How a P.E.I. girl found her happy place on a horse

The donkey's screech can be a little unsettling, but large animals are no longer a fear for 11-year-old Abbygail Richard.

Much of the reason, her mother says, is the comfort she feels around horses.

Abbygail has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic, spending much of her day in a wheelchair. Any chance she gets to sit on a horse, she takes the reins.

"She gets to learn lots of things and it helps just herself and her physical abilities," said Kayla Cameron, Abbygail's mother. 

Abbygail has been attending programs at Grand River Ranch in Richmond, P.E.I., for about three or four years. She was back in the saddle on Saturday during an event called Open Equine Day. 

"She has the ability to hold a little bit of strength in her body so she can sit up on the horses and being up on the horses has helped her gain lots of muscle strength also and just different positioning that she gets to experience, as well," said Cameron.

The wide smile on Abbygail's face showed the experience is as good for her mind as it is for her body.

"She used to be afraid of any big animals, bigger than a dog," Cameron said. "Day one she came here, she just wanted to get up on that horse and ride. And she's now not scared of big animals, just the donkey whenever it yells."

Open Equine Day was put on by the non-profit group Let's Talk Horses, which works to educate people on all aspects of the equine industry.

It started with two barns about six years ago and has expanded to seven locations across the Island offering a chance to see harness racing, equine therapy and horse demonstrations.

Grand River Ranch opened its stables Saturday for visitors to ride, brush and pet the ponies.

Owner Heather Blouin, a social worker, said the benefits of equine therapy are well researched and documented. She has seen and experienced the positive health effects it has on people of all ages and abilities.

"The physiological things that change when we're around horses is super cool," said Blouin.

"Their hearts are four times larger than ours, but they beat much slower…. so when we're around horses, they've actually done scientific research whereby they measured our stress hormones and our heart rates to prove that when you're within 10 feet of a horse, you actually have a physiological change in your body that has all these benefits."