapeutic riding program by definition. Unlike some programs that incorporate physical therapy or provide riding opportunities to terminal patients, the goal of our program is to educate the rider about horses as if they were in a normal riding lesson academy. Through riding, grooming, and caring for the horse, the child feels a sense of normalcy that builds confidence and increases overall joy. Because this program is part of our ongoing Lachlan Farm riding academy, we provide confidentiality so that parents can choose whether or not they reveal to the child that he or she is part of the Apple’s Kids program.
What We Do
Horseback Riding is a unique sport in which the rider “teams” with a horse under the supervision of a trainer. The three work together to build a partnership between horse and rider. To succeed on a local level, riders need not have great athleticism, but instead the will and confidence to pursue goals.
At Lachlan Farm, we strive to educate and now heal, the head, heart, hands and “hooves”. This philosophy was taught to our head trainer Anna McCracken at Berry College. She feels that continuing this way of thinking in her riding program nurtures good horsemanship from all riders and participants. Through lessons, riders learn problem solving skills, flexibility through teaming with an animal that can’t talk or reason, relaxation techniques to help build the horse’s confidence in the rider, and realistic goal setting to help build the rider’s self-confidence.
Students of Apple’s Kids are also invited to participate all three extra-curricular activities offered by our farm. All riders have the option of choosing to participate in horsemanship testing, clinics and camps, and four levels of horse showing. First, our horsemanship testing is offered on a quarterly basis and is divided into six levels of difficulty. When a rider completes a level, he or she earns a medal and the opportunity to move up to the next level. Second, we offer a variety of summer and winter camps and clinics for all levels. These clinics build upon the foundation of horsemanship learned weekly through lessons. And finally, we participate in four levels of horse show competition (all riding levels are invited… even riders that only feel comfortable riding their horse at a walk). We have schooling shows at our farm, we travel to local schooling shows, we attend local Alabama Hunter Jumper Association shows, and we travel to United States Equestrian Federation horse shows. Horse shows provide riders with a sense of accomplishment and overall confidence.
Joining Our Program
Apple’s Kids strives to cover all or part of the cost of lessons by raising money through private gifts, sponsorships, and fundraisers. Each family is invited to meet with our staff and discuss your need on an individual basis. Lessons are given on a weekly basis unless otherwise arranged and we provide a variety of safe horses for our students. We also have volunteers that help design lesson plans with each child’s specific needs in mind. We strive to design a well-rounded and beneficial riding experience to all of our riders.
For more information on our program, to schedule a farm tour, to make a monetary or “wish list” gift, provide sponsorship, or help with our upcoming fundraiser, please contact Anna McCracken at 205-296-6941 or click here to email us.
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I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
| There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill
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Apple's Kids is a not-for-profit organization doing business at Lachlan Farm, Inc.
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