When 14-year-old Nick Klaus began taking riding lessons five years ago, he had to be picked up and put on the horse.
"Nick did not like being on the horse a whole lot," said Sue Klaus, Nick's mother. "He would rather have been at home listening to his DVDs and music. This was something new for him and it was difficult."
Betty Johnston, who has operated Wildwin Stables in Salem with her husband, Robert, since 1983, marvels at Nick's progress
"We had to stand next to him and hold him on the horse while Betty gave him 10-minute lessons at first," Sue Klaus said. "This was an entirely new experience and Nick was not prepared for it."
Nick was born prematurely, at 28 weeks, and weighed 1 1/2 pounds at birth. He suffered a brain hemorrhage at 5 days old, which led to oxygen deprivation and some brain damage. Nick spent the first seven months of his life in Pittsburgh's Magee Womens Hospital and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
"Nick is now able to get on a horse by himself, he can now steer the horse by himself, but we still stand nearby," said Johnston, who has been involved with horses since she was 6 years old. "His balance has improved and he can do certain exercises on his horse, such as sit-ups, which helps with his balance and strengthens his core muscles.
"When Nick started riding, he was unable to accomplish even the simplest of tasks, but now he does much by himself. He is better able to follow commands, hold the pony, steer and weave around blocks, or steer toward people. Nick is the bright spot of my week."
Nick's medical issues include cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, and he was diagnosed with ADHD. He is identified as having pervasive developmental disorder and, although he does not meet all the criteria for autism, he is on the autism spectrum.
He has a passion for music -- he loves Barney the Dinosaur's "I Love You, You Love Me" and "Peanut Butter Sandwich," and Sesame Street, his mother noted -- which he transfers to the Wildwin Stables arena.
"Nick's music helps him relax and he often sings those songs at the stable," Johnston said. "When Nick sees me, he calls me Betty, and he has a good sense of humor. At first it was difficult to communicate with him, but now it's easy."
Nick's physical capabilities display effects of cerebral palsy. He runs awkwardly, even though it's hard for his mother to keep up with him, she said, laughing. He has difficulty with fine motor skills and balance, and he has a slight limp. Nick is healthy but has home-health nurses and must be closely monitored, especially if he catches a cold.
"Nick walks, he swims, he runs," Sue Klaus said. "I look at him as having challenges."
Growing and learning
In a new scholastic environment this year at Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children in Delmont, "Nick is excelling academically," his mother said, noting that his academic level is that of a 5- or 6-year old. "His academic abilities and skills, generally considered as typical, have really burst this year and we are noticing more of his abilities, and his language is also exploding."
At Clelian Heights, Nick has a specifically tailored education program and will soon celebrate his first Holy Communion and Confirmation.
"I had never worked with a handicapped person prior to Nick," Johnston said. "He is physically and mentally challenged, and I was uncertain about what to do when his parents first brought Nick to Wildwin."
It was Nick's older sister, Stacey, now a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh's Greensburg campus, who encouraged her parents to expose Nick to Johnston, her horses and her stable. Nick visits Wildwin Stables once a week.
"When Nick was born and going through his medical issues, Stacey got involved in horseback riding and it's become a lifelong passion for her," Sue Klaus said. "She encouraged us to take Nick to Wildwin, and we soon discovered the positive and therapeutic effects horseback riding can have on someone with autism."
When Nick first set foot at Wildwin, his parents and Johnston had to lift him onto a pony and "he just sat there," Johnston recalls. "We had to hold onto him for balance. At first, I thought I would just be leading him around the arena, but now I'm always throwing out new challenges to him. It may take some time, but he picks up what I want him to do.
"In the last six months he has made tremendous progress, which may be a combination of his age and lessons. Instead of having his pony wander around, he can keep his pony on the edge of the arena, follow commands, stop on command, circle his pony and move to the middle of the arena. Nick can also brush and saddle and care for his pony, which teaches students such as Nick additional skills.
"Nick has taught me as much as I have taught him. Thanks to Nick, I've learned that every rider is capable of learning. I've learned that almost anything is possible."
Inspiring change
Working with Nick has opened unexpected doors for Johnston and Wildwin. She now offers lessons to nearly a dozen handicapped children, mostly autistic, and noted that Pennsylvania offers grants for families of autistic and handicapped students. Families may apply through the state or through the county mental health and mental retardation providers.
"Nick has opened doors for me," she added, "not just in terms of adding students, but in the general philosophy of working with and offering new opportunities to someone such as Nick."
Because of Nick's capabilities, he rides a pony rather than a full-size horse.
"This is easier for everyone," Johnston said. "A pony's size makes it easier for him to mount the horse, and on a pony Nick is lower to the ground and easier to hold onto if necessary."
Nick rides Pocahontas, or Pokey, as his pony is commonly known. Pokey is owned by Wildwin Stables and, coincidentally, had been leased by Stacey Klaus, who owns a thoroughbred, "The Heart Break Kid," stabled at Wildwin.
When Johnston first began working with Nick, she instructed him to steer toward a bucket in the center of the arena, "but we had little success," Johnston recalls, "so we got a picture of Elmo (from Sesame Street) and put it beside a red bucket for him to learn to follow directions and told Nick to steer toward Elmo. We spent weeks doing this, and now he can go to the bucket without Elmo's picture being there. Learning to go to the bucket in that fashion created additional opportunities for him in the arena."
Johnston did the same with the Cookie Monster and a blue feed pan, with Nick mastering related commands.
"Nick's tapes and music have also added to his improved vocabulary," Sue Klaus said. "Those videos and songs are all things Nick. When he first started to pay attention to them, he began to come out of his autism. They've come in handy at Wildwin. Betty understands Nick and understands what he needs. Her patience and efforts have enabled Nick to accomplish what he has."
But she laughed trying to recall who was responsible for the Elmo strategy.
"I'm not really sure where the idea of using Elmo's picture came from," she mused. "It was either from Betty or Stacey, or Michelle Harkins (who rides and works at Wildwin), or Miss Ruth, but it worked."
Ah, Miss Ruth.
"When Nick does something good, he says 'Superfantastic, indeed,' and gives me a high five," Johnston said, chuckling.
"Superfantastic, indeed," came from Miss Ruth, Sue Klaus noted.
Miss Ruth is Ruth Yusko, Nick's classroom aide at Clelian Heights and "our angel sent from God," Sue Klaus said. Yusko spends some 20 hours a week at the Klaus home, getting Nick off the bus, helping with bathing and feeding, assisting Nick with his self-help skills, and general supervision. "Miss Ruth is very skilled with students such as Nick, and accompanies Nick to Wildwin and other community activities."
And the high five?
"That came from Stacey and her friends, and their interaction with Nick," Sue Klaus said.
When Rod and Sue Klaus introduced Nick to Wildwin Stables, they had few if any expectations regarding what might transpire, Sue Klaus said. "But Betty is patient and diligent, and worked with him minute by minute by minute. That's why we have been so satisfied. This is definitely a therapeutic environment, helping to pull him together. When Nick gets on Pokey, he is relaxed, in tune with his horse and what his horse needs. His body and mind, everything has fallen into place."
In fact, the Klauses have discussed Nick's riding with his doctors at the Children's Hospital Cerebral Palsy Clinic, who agree that riding and caring for his pony is a great activity for someone with cerebral palsy.
"Nick was stumbly and clumsy at first at Wildwin," Sue Klaus said, "but now he can follow directions and lead Pokey through different drills. When Nick arrives at Wildwin for his weekly lesson, he immediately recognizes Pokey. Riding has helped his sensory issues as well. It's amazing what Betty has accomplished. They are special people at Wildwin. They have huge hearts and have taken Nick under their wings. We are all proud of what Nick has accomplished."
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