Ms. Melinda Wiggins

"The horse can really affect the rider in the most personal way," said Melinda Wiggins, a CHAPS instructor since 1999.

"Whatever goals the rider has, whether physical, emotional or cognitive, the rider and the horse are able to accomplish the goal together," said Wiggins.

Melinda Wiggins4121 N. Springboro Rd.Brookston, IN 47923765-563-3797chaps@purdue.edu

BROOKSTON -- A few simple words were all Melinda Wiggins needed for justification for her job -- words from a little girl who didn't talk.

GIDDY UP : Kim Ogg of Lafayette receives help from Melinda Wiggins , program coordinator of the CHAPS program Sunday at Camp Tecumseh near Brookston.
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She doesn't talk to her therapist ; she doesn't talk to her grandparents , said Wiggins , program coordinator of THE CHAPS , a program that provides therapy through horseback riding lessons to children with special needs.

After three weeks of lessons , Wiggins said the little girls had not spoken to her either , but during the fourth week , the other three children in her class were absent.With the aid of a honking clown nose , Wiggins was able to get the girl to say a few words to direct her horse.

After that , she was talking.Her mom was crying.After the lesson ( the girl ) gave me a big hug.Her mom was crying and said she didn't touch anyone.I went home crying that night.I thought 'That's why I do this , ' Wiggins said.

THE CHAPS -- Therapy , Health and Education through Children and Horses as Partners -- begins its summer session of classes this week , but Wiggins said the program is desperately low on volunteers to assist the students and horses during the lessons and to care for the horses.

Wiggins said the turnout at Sunday's training session for the summer's new volunteers was the lowest she could remember.

There's an impression you have to be a horse person , said Kin Stanifer , an instructor for THE CHAPS , near Camp Tecumseh outside of Brookston.

But that is a misconception , she said.The only prerequisites for a volunteer is to desire to help students and to not be afraid of the horses.

Anybody can help , Wiggins said.

The new crop of volunteers is eager to help.Twelve-year-old Matt Buehler and his father , Eric , of rural Monticello , said they were drawn to the program because of their love of horses.

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Wiggins said children with special needs receive a variety of benefits from horseback riding , depending on their disability.

Physical benefits can include strengthening of the trunk and neck , improved control of movements and general relaxation and stimulation.For students who are confined to wheelchairs , the movement of their pelvises simulates the movements of walking , which they cannot normally experience.

For students with cognitive disabilities , the classes can help them to understand sequences , improve memory and to learn about consequences and trial and error.

But , Wiggins said , the most impressive benefits may come for those students with emotional disabilities.The riding lessons can help them with bonding and to step out of their comfort zones to realize that they can succeed at something new.

It's really remarkable to see , she said.A lot of people don't think an emotional handicap is a real disability..

She said the benefit that all of the students receive is the emphasis on consequences and responsibility.

Students with special needs do get into behavioral problems.A lot of times they are treated like their not worth anything or they are pampered too much , she said.

At THE CHAPS , each student is responsible for the decisions that he or she makes during the lesson.For example , students aren't allowed to get on their horses until they have helped groom them.

Learning that responsibility helps the students in so many way , Wiggins said.It helps to make the students want to achieve something because it lets them feel like they are the ones who have actually done it.

It's amazing.You see a student you'd never even think could get up on a horse and their riding by themselves , Wiggins said.The day finally comes when they get it.This is why I'm here..

Anyone over the age of three with special needs and a doctor's consent can take classes at THE CHAPS.Most of the students are children , but there are also some elderly students who use the lessons as part of therapy for things like strokes or multiple sclerosis.

We met at Christo's in Lafayette and the speaker was Ms. Melinda Wiggins of THE CHAPS which is a program involving horseback riding therapy for kids with special needs.The proram is operated by Purdue 4-H and is housed at Camp Tecumseh.Volunteer opportunities range from weekly to isolated occassions such as the Ride-A-Thon.If interested, contact Ms. Wiggins at 563-3797 (Barn) or 496-6479 (Business Office) or e-mail chaps@purdue.edu