ORTONVILLE, Mich. – An Oakland County nonprofit is on the verge of closing its doors if they don’t get the community support that they need.
Offering Alternative Therapy With Smiles, or OATS, offers horse riding therapy in Ortonville.
Like so many others, they were hit hard during the pandemic, and years later it’s creating even bigger challenges.
They have about 70 therapeutic riders. The people who work and volunteer for OATS can’t imagine closing the doors. They said it’s devastating.
Looklive: this stable has about 1000 riders and about another 70 therapeutic riders. The people who work and volunteer here can’t imagine closing their doors. They say it’s heartbreaking.
“That would be a devastating impact to our families,” said Executive Director Douglas Rohrabaugh. “We provide equine-assisted services, therapeutic horseback riding to individuals of all abilities, but we specialize in those serving those individuals with special needs.”
Over the years, he’s witnessed and has been part of the progress those riders make.
4-year-old Julianna Filak was born with lissencephaly, a rare genetic condition that causes developmental delays and epilepsy.
Her mom, Jessica Lopez, drives 45-90 minutes to take her to OATS. When Julianna started last fall, she couldn’t lift her upper body, but now she’s able to support herself. She no longer wears a helmet because it weighed her down and limited her progress.
“We measure inch-stones with Julianna rather than milestones. Her head control has improved,” Lopez said. “This is actually good for her hip development the horse kind of moves her legs in a way that she doesn’t get a lot because she doesn’t walk on her own.”
That’s why Rohrabaugh and the many others who run the stable are working hard to keep this place open.
He said the pandemic left them with little money coming in.
“The repairs and things and regular routine maintenance kind of had to be put on hold and now we’re to the point where it’s beyond maintaining and repairing, it’s time to replace,” Rohrabaugh said.
Combined with a drop in local donations and vet bills they have older horses who are a bit steadier and more reliable for the program.
Rohrabaugh said raising their prices would create yet another barrier for the families, so they’re asking the community to think of them this holiday season.
More information, including ways you can donate, can be found on the official Offering Alternative Therapy With Smiles website.