Contributed by Diane Koller
Saturday Oct. 13 was an unseasonably cold Autumn day. 43 horseback riders with learning disabilities and other challenges gathered at Windrush Farm in Boxford to compete in the Equestrian Division of the Massachusetts Special Olympics, Northeastern Division. Most of the riders are in training at Windrush, a therapeutic riding facility teaching riding and horsemanship to children and adults with a variety of special needs. Others were from similar facilities including T.H.E. Farm in Tewksbury, Andimar Stables in Billerica, and Friends for Tomorrow in Lincoln. All riders were in competition for the prized blue ribbon, but perhaps, more importantly, in competition with themselves to display the riding skills they have worked so hard on to the best of their abilities.
Everyone has heard of the Special Olympics. What set Saturday’s games apart was the joy and pride of accomplishment palpable upon entering the arena where the event was taking place. Not merely a competition, the event was an opportunity for people with disabilities to show they can work to maximum capacity and demonstrate a range of physical and intellectual capability. The Special Olympics first began in Chicago in 1968, through Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s dedication to showing that children and adults with disabilities were more physically capable to participate in sports than anyone had originally thought possible. The first games boasted 1,000 participants. Today the games continue under the leadership of her son, Timothy Shriver, with about 3.3 million athletes participating worldwide.
Windrush Farm Blog 