7 minute read
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
O.A.T.S. Offering Alternative Therapy with Smiles Making Strides for 25 Years
BY KENDRA ROGERS, MS - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“Oats, Oats is the place where we want to be. Horses and ponies and chickens and goats, that’s the life for me”— Judy Insley, music instructor adapted the words to a common children’s song, “Row, Row, Row your boat” to celebrate an oasis of therapeutic animals and its people. OATS, a nonprofit 501 (c)3, is embarking on its 25th year of serving the special needs community in Ortonville, Michigan during 2023. The founder, Nancy, opened the facility in 1997 to address a gap in therapies available to individuals with special needs. Through a relationship with PATH, Int, OATS is able to continue offering high quality, equine assisted services to those with physical and mental differences. Those who work and volunteer with OATS are privileged to see the benefits of animal assisted services firsthand.
Doug Rohrabaugh is the current director. He picked up the mantle in 2021 when Beth Pellerito retired after many years of service. As the director, Doug oversees the daily operations of OATS to ensure everything runs smoothly and safely. He also safeguards the pastures and barn for the animals, volunteers, instructors, riders, and their families. Doug works tirelessly to secure adequate funds to ensure the continued operation of OATS. As a non-profit facility, volunteers and donations make every ride possible.
While Doug is an integral part of the operations of OATS, the instructors and volunteers are the backbone.
Ruth Hannam who has volunteered since 2008 and began teaching in 2016 says, “The smiles here say it all!” Our highly qualified instructors observe rigorous training to ensure they can safely choose horses for each rider, address each rider’s unique needs, and create engaging classes where riders learn more than horse skills. Each class relies on a group of volunteers to prepare horses, lead horses, walk next to riders, and clean the barn. Without this dedicated group of volunteers, the OATS equine assisted services would cease. Julia, a volunteer who began in the summer of 2023 says, “Volunteering at OATS makes me feel appreciated, and makes me want to be the best person I can be.”
In addition to helping with horse care and classes, our volunteers work year-round to maintain the beautiful 40-acre animal sanctuary for the animals and people who enjoy its tranquility. From lawn maintenance to flower beds to the memorial garden, volunteers ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy on OATS’ grounds. Several projects the crew is dreaming of include rebuilding fences and shelters in each pasture for longer life and more protection for the animals and creating a wooded trail for more interesting, relaxing rides. We also hope to be able to update the indoor arena for longevity and everyone’s health. Recently, two scout projects have updated the observation room and provided a gate at the entrance to increase safety and functionality. These dreams require money and manpower to realize.
The volunteers and instructors make classes possible but the most important players in the OATS story are the riders and their families. Over the last 25 years, countless children and adults with special needs have received equine assisted services as part of their ongoing treatment plans. Delaney who started riding in October of 2022 says, “I love it here. It helps me relax when I have a stressful day.”
Those with seizures, autism, ADHD, PTSD, global developmental delays, Down syndrome, physical differences, and much more have benefitted from the opportunity to ride our therapy horses. Jessica, a rider’s mother says, “OATS has been such a special place for our family since Julianna started riding there a year ago. Not only do we love the physical benefits of riding for Julianna, but we love the relationships we’ve built along the way. Julianna’s PM&R doctor strongly recommends Hippotherapy, and we’ve seen improvements in her core strength over time. It is also great for her hip development and engaging general muscle awareness. Since Julianna is one of the younger riders, we get specialized routines to help her engage different muscle groups. We have gotten to know Julianna’s instructor, her daughter, some of the volunteers, and some of the horses. Sam has a pretty special place in our hearts, he’s such a good boy. We love spending time at OATS!”
Rita O’Brein, an instructor since 2011 and volunteer since 2006, says “OATS opened my eyes to different types of special needs requirements and helped me to understand other special needs than what my own child has. OATS enables parents to feel they are not alone in their lives with their special needs child and that there are individuals out there willing and able to provide support and who are willing and able to help their child grow. When my daughter, Sarrah started at OATS in 2005, it was something she wanted to do with her life—work with animals, especially horses—that her schooling did not provide in their post-secondary program. Through the OATS organization, Sarrah not only was able to obtain her wish of working with horses but also able to be her own individual self as HER and not her as my daughter. Sarrah learned how to handle, take care of, work with, ride, and also observe and know when one of the horses is not feeling well or something is off. OATS and continuing to care for animals have allowed Sarrah to be able to grow and find her self-worth as well as be a part of a big community.”
Sometimes, there are those participants who benefit from a different kind of therapy and engage with different animals on the ground. This could be brushing a horse or reading to some donkeys or goats. Regardless of the need, those who come to OATS looking for therapy or solace always seem to leave having received more than they anticipated.
Equine assisted services are offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions with summer camp available during the summer months, too. In addition to regular equine assisted services, OATS is developing other programs including a homeschool farm days class, a farmhand training course, and others that will serve to enrich lives and further support the community. Director of Operations, Cecelia Tresick says, “Every single horse here has a significant impact on every individual who walks through our equine assisted services center. It is truly an amazing feeling. We love to see it here at OATS, everyday!”
For more information, visit www.oatshrh.org
For classes, email walkonoats@gmail.com
For volunteer information and opportunities, email oatsvolunteers@gmail.com
Visit us on FB www.facebook.com/oatsnonprofit
