Read our Q&A with Emily Padgett, Program Director for Agape Therapeutic Riding Center.
What inspired you to become a provider?
Agape is committed to serving youth and families with behavioral, emotional, and social challenges. We began partnering with Choices in 2014 because it was a perfect fit. Not only did our missions align, but we knew we could serve Choices families in a unique and powerful way through our horse-assisted adaptive programming. Since 2014, our partnership has continued to grow and thrive. We believe in the work and impact that Choices is making in our community and are proud to partner with the organization to create deep, meaningful change for our youth and families.
Share your background and any exciting things you’ve done to give back to your community.
I graduated from Ball State University with a dual major in Elementary and Special Education. During my college years, I volunteered at a therapeutic riding center and worked at the Muncie Children’s Museum. After graduating, I worked as an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapist for kids with Autism. During that time, I found Agape and began volunteering. I loved the work that Agape was doing and how it combined my love for kids with horses. In 2014, I became a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and began my career at Agape. Fun fact: I was a Girl Scout for 12 years and earned both the Silver and Gold Award, which is equivalent to the Boy Scout Eagle Scout Project.
What is your organization’s mission or philosophy?
We believe that lives can experience healing and joy in an environment where unconditional love and the wonderment of a horse connect, creating a haven for unbridled hope.
Agape’s mission is to cultivate personal growth by strengthening the mind, body, and spirit through unique horse facilitated experiences.
What kinds of services do you provide?
As social creatures, like humans, horses are great teachers about relationships and social dynamics. They seek out security in leaders and are very intuitive beings. Working with horses is very much a partnership. Through learning horsemanship and riding skills, participants work towards goals in the areas of social, emotional, physical, and cognitive. We offer therapeutic riding lessons in which four individuals participate in a riding lesson. Each person takes responsibility for getting their horse ready for class. Once in the arena, they learn riding skills but also apply other skills — like confidence, communication, teamwork, trust, respect, and problem solving. We also offer group programs to schools and community organizations in which participants engage with the horses on the ground to apply teamwork and leadership skills.
Whom/where do you serve?
We serve individuals ages 4 and up across our three sites in the Indianapolis area. Anyone can benefit from working alongside and riding horses, but we specialize in working with individuals who have special needs; these can be physical or cognitive disabilities, as well as emotional. Over the past few years we have seen an increase in the number of participants who come to us with diagnosis of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Share any relevant background about your organization, such as how/why/when it was created.
Agape is a Greek word that means “unconditional love.” Cheryl Miller and her daughter Dawn were called to share unconditional love when they expanded their enjoyment of horses and love for children by developing a summer riding program for children with disabilities using the therapeutic value of horses to rehabilitate. As a result of parents’ requests and therapists who witnessed the summer success, Cheryl and Dawn founded Agape in 1986, but they continued to dream of a year-round program. That dream became a reality following Dawn’s tragic death in 1992. After seeking God’s guidance, Cheryl chose a farm just north of Indianapolis in Cicero, Indiana for the start of a therapeutic riding center. In March of 1994, Cheryl established a full-time program, serving individuals and schools throughout central Indiana. Agape has continued to grow, and in 2014, Agape began serving the Martinsville community at the Bradford Woods Equine Center. In 2017, Agape opened a third site in Greenfield.
Share how your organization is making a positive impact.
Each year, Agape serves over 1,800 individuals from 38 counties in central Indiana. We serve a variety of people with different conditions, averaging more than 60 different diagnoses annually.
97% of Therapeutic Riding participants reported meeting or making significant progress toward their goals for improving their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. 100% of group program partners reported seeing positive changes in students as a result of their time spent at Agape in areas of social, emotional, and/or cognitive goals. A rider parent shared, “I have never seen her have such true peace and joy over any one thing. She seems to be so free and peaceful while riding. The gentleness and love that she demonstrates for him is unlike anything I have seen her exhibit.”
Why do you like working as a Choices provider?
Agape has really enjoyed serving the youth through Choices over the past few years. Many of the youth referred have never been around horses before, and their time with us opens their eyes to whole new experiences and learning opportunities. Sometimes, they are nervous at first. Once they meet their equine partner and our volunteers, they find themselves having fun while also working on important life skills. We are honored to provide youth a chance to get out of their comfort zones and do something they would have never had the opportunity to do. We love watching each person grow and become more confident, independent, respectful, empathetic, and responsible. They learn the value of communication and trust in a relationship with others through their new equine friend. Some of the kids we see also just need a break from the stress in their lives, where they can be outdoors and be kids. The barn is a place of peace and safety in their world – where they don’t have to think about what is going on in their personal lives.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Agape is grateful for the partnership with Choices, and we look forward to continue serving everyone referred to our program.
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