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Horses Make Christmas Morning Memorable

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By RONNIE BLAIR rblair@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Rockin' Horse Farm on Plathe Road is the kind of place where Christmas stockings hang outside the horses' stalls and the holiday is just one more excuse for a trail ride.

On Thursday, the farm provided the tranquil setting for a special ride in the woods for Laura Sullivan and her 9-year-old son Jason, who is autistic.

The Christmas morning excursion on horseback was a present from farm owner Amy Baird, who is grateful for the help Sullivan provides around the farm.

Sullivan cleans stalls, feeds horses and handles other chores in exchange for lessons for Jason, who is in a therapeutic riding program that Rockin' Horse Farm offers to children with autism and other special needs.

"She goes above and beyond what we ask of her," Baird said.

Perhaps that is because Sullivan's passion for special-needs students goes beyond her son.

Sullivan is an instructional assistant at Mitchell High School, where she works in a classroom with students who have profound mental and physical disabilities.

"I love special-ed kids," she said.

She finds that introducing special education horses to students has rewards. Recently, Ragtime, a Shetland pony at Rockin' Horse Farm, visited Sullivan's class. She said Ragtime was a big hit, especially since the pony arrived at the school in a mini-van rather than a horse trailer.

Sullivan said horseback riding has captivated Jason like nothing else she has seen. He enrolled in the therapeutic riding program in April and initially his lessons were paid for through funding from a local agency.

That funding lapsed, though, and Sullivan couldn't afford to pay for Jason's lessons. Then Baird agreed to the work-in-exchange-for-lessons arrangement. Both sides are pleased with the results.

Baird called Sullivan two days before Christmas to offer her and Jason a special holiday ride. Sullivan was quick to accept, especially knowing she would get the chance to spend time on her favorite horse.

"I will drop anything to come and ride Cricket," Sullivan said.

Jason, meanwhile, rode a horse named Copper, who is one of his two favorites at the farm. The other is Kashi.

Jason, who also helps out around the farm, said he was excited when he learned about the plan for the Christmas morning ride. He arrived at the farm after opening his presents, ready to slide into the saddle. Sullivan said she is especially taken with the quiet atmosphere at Rockin' Horse Farm.

"It's a good place to come and just sit with your tea," she said.

The farm lived up to that quiet reputation Christmas morning as the Sullivans rode into the woods behind the horse stalls. Joining them were Baird's children, Adam Brusselback, 18, Aly Brusselback, 15, Megan Brusselback, 13, and Adam's girlfriend, Claire Milec, 16.

As they road, other horses ambled about stalls and a pig named Tinkerbell grunted in a nearby pen. Baird said Tinkerbell is an unusual pig: The people who used to own him kept him indoors with their dogs and now he sometimes acts like a dog.

After the ride, Jason said the morning went well and he praised his pal Copper.

"He's a smooth-riding horse," Jason said.

Keyword: "Christmas ride" for more photos from the outing. Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218.

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