Some disabilities are easily recognized. Some, like anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalculia, mixed receptive-expressive language impairment, and ADHD, take a while to be seen by others, if at all. Where can a 14-year-old like Mari, with disabilities that are often not easily recognized, be understood, and feel safe to learn the skills they need to reach their full potential?
The nurturing environment, emphasis on safety, and focus on riders’ abilities and strengths drew Mari and her family to Little Bit. Mom Julie shared, “I think sometimes for the kids where disabilities are masked, there can be that emotional impact of struggling and not having it acknowledged or understood. The emotional benefit from Little Bit is that Mari feels understood. . . The people at Little Bit have been as important to her as the horses.” She continued, “To be able to match horses to the kids, not only skill-wise but personality-wise, has been really beneficial. It makes Little Bit unique.”
Horseback riding lessons involve the rider processing information from sights and sounds, understanding cause and effect, following timelines, and asking questions—all skills that are required at home and at school. Instructor Zoe took the time to learn about Mari’s needs and has adapted her riding lessons to meet those needs, such as providing plenty of information at the beginning of a lesson, repeating explanations, and pausing in the middle of the lesson to check in with Mari. According to Zoe, “Being 14 is so cool!” and that perspective is one reason Zoe and Mari work so well together.
In 2021, Mari started riding with the support of Little Bit volunteers, and today she is riding independently, fully dedicated to reaching her next goal of cantering with her horse Liberty. Mari shared that before cantering, she’s “trying to bond with Liberty so that we can get the perfect trot.” Zoe is committed to helping Mari reach her goals while at the same time helping her be more flexible with her expectations, be willing to experience and work through any outcome, and to not compare herself to others. Together, they balance Mari’s strong work ethic and competitive nature with Zoe’s belief that, “It’s about experiencing, learning, and growing—not success and failure.”
Mari didn’t expect to learn about loss at Little Bit. She felt safe talking with Zoe about her sadness over the death of a beloved Little Bit horse and about her horse retiring, learning from Zoe that she already held the skills and abilities to build a relationship with a new horse. For Julie, “To have her learn huge life lessons at Little Bit has been incredible.”
When asked to describe her best Little Bit moment ever, Mari said it was earning a first-place ribbon in the Margo O’Callaghan Memorial Dressage Show, her second year participating, with her family watching and Zoe encouraging her.
Mari sees a connection between her Little Bit experiences and those at home and school: “Little Bit has taught me to be persistent; I think that’s impacted me a lot at school. At Little Bit, I have to be aware of my classmates and the horses’ needs—and what’s too much to ask.”
The moment Mari turned 14 years old, she jumped on the opportunity to become a Little Bit volunteer, signing up for the first Little Bit volunteer orientation available! Then, she quickly moved on to the next two types of training, with some additional support from Zoe. As soon as she passed, she called her mom Julie, “shouting with glee—she was so proud of herself!” Mari looks forward to volunteering with “kids like me, or with greater needs, to form a bond.”
Julie shared, “I would like to say how appreciative we are for all the other community members past, present, and future who have helped sustain this magical place for children and adults so that our daughter could participate and grow and learn and heal here over the last few years. She has found a greater sense of belonging and purpose.”
Perhaps best of all, Mari shared, “When I ride, all my anxious feelings go away, and I feel free.”
Thank you, Mari and Julie, for sharing your Little Bit story!
Written by Sharon Soldenwagner
