Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 5C
Driving Magic offers new perspective to those with disabilities
By Wesleigh Sagon
Driving Magic, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has
been providing therapeutic and recreational equine-assist-
ed activities for children and adults with developmental
and physical disabilities since 2004.
Jennifer Lindskoog began the program on a small farm
in Duluth with help from Roger Worden, advisor. Eventu
ally as the program expanded it was moved to Steadfast
Farms in Hoschton where it continues to give a “Magic
moment” to those with disabilities. On Sunday, the pro
gram did just that.
“This program doesn’t focus on the person’s disability
but who they are as an individual,” stated Lindskoog. “It’s
about freedom and having fun.”
The program’s secondary mission is to retire older
horses that have been in a carriage service to help those
who have had a traumatic brain injury, autism, cerebral
palsy and many other disabilities, to begin the therapy
process. “Draft horses are especially useful,” she said.
“Because of their calm spirit they make a great addition
to our program.”
The program currently has three horses and two in train
ing. “These horses still have many years to give,” she said.
The program also has five instructors certified by the
North American Riding for the Handicapped Association
and an additional NARHA instructor-in-training.
“Participants are able to experience carriage driving at
whatever level they are able to attain; from a rich sensory
experience to learning competitive driving skills. All les
sons and workshops are customized to the specific special
needs of each participant and include lesson goals and
long-term goals and skills progression,” said Lindskoog.
One carriage utilized in the program features an innova
tive wheelchair lift built into it. Lindskoog said this piece
of equipment gives student drivers a whole new perspec
tive from their daily routine of sitting in a wheel chair and
seeing the world at “belly button level.”
Student drivers work on balance, learning to hold reins,
and speech by using voice commands such as “gee and
haw” to guide the animal to make right and left turns
around cones.
During the day parents and their children spend one on
one time with each other while driving a carriage to each
barrel inside the ring to play games and toss footballs and
bean bags into buckets. “It’s all about hand and eye coor
dination and spatial awareness,” added Lindskoog.
One mother sat in the back of the carriage with her
daughter as they made several loops inside the arena.
“This is the only time my child will be able to drive me
anywhere,” the mother stated.
“It’s a great fellowship experience,” said Jennifer Lee,
volunteer. Lee said the program has been very successful
as some of the students have made progress in learning to
communicate and have gained skills in coordination.
Sharon Barton’s daughter Susan who is 42 years old
participates in the program.
“She looks forward to coming to the program,” stated
Barton. “It increases confidence and self-esteem.”
Andrea Barton-Hulsey, 36, is Susan’s sister who also
volunteers in the program. “Andrea was in band and
played basketball in school before obtaining her mas
ter’s in speech-language pathology. She had searched for
something for Susan to do when she found the program
eight years ago,” Barton said. Driving Magic is chance for
Susan to have something of her own.”
A portion of Steadfast Farms is rented by the organizers
of Driving Magic, Inc. to provide these opportunities. The
group meets twice a month for individual lessons and five
times a month for group lessons.
For more information on Driving Magic visit www.
drivingmagic.org.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Sharon Barton and her daughter Susan, 42, par
ticipated in the “Driving Magic” program Sunday
at Steadfast Farms in Hoschton. Susan’s father,
Anthony Barton, volunteered by giving carriage
driving lessons to student drivers.
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DRIVING MAGIC
Driving Magic, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has been providing therapeutic carriage driving
and horsemanship for people with special needs since 2004. Here, Tori Clark, student driver, guides
“Monkey” around cones in the arena at Steadfast Farms, Hoschton. Monkey is a Belgian Quarter Horse
Cross. Shown with Clark are: Janice Strang, instructor; Lauren Lambert, a volunteer since 2004; and
Jennifer Lindskoog who gave the driving lesson. Photos by Wesleigh Sagon
CARRIAGE RIDE WITH PRINCE
Tory Veale, student driver, learns coordination and balance while guiding “Prince” around barrels to
play games. Here, Veale plays a fishing game at Steadfast Farms at the “Driving Magic” program. He
is shown with Eaddy Mays, American actress and producer; and Anthony Barton, volunteer, who gave
the driving lesson. Mays has been a volunteer in the program for one year.
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
Chessa Birrell is raised onto a carriage which features an innovative wheelchair lift built into it. Jennifer
Lindskoog who began the “Driving Magic” program, said this piece of equipment gives student drivers
a whole new perspective from their daily routine of sitting in a wheel chair and seeing the world at “belly
button level.” Here, Janice Strang, instructor (left); Jennifer Lindskoog, and Eaddy Mays, an American
actress and producer (right); help Birrell onto the lift. Anthony Barton, volunteer, gave the driving les
son on “Prince” a retired carriage service horse. Barton’s daughter Susan, 42, is also a student driver
in the program.
HELPS THE
DISABLED IN
THERAPY SESSIONS
Prince, a retired car
riage service horse,
helps individuals with
disabilities to gain
skills through therapy
sessions at Steadfast
Farms “Driving Magic”
program.
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