A Heart As Big As TEXas
By Jessica Porter, DPT
Frightened eyes peered overtop the pair of glasses at the gentle horse standing in front of her. This young girl’s timidity showed in her posture, as she was unsure if riding let alone touching this large animal was a good idea. Her timidity is better understood within the context of her situation. You see, this child is unable walk. She uses a wheelchair for mobility, which has made her less confident in her ability to quickly run away should the horse do something to frighten her.
However, the horse before her had been specially selected for the task at hand. His name is Tomcat Guarantee, known as Tex around the therapeutic riding ranch called Hope Reins in Texas where he lives and works. Tex, an American Quarter horse, had a past full of high-intensity performance focused on the sport of cutting. He is small, about 14 hands high, with a stout physique. Yet, his athleticism and confirmation are only part of why he is so fit for the task ahead of him this day. The other part was his incredibly sound mind and friendly demeanor. This horse had never met a stranger and made everyone, from the shy 2-year-old to the 80–90-year-old visitors we have, feel welcomed and wanted. The latter of these incredible qualities listed was the starting point for his performance this day.
As the young girl slowly and bravely rolled her wheelchair up to meet Tex, he responded with a slow, gentle, and inviting reach of his muzzle into her fragile bubble. Her outstretched hand met his soft, velvety nose and the little girl let out the breath that she had been holding inside. Tex mirrored her behavior, letting out a large sigh that showed how in tune he was to the situation before him. The little girl smiled as she realized this horse was about to give her an experience like no other. This wasn’t just a pony ride for her- this little girl was about to experience what it feels like to walk. And Tex was just the “therapist” to do that. His stout posture made a wide base of support for this girl to feel stable and balanced on, and his athleticism was the confidence she needed to trust the legs that would soon be beneath her.
Tex is always prepared to give special needs riders the ability to exercise and meet real life goals on the back of a horse. Many intelligent and dedicated human beings use their talents to become doctors to help folks like this little girl have a better-quality life. In a similar way, horses -such as Tex- use their unique characteristics and talents to improve the quality of life for individuals with special needs. The purpose of Tex’s fine qualities has now been channeled to help many individuals with special needs find freedom, confidence and purpose for their life that many may not have otherwise realized was attainable for them. More than Tex’s physical capabilities, his ability to make all feel confident and welcome truly display the quality of horse he is. Tex: our horse with a heart as big as Texas!
