Just horsiní around
Three area women practice for Special Olympics equestrian events at Beroun ranch
By Barbara Brown Thereís something to be said for the bond between humans and horses. The large beasts are not only helpful with physical labor and transportation, but they also can teach independence and self-confidence. For three area women, the horses at Mission Creek Ranch in Beroun have given them the opportunity to participate in a rigorous and demanding sport. Anne Van Sant, a 16-year-old sophomore at North Branch High School, started riding horses just over a few years ago, she said. Now she is completely enthralled by the sport.
Each week after the groupís nearly two-hour practice, Anne heads home and turns on the news to check what the following Wednesdayís forecast is. Sheís also taken to memorizing the obstacle course each rider will have to complete in the Special Olympics regional competition. She walks through her yard and walks through the course, which is marked on a sheet of paper.
ìI like this because I can ride by myself and Iím getting better,î Van Sant said. ìI like to trot and
and learn new moves.î Van Santís mother, Maggie, said she appreciated the Witz opening their ranch to the riders. She said Anne had been riding with another family, but they left the business. ìItís the love of her life,î Maggie Van Sant said. ìIt gives her a lot of self-confidence and sheís able to meet a lot of people and open up her world.î
Martha Thompson and Jessica Belsheim live together in a group home in Mora and travel together to practice each week. While Belsheim has been riding horses since she was very young, and is confident around the animals, Thompson still is a little nervous. She doesnít let her nerves stop her, however. Thompson eagerly cleans, pets and works with her horse to create an understanding of what she wants it to do. ìI ride western,î Thompson said. ìI wanted to ride horses because I used to watch John Wayne movies.î Each rider was chosen by the horses, Roy Witz said. He said when new riders come to the ranch, the horses essentially gravitate toward the person they want to work with ñ not the other way around.
The riders have to get to know the horses and in the meantime, they are taught about the tack and other equipment and how to clean the horses from their manes to their hoofs. Mission Creek Ranch started as a dream and a bean field, said owner Lori Witz. She and her husband Roy used to ride motorcycles in charity events because they felt a need to offer help to the community. The riding group partnered with Make A Wish Minnesota, part of the Make A Wish Foundation, and soon the motorcycle group became the highest individual donating group to the fund in Minnesota. Lori Witz had long been involved in horses and had worked with Health Directed Riding for years.
She and her husband decided to take their love of horses and volunteer work one step further and joined Special Olympics to offer their facility for equestrian training and competition. The couple has worked for three years building their log home, storage barn, corrals, stalls and show arena for the horses. Now, each year brings at least a couple charity rodeos, one of which will be held June 29 and an area Special Olympics equestrian competition in August. ìItís hard to believe that four years ago, this was a bean field,î Roy Witz said. ìIt seems to have taken on a life of its own.î The Witzes have help on the ranch from builder and manager Randy Campeau and a couple other hands. Lori Witz said she would eventually like to cut back on her hours at the hospital and stay on the ranch and work with volunteer agencies full time. The couple is willing to take donations of quality tack for use by the athletes, said Roy Witz. He also said he is looking for bleachers that could be installed around the arena for spectators. For information about the ranch or the charity events, call 320-629-3525.
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