Guyton Riding Facility Helps Those with Disabilities

Guyton, GA: It's said that on a horse a person who can not walk has the legs to run, a person who feels alone has someone to trust... and anyone whose disability presents special obstacles has the opportunity to over come them.
It's the basis of the Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center in Effingham County and as News Three’s Alice Massimi shows us it's changing one life at a time.

Bonnie Gentry believes God lead her down this path... one walked not just by her but by horses carrying some very special riders.
“The good Lord just happened to give me everything I needed knowledge wise to put one together so it just clicked,” explains Gentry.
Gentry is the founder of Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center.
It’s a place where children and adults with emotional, mental and physical challenges get a chance to saddle up.
“It’s therapeutic for everybody. The kids get something out of it, their confidence soars. Volunteers love it. They just forget about the world when they are out here working with the kids,” says Gentry with a big smile.
7 year old Thomas Nyce, one of Gentry’s students, has Down Syndrome.
Riding for about three years his mom says he loves the horses.
“When he gets up on the horse I think it gives him a feeling of confidence to be up there. When he first started he basically had no speech. Developmentally it’s come along but I also think the horseback riding has helped him,” says Kristin Nyce his mother.
At the beginning he was just a passenger, now Thomas is in control...steering the horse and telling him when to go and stop.
“Walk on”, Thomas yells a top the horse during his lesson.
“It makes me proud of him and it makes me optimistic for him,” says Kristin.
“Give him a big hug...he loves you. Say bye bye till next week,” says Gentry as she leads Thomas

The center is working on expanding... they are in the process of setting up another site that would help Wounded Warriors and their families.
For more information of how to help or if you are interested in classes log onto: www.faithetc.org