Raising a child with a disability can bring challenges in caring for them. But as a parent wanting what's best, you try to find activities that suits their needs.  A program in its 25th year is bringing out the best in children and adults with disabilities so they can be like everyone else.

Sunny is just one of many horses at Cottonwood Stables. While you may think the horses just take the occasional stroll and eat all day, they also work hard to help children and adults with special needs.

"The smile, the sense of achievement, the incredible joy that horses bring them. They feel so empowered and that is such a reward," Handi-Riders Executive Director Sue Karges said. 

Handi-Riders is a therapeutic horseback riding program connecting those with disabilities to horses that understand them.

"They range in age from 3 to 63. Sometimes people don't realize we do serve adult individuals as well," Karges said.

With more than 40 students enrolled, the program has grown every year. 6-year-old Gabby Heikkila couldn't wait to get started this summer.

"She lives for Thursday's. She talks about it the entire week and then on Thursday she knows today's the day I'm going riding," Becky Heikkila said.

Gabby was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome after her adoptive family took her in.

"It causes her some difficulty with her behavior and judgement. She sometimes has poor judgement. Also her attention span is low," Heikkila said.

But Gabby's mom, Becky, says those challenges aren't stopping her from discovering what she likes. 

"We've tried lots of different activities with Gabby. Gymnastics, baseball and all kinds of things but although she likes it, she sometimes has a hard time participating at the same level other kids her age do," Heikkila said.

But at Cottonwood Stables, there's no falling behind.

"She's always had a connection with them and we couldn't figure out why but then when we heard about the program we thought well this might just be the thing for Gabby," Heikkila said.

Just eight weeks into the program, Mom has already seen some changes in her daughter.

"This has been really good for her because she has to concentrate on what she says and how she says it in order for her to get her horse to do what she wants," Heikkila said.

"They see such a change in them and they continue to remark year after year that they've never seen such a change until they've connected with these horses," Karges said.

Students don't just ride during the 3-hour lesson. They saddle up their horse, brush them and even spend time with their instructor. 

When students are riding, instructors are right by their side giving them a sense of security.

"Everyone starts with one side walker and then we try to wean them off because our hope is some day they'll ride on their own," Head Instructor Katie Swift said.

And the students aren't the only ones enjoying themselves. Instructors like Katie Swift calls the job "rewarding". 

"It's the best feeling you could ever imagine because you're putting these kids on horses and they don't have this opportunity, it's an opportunity that they can feel like everyone else," Swift said.

And feeling just like everyone else is what these kids achieve each time they get to these stables.

The program runs for 10 weeks in the summer. The group also offers a program for those who can't walk.
For more information on Handi-Riders or if you'd like to donate to the organization, go to the Handi-Riders Web site.