| a Florida is a rural enclave, just beyond the traffic | | | | and social well-being.” |
| congestion and big box stores that populate areas | | | | From the Quantum Leap Farm website: “For |
| just to its south. This is an area that contains almost | | | | any rider, the relationship with a horse is special, but |
| as many horses as people. The struggle to keep it | | | | for adults with mental or physical disabilities, this |
| rural has been outgoing. | | | | relationship can open the door to an entirely new |
| But I would like to highlight just one of nonprofit | | | | realm of possibilities. Horse and rider become part of |
| organizations, located in Odessa, that are making a | | | | a therapeutic relationship, offering the disabled rider a |
| difference in the lives of hundreds of mentally and | | | | unique opportunity to discover, or to regain a sense |
| physically disabled adults and children in the | | | | of adventure, freedom, excitement, dignity, |
| surrounding community. Many of these are disabled | | | | accomplishment, and joy.” |
| veterans, referred by locate VA hospitals. | | | | Therapeutic horseback riding improves the physically |
| Nestled in this oasis, down a two lane country road, | | | | handicapped riders’ strength, tone, flexibility, |
| is a haven for the physically and mentally disabled | | | | and reflexes. It does this because the rider |
| adults and children of the greater Tampa Bay area. | | | | experiences the rhythm in the horse’s gait |
| This is Quantum Leap Farm, a therapeutic riding | | | | and muscles of the back and upper body react. The |
| center. | | | | body begins to compensate and become more |
| Edie Ebbert Dopking PhD, founder and president of | | | | responsive. This aids the rider in the development of |
| Quantum Leap Farm, while volunteering at the Bakas | | | | the postural muscles and leg muscles, improving his or |
| Equestrian Center (at that time a riding center for | | | | her stability of gait and balance. |
| disabled children) wondered why there were no riding | | | | In the mentally disabled, therapeutic riding provides an |
| programs for adults. So she asked, the director | | | | opportunity for social interaction. Often the |
| suggested that she may want to start one on her | | | | handicapped are isolated and experience limited |
| property in Odessa. And so she did. The center is a | | | | contact with others. Therapeutic riding allows the |
| non-profit therapeutic and recreational horse riding | | | | disabled to engage with the trainers and, of course, |
| facility for disabled veterans, adults, and kids. | | | | the horse. |
| Quantum Leap Farm began operations on July 1, | | | | Now Quantum Leap Farm also offers coach driving |
| 2000 and, in the first year; they gave over 1100 | | | | lessons to allow disabled individuals, too disabled to |
| riding lessons to over 80 participants from the | | | | ride a horse, an opportunity to engage with the |
| Tampa Bay area. | | | | horses. |
| Their Mission: | | | | The farm is involved in research into the benefits of |
| “Quantum Leap Farm exists to enrich and | | | | therapeutic riding for the handicapped. To volunteer |
| enhance the lives of adults with special needs by | | | | or donate to Quantum Leap Farm, visit their website |
| engaging them in a variety of equestrian activities | | | | or mail donations to Quantum Leap Farm, Inc. |
| designed to promote and improve physical, mental | | | | |