FORT SMITH, Ark. — A River Valley equine-assisted therapy nonprofit continues to grow in honor of its founder.
Embracing the grace and beauty of the horse, Manes & Miracles offers equine-assisted therapy to individuals of all abilities.
The nonprofit organization recently experienced the loss of its founder and former executive director, Jodi Cabaness. She started the program after helping a family from Fort Smith. Back home in Russellville, Cabaness would help the Fort Smith family by providing hippotherapy treatment for their child with cerebral palsy.
"She is someone who whenever she sees a need, she would just jump into action," Joni Laster said.
Laster stepped into the Executive Director role for Manes & Miracles after Cabaness's passing. She hopes to continue the vision Cabaness started in providing grace.
Laster explains that hippotherapy is when a therapist chooses to use horses in treatment. She adds that "Hippo" means horse in Greek.
"Horses are unique in their movement as they provide rhythmical, symmetrical, consistent input to the patient. And so, you know the patient, they feel that impact whenever they're riding their horse, and they love it. The kids absolutely love coming out here" Laster said.
"Our therapists come out and they use the horses for occupational speech and physical therapy and use the horse as a tool," Heath Burger said.
Burger joined Manes & Miracles eight months ago. The barn manager and volunteer coordinator joined after interviewing with Cabaness.
From four patients to now helping 150, the nonprofit hopes to continue growing in the vision of its founder. Laster said they have up to five therapists working at their barn. A therapist evaluates any child joining the program to determine if a horse would be a good candidate.
Before her passing, those close to Cabaness say she was a fighter, fighting against her melanoma and fighting for her kids.
"I was really inspired by her vision, how much she put into her heart and soul into this organization," Burger said.
"She was a grace giver, and she, I feel like she lived every day to the fullest, and she truly saw the best in people. And she, like I said, she was a fighter, and she never gave up," Laster said.
Now, the group is expanding to 35 acres in Chaffee Crossing. They'll add a covered arena, barn, and other facilities. It'll help them help more, hoping to expand to veterans with PTSD in their Hooves for Heroes program.
"These animals are amazing, and they don't only work great for these children, but I can see them definitely working great for veterans in our community and surrounding communities," Burger said.
A graceful mission helping with a graceful animal, the vision of Cabaness is now inspiring the next generation of grace givers.
"She actually started her career at the age of 15, and she found out about hippotherapy by sidewalking," Anna Siebenmorgen said. "Around the age of 15, I also sidewalked, and that brought me, opened my eyes to the beautiful, beautiful things, beautiful miracles that hippotherapy offers."
Siebenmorgen is an occupational therapy assistant aiming to follow in the footsteps of Cabaness.
If you'd like to support their mission, you can make a donation or find out how to volunteer at www.manesandmiracles.org.
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