Notes from Kimberly Lewis

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Hello, I’d like to take a few minutes and introduce my family, our two wonderful little PPL ponies, and myself! My name is Kim Lewis and I am the Community Director for Youngstown and the surrounding areas. I became familiar with Personal Ponies about four years ago while searching the internet for a therapeutic riding center better suited for my daughter’s needs. One visit to their site and I was hooked. The following year we received our ponies, Thunder and Lightning, and life hasn’t been the same. It’s not always “sunshine and roses”, but when we are with the ponies, nothing else matters!

I’ve been involved with animals for as long as I can remember. Our home was never without one kind of animal or another, and that suited me just fine. I learned about life, love, and death through these beautiful creatures, and to this day I know where to go for a good cry or to share my deepest secrets. Animals have always made my world a better place, so when my first child was born with a wide spectrum of developmental disorders, she was surrounded and supported by not only her loving family, but our menagerie of critters, as well.

The animals have always been drawn to her, but my Thoroughbred mare took a matriarchal approach when Kaitlin was concerned! Before my daughter was able to walk, if she was the least bit upset this horse would put her rather large nose right in front of her until she’d reach for her nostrils. As the little hands came up, my mare would release a long, gentle stream of warm air that could bring instant calm to a crying child. As Kaitlin got older and stronger, she stood patiently for belly and knee brushing and carried my daughter on her back with such care that even I was amazed. If only she were smaller, as Kaitlin loved to wrap her arms around a leg and give her “hugs”. A few months later we found Personal Ponies!

I had looked at several ponies in the past year, hoping to find one gentle enough for Kaitlin to hang all over, let alone her new little sister, but the pickings were slim. This was an answer to a prayer! I mentioned PPL to a friend who ran the boarding stable where I kept my other horses, and she felt that her son could also benefit from these wonderful ponies, so we began the application process. Our ponies arrived later that year, and although the other family moved away, Thunder and Lightning keep on bringing joy into our lives.

Differently-abled is a good term to describe Kaitlin. She is delayed in all areas of development, with speech, motor skills, and cognitive function being the most severe. Watching her struggle to meet a milestone was at times heartbreaking; yet watching her younger sister meet them and then pass Kaitlin by was even harder. Kaitlin grew more and more frustrated with herself as she became aware of her differences, and Dannah grew more resentful of the “special” treatment her sister received; therapeutic riding lessons, private speech, occupational and physical therapy, doctor appointments, special meals, extra praise…and who could blame her? But the day these two ponies stepped off the trailer, one for each child (since they try to place them in pairs), hearts began to heal. Kaitlin has gained so much self-confidence through caring for her pony, and her speech has improved since she just has to tell everyone about them! Her muscles have grown stronger from “walking” Lightning all over the place and making him walk when he thinks he’d rather eat, and her “hugs” are never too strong. In fact, this little guy actually hugs her back! Dannah has a new best friend in Thunder. She loves to whisper in his ear and give him kisses. He stands so still as she brushes him, and even tolerates the pink ribbons she loves to clip in his mane. Because our ponies are on the “large” side, both girls benefit from being able to ride them around with helmets and supervision, of course!

My husband and I have been married for nine years, and although he doesn’t actively participate in our “pony times” he supports us 100%. He talks about the changes in the girls to anyone who will listen and has invited several of his friends to visit with the ponies. He’s our rock, and we appreciate all that he does for us so that we can have our “pony time.” It just wouldn’t be possible without him!

As you can see, we really enjoy and have benefited tremendously from our fuzzy little trolls. Won’t you help us spread the word? I am also in need of some volunteers who are interested in the physical as well as the public end of promoting these special guys. The ponies need several more hours of “hands on” work before going out into the public, and I’d like to have them Delta certified for the extra insurance. Anyone who might be interested, please contact me! Let’s start spreading some pony smiles in Ohio! Hugs to all!