“Their motto says it all, it’s been a great experience for our family,” stated Mike Stigall, vice president of Finance & Human Resources at MT Business Technologies. Stigall is father to Jenna Stigall, a student at Madison High School and a participant in the Special Olympics Equestrian Competition held August 16 and 17.
The event took place at Great Parks of Hamilton Countys’ Witton Woods Riding Center located at 10073 Daly Road, Cincinnati. Jenna and four other students including Brian Moran, Micheal Lupo, Brittney Schnider and Yvonne Anderson represented Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, one of two delegations in Richland County.
Director of Operations and Certified Instructor at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center Tara Corrigan said,”We had a great time.”
The movement to include equestrian events in the Special Olympics began in 2008 when six athletes from Hamilton County were approved to train and compete in the equestrian program. Their determination led them to lobby the state office for permission to compete on an Invitational status. With the support and combined efforts of Hamilton County Special Olympic Director Janet Smith, Assistant Director of Athletics Carol Bramschrieber, and State Director of Athletics Marty Allen, all of whom granted the approval for an annual state Invitational Competition and Witton Woods, the foundation was laid.
Dee Anderson, Witton Woods Riding Center Manager, talked about the equestrian programs’ growth and goals.”Our team has grown from six athletes to twenty-three training and more interested. We all become one big group and work together, help one another and support each other,” she said, “We celebrate fabulous achievements of all the athletes.”
Anderson believes in the ongoing commitment to support the athletes who strive to live up to the Special Olympic oath which states,”Let me win, if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
The equestrian events cover English and Western Showmanship, Equitation, Barrel Racing and an outdoor obstacle course called Trail.
”It’s amazing, it’s like I’m in a different world,” Jenna Stigall said of ther experience. Stigall started at Raemelton at the age of three after physical therapists suggested the activity would benefit the young girl in building upper body strength. Stigall was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
”It’s a fun way to do therapy that doesn’t seem like work,” stated Stigall’s mother, Sally.
As a first year participant in the events Jenna Stigall took home a Bronze medal and a sixth place ribbon on the trail ride. “Getting to participate, just being there is new and different and great,” said Stigall of the experience. She added that she looks forward to next year and is thinking about trying archery.
Raemelton is a non-profit organization located at 569 South Trimble Road in Mansfield and is dedicated to providing therapeutic riding for the handicapped.
The goals for the program according to Anderson are to continue to be approved to train athletes, and to be approved to hold statewide invitational competitions and to become sanctioned as a state event.
Anderson believes the organization has the capability to create an international team to represent Ohio in the 2015 or 2019 Special Olympic World Games.
”It’s a fun way to do therapy that doesn’t seem like work,” stated Jenna Stigall’s mother, Sally.
