March 2021 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN March 2021 Page 7 By Lois Szymanski When Debbie Brodsky talks about The Retreat at Beckleys- ville, her voice brims with emotion. “It is the most wonder- ful place, and we are so glad we found it,” she said. Brodsky is one of many parents who speak highly of the Retreat and how therapeutic rid- ing has benefitted their children, all of whom deal with a myriad of varied disabilities. And now, the nonprofit Retreat is working to raise money for a covered riding arena. Parental praise of the Retreat seems to go hand-in-hand with praise of the owner and director, Mary Shunk, but Shunk waves off the compliments, saying it’s her team. Still, you can’t mistake her commitment. Shunk’s involvement began as a volunteer for the Carroll County 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program (4-H TRP of CC) more than 35 years ago. The program only ran seasonally. Shunk knew these children needed an outlet for therapeutic riding year-round. “I’ve always felt horses and ponies were beneficial for children and adults in so many ways besides the physical skill of riding a horse,” she said. “And not the least of which is self-es- teem, responsibility, commitment, perseverance, dedication, and A Lifeline for the Disabled, the Retreat at Beckleysville Fundraises for an Indoor Arena helping others. Therapeutic riding is a win-win situation all the way around for all – [for the] rider, horse, and volunteer.” Not long after she started with 4-H TRP of CC, Shunk became a Certified Advanced Instructor through the Professional Associa- tion of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International and opened The Retreat at Beckleysville. Today, she continues her volunteer position as Head Instructor with 4-H TRP of CC and is also the co-director of Equestrian Sports for Maryland Special Olympics. Brodsky’s 19-year-old twin sons Tyler and Matthew both ride at The Retreat. “Tyler is blind - he only has light perception - and has multi- ple disabilities including medical disabilities and orthopedic, and he is on the spectrum,” Brodsky said. “He actually started out with Hippotherapy at the age of 2 ½ when we were still in Virgin- ia. Hippotherapy is therapeutic riding instructed by a physical therapist or an occupational ther- apist. He transitioned to therapeu- tic riding before we left Virginia in 2009.” Matthew’s disabilities are less severe, but Brodsky said it took a while for Matthew to gain the confidence to get on a horse and join his brother. “Matthew has asthma, anxiety, ADHD and allergies. They were both born at 24 weeks, so they had a medically challenged beginning. We actually moved to Maryland so Tyler could attend the Maryland School for the Blind.” After arriving in Maryland, the Brodsky family found the Maryland Therapeutic Riding Program in Crownsville, where Tyler rode for three years. They were looking for a center closer to their Lutherville home, when a neighbor recommended The Retreat at Beckleysville. “We started at the Retreat in 2012,” Brodsky said. “They were huge in helping Matthew gain confidence. Mary enrolls the kids in shows, so they go to different locations where they win ribbons and applause. They didn’t care what color the ribbon was.” Tyler’s advancements have been more dramatic, including learning to walk. “They never thought he would walk [and he did not walk until therapeutic riding] but now he is walking,” Brodsky said. “It helped with his gait and balance issues. He also has low [muscle] tone, so for him to sit in the [correct riding] posture he needs to have his legs in a certain position. Having to hold that and get his muscles used to that has helped his ab muscles support his low [muscle] tone. Shunk’s creative methods and her dedication to the students stands out. “She knows when to tell the parent to back off because she always advocates for the kid, and that is so much to her credit,” Brodsky said. “I am more of a helicopter parent because of how my kids started out. She’s also very creative. When Tyler wasn’t sitting up straight, she got a pool noodle and put it behind him, held by his arms while he still had to hold the reins. That was a constant cue to him that he had to sit up. She also went out and got wind chimes that she had adults hold in different locations in the ring, telling him to ride toward the chimes. That made it fun, a game. She has helped Tyler figure out right and left, with the right rein and the left rein. When he is engaged, his brain works faster. Mary has brought him from the walk and sitting trot to a posting trot. He did not steer the horse on his own when he came to Mary (Continued on page 11) Lucy Carter proudly shows the ribbon she won riding Bella at a Retreat at Beckleyville horse show. She is led by volunteers Sierra Ventura and Barb Peters. Photo credit: The Retreat at Beckleysville