Therapeutic riding can be beneficial in many ways. It helps to relax the rider, give the rider confidence, stimulate muscle coordination, among many other things. Most people use horseback riding as a type of therapy, whether they intend to do so or not. But what happens when you "need" to ride? Not just out of intense longing, as most of us experience several times in our lives, but rather instead of for relaxation, to be able to walk at all? When we spend our entire lives in a wheelchair or other device, and our only hopes of walking normal and leading a life apart from our challenging disabled one, where every day is a struggle, how do we manage to find the ability to just be "normal"? Anything can be done if you put your mind to it and try. And horseback riding is no exception.

My name is Kevin Cornell and I have been involved with Sunrise EquiTherapy since the summer of 2001. In 1988 I fractured my neck and suffered a spinal cord injury. I am now an incomplete quadriplegic using a wheelchair full time. I loved horseback riding before my accident, and would go any time I had a chance. After my injury I thought I would never ride again and it would only be a memory to be cherished. That all changed when I found out about therapeutic horseback riding through Immanuel Rehab's Therapeutic Recreation Department. They held a clinic with Sunrise EquiTherapy one afternoon which I eagerly attended. What I thought I'd never be able to do again all changed. Horseback riding now became a reality.

Since being involved with Sunrise I have done many other things (besides riding) involved with and representing them. Some of these activities have included talking to students at UNL about the program, volunteering at horse shows to work at the Sunrise booth, circulating informational flyers, doing a demonstration ride to explain what our program is about, volunteering at the Monty Roberts presentation, and working our now annual Sunrise horse show which has grown every year since it's inception to name a few. All of which were very enlightening to me. Through various organizations, I have also acquired moral support in the way of sponsorships to finance my riding lessons along with spreading the word about Sunrise's wonderful program.

The benefits therapeutic riding has brought to me are numerous. Emotionally it has presented me with a challenge that can be mastered, enhanced my self-image and confidence, given me more feelings of independence, and the thrill of just being on a horse again.

Physically it has helped develop body localization, improved balance, improved posture, relaxed spastic muscles, increased range of motion, and build muscle strength to name a few. Just the natural gate of the horse is like I'm walking myself.

I live in Omaha and drove to Lincoln once a week for this wonderful therapy. Although the program has been on hold the past couple of years working towards getting our own facility to operate from, I still make the time to help out where I can to hopefully see this plan come to life and get the recognition it deserves. It would be easy access from Omaha along with shopping, food, and gas nearby. These past couple of years without riding, I have noticed my balance and posture are not what they were and my legs a bit more spastic. Having a permanent facility would allow me to hopefully rebuild what has diminished. Not only once a week, but several times a week and year around instead of seasonally. This partnership that is being proposed would not only benefit Sunrise EquiTherapy and it's current patrons, but the many that have expressed an interest in becoming riders and volunteers of the program along with being a positive impact on the community in general.

Everyone benefits from the riding, from the volunteers and instructors to the riders themselves. Encouragement is plentiful, enjoyment is thrilling, and expressions are priceless on the faces of the riders. Volunteers get exercise, plus sometimes riding privileges, and the enjoyment of helping others. We all meet new friends, get a new perspective at riding, and the enjoyment of being with horses, especially for the horseless. We as riders learn new things, are challenged at all times, form strong companionships with the volunteers, instructors and horses, and get to enjoy the benefits of dreams of just being "normal". I have accomplished things on horseback I only dreamed were possible and would love to continue to challenge myself to accomplish more with Sunrise EquiTherapy and their new facility.