The importance of The Magical Meadows was reiterated during its Rise Up event Sunday at the Tippecanoe Lake Country Club.
Rise Up is The Magical Meadow’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
Executive Director Carl Adams said there are 5,000 people with special needs, or people with different abilities as The Magical Meadows likes to say, in the area.
Through its therapeutic riding program at The Magical Meadows, children, youth and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities improve physical health, relax tight muscles, increase balance, build muscle strength, sharpen hand/eye coordination, improve social skills and gain a sense of control and self-confidence as the rider experiences a freedom never felt before, according to the Magical Meadows website.
“It’s not a horse, pony ride. They learn to walk. They learn to sit up. They learn to have all sorts of control,” Adams said.
Adams said he appreciated every dollar people have given to The Magical Meadows and every dollar they were going to give.
Several parents talked about how The Magical Meadows affected their children.
Elizabeth Hausmann said her daughter Addy is 6 years old and was born with a rare genetic disease which presents a lot like cerebral palsy. As a parent with a child with a rare disorder, they support as much research as they can and try to find what they can do to help Addy live her best life.
Hausmann and her husband did a lot of research. “By the grace of God,” Hausmann’s family was brought to the Warsaw community. A lot of it dealt with the resources that were available that they didn’t even know they needed. Getting therapy was what several doctors recommended.
One of the therapies she looked into was horseback riding, she said. She didn’t think she’d be able to find it in a small town until she found The Magical Meadows.
Hausmann’s family checked out The Magical Meadows. She said the thought of having a 2-year-old on a horse was a “little frightening for mom, really frightening for both grandmas.” She said it was super safe and The Magical Meadows is an amazing facility.
The difference between how Addy was when she was 2 to how she is now is “remarkable” and Hausmann has no doubt part of it is the therapy she’s getting from The Magical Meadows.
Lesley Langfeldt said it’s such a blessing to be able to provide an activity to her child that doesn’t have many options. It’s good that they can take him every week to do something that’s good for body and muscles and is something he loves.
Board member Brent Bockelman, father of Kendall, said he agreed with the other parents that he sees the joy in his daughter when it comes to The Magical Meadows. While deaf and autistic, she is full of joy.
“Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting this group,” Bockelman said.
Tammy Stackhouse, founder of The Magical Meadows, said she was overwhelmed by Saturday night’s event and having the opportunity to share the journey of The Magical Meadows. She said it was started with a boy who’s autistic, a horse named Magic and her driveway. Seeing where it is today because of people who have volunteered and donated, “I’m so, so humbled, I can’t even put it into words.”
She said the goal was to raise $50,000. At the beginning of the night, they were already halfway there, but didn’t have the exact figures. Because of people’s donations, she feels The Magical Meadow’s goals is taken care of.
During Saturday’s event, silent and live auctions were held. Items auctioned off included a two-night stay at The Guesthouse at The Village, a painting from an area artist and a hot air balloon ride.
