BAD AXE, Mich. – Every Wednesday throughout most of the year, a group of horse owners and volunteers work together to provide therapeutic horseback riding for those with disabilities in Huron County. This group is part of the Proud Equestrians Program (PEP), a therapeutic riding program for people with disabilities that helps to improve balance, coordination, posture and muscle tone.

PEP was founded in Michigan in 1974 and serves as the guideline for these horse owners and volunteers. The guide provides information on creating a safe environment in which people with disabilities, assisted by trained volunteers, can learn and practice riding and horsemanship skills under the direction of a certified therapeutic riding instructor. This program has five main parts: riders, volunteers, instructors, horse owners and, of course, horses.

Just as any other 4-Her hones his or her skills in preparation for an upcoming event, these horsemen with disabilities target the Huron County Fair as their time to show off their skills and compete in the show ring. Theirs is The Challengers 4-H Club, and their riding is possible thanks to PEP.

“There are 40 4-H Clubs in Bad Axe, Michigan,” said Patricia Errer, now in her seventh year as 4-H coordinator for Huron County. “There will be 600 4-H and FFA students participating at this year’s fair. Thirty of those 4-Hers competing are in The Challengers 4-H Club, which was chartered in 2004. At the start of this club there were just five members.”

Errer also works with the Huron Learning Center. She goes there twice monthly during the summer months and provides 4-H education activities. Errer, along with two para pros who are also 4-H volunteers, teach these students about healthy eating habits, healthy living exercises, lessons on fruits and vegetables, and expressive arts.

“I incorporate this work into their studies so many of them can submit some of their work as fair projects,” Errer said. “These special 4-H kids get engaged in painting, collage ceramics and more. We now have new sewing machines but I haven’t sat down with them yet.

“The Challengers particularly show sheep. They show other animals and those can sometimes be a challenge, but that doesn’t stop them. They show chickens, feeders and goats. They can and do show in any animal or non-animal class at our fair. They’re not at the level of, say, a Grand Championship exhibitor, but it’s still an opportunity for them to participate and be inclusive in our program.”

Fair Board president Clark Brock has watched the “explosion” of this special needs 4-H club.

“We’ve watched as The Challengers show in multiple areas at our fair,” Brock said. “We have them showing still exhibitions, livestock and even equestrian events.

“The big thing here, especially in this country, is we have a very strong parent support group in our intermediate school district. This makes it work. We as 4-H leaders can say it’s a good thing for the kids, but if you don’t have a strong parental support it doesn’t happen.”

While Challenger members can be found competing in most fair departments, their competition in the equine classes has caught the attention of other county fairs across Michigan.

Heading up the equestrian side of things for these special needs children is Kevin Schulte, president of the Huron County 4-H PEP. Of the 30 members in The Challengers 4-H Club, half are undertaking the horses.

“This year we hope to have about 15 participants working with the horses alone,” Schulte said. “It’s a tough challenge, because there’s not a lot of people in this area with their own horses. The riders are all special needs students in some way or other, either physical or mental disabilities. Equine therapy for the disabled also trains the rider to care for a horse, which teaches the child comprehension and care for all animals. We hope to see the continued growth and strength of the PEP program across the state.”

While his challenged riders are oftentimes reluctant to get aboard a horse at first, Schulte says they’re all smiles when they do.

“Last year we had a rider who was taken to a horse for the first couple of weeks and he didn’t want to get involved. Finally, we convinced his to get on a horse and he loved it. It’s a trial with each individual rider based on their needs. And, each horse used is tested and vetted for a period of time to teach them.”

Schulte enjoys having the children compete without making it a serious competition.

“In the past we’ve held competitions, but I’m not comfortable judging a child that has a small cognitive disability versus one that cannot even speak or can’t ride as well based on his or her disability,” he said.

The difficult part, Schulte said, is finding volunteers and horses.

“With volunteers, we’ll have one leading the horse and maybe one or two volunteers walking alongside the horse to help stabilize and rider and help steer with the reins,” he said. “This is very much a hands-on program.”

Asher Battel, 8, of Cass City, participated in The Challengers equine program last year and will ride again at this year’s fair.

“The 4-H PEP program is wonderful for Asher,” said his mother, Sue Stuever Battel. “Asher has autism. He speaks very few words and has a hard time connecting with people. Things that come easy for other children are difficult for Asher, but when he gets around horses, he can just be himself. The horses don’t judge him, they don’t stare at him and they are patient.”

Schulte says one benefit of equestrian or equine therapy is the chance for a disabled child to experience the environment that provides an interesting set-up more fitted for the child rather than a clinical setting, adding that animals such as horses can be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants.