Risner Ranches, West Plains, Missouri   about us *  horses for sale   *  home page  Feature story reprinted from West Plains Daily Quill, October 17, 2002 Matchmaker, educator Linda Risner helps youngsters fulfill their horse-riding dreams The scene is the Ozark Quarter Horse Association show in Carthage, Missouri on a hot Saturday in August. The announcer calls in the 10-and-under walk-trot class, and tells onlookers to keep hands away from the rail and refrain from using flash photography. He’s trying to protect the youngest riders in the show from getting hurt by a spooked horse. As the 15 contestants circle the ring, one woman stays near the metal rails and speaks quietly to many of the children as they go by. “Slow him down, Stacy.”  “Looking nice, Madison.”  “Clara, set his head.” Giving this advice is trainer Linda Risner (photo at right) of West Plains, and she’s reassuring and correcting her riding students. Another trainer watches, then asks, “You’ve got HOW many walk-trotters here?” After giving a word of encouragement to five-year-old Autumn, Risner answers. On hearing her reply, “eight,” the questioner walks off, shaking her head incredulously. Perhaps only another trainer would recognize this as a feat. To get to this show, every child there had to first overcome any fear of horses, then learn proper balance and seat, become skilled at controlling the huge animals, and to be matched up with a calm, well-trained horse suitable for showing. Anyone who has tried to buy a kid-broke horse knows the last item alone is no small matter. And the younger the child, the better the horse needs to be. Risner Ranches on Creamery Road just south of West Plains is well-known locally for hosting an Equine Assisted Therapy Program, but not many are aware just how many other horse-related activities take place there. Owners Norman and Linda Risner are devoting themselves to a horse business focused on kids. Chattering children of all ages and abilities liven up the Risner’s barn after school, on weekends, and throughout the hot summer months. They come for lessons, or therapy, or to ride their own boarded horse. Some days they’re participating in the 4-H Rhythm Riders club, on others they’re washing and clipping their mounts in preparation for a big show. On special occasions, they might be performing in the Risner’s version of the Equine Special Olympics, having a birthday party, or learning horsemanship skills in a day-long clinic. For Norman, a retired University Extension agronomy specialist, managing the facilities is a full-time job. He’s continuously working on roads, fences, pastures and ponds on their 41 acres, or improving the heated horse barn, indoor arena and other buildings. A major daily commitment is feed and health care for the 45 head on the place, both their own and boarded. He produces the alfalfa they sell and feed, and whether the need is for mosquito, erosion, fly or manure control, he tries to find the latest and best practice. FEEDING THE WEANLINGS is Norman Risner of Risner Ranches. “Raising babies and seeing how they turn out is the fun part,” he said of the horse business. “And the kids enjoy helping feed and learning how to handle and lead the babies.” This year the Risners raised nine foals, both for themselves and for clients.  Linda, with a Masters degree in Animal Science and a Ph.D. in Education, teaches both the kids and the horses. Her human students range dramatically. Those in the therapy program have handicaps including Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism. Some are unable to walk. “But with assistance, every one of them can ride a horse, and for many it’s the high point of their week,” she said. That program is full and has a waiting list. Her other pupils go from the tender-aged walk-trotters to college students, as Dr. Risner is professor for university-level stable management and horse training courses offered through SMSU-West Plains. Breeding and production classes are planned for future semesters.  Although the Risners specialize in training quarter horses and their riders for Youth classes, such as Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, and Trail, Linda says she tries to help each family accomplish whatever horse-plan they might have. “I like to see kids achieve their goals, whether they just want to get ready for trail riding, or to gain better control over their own horse, or to learn more difficult skills, like doing horsemanship patterns or jumping.” She puts a major emphasis on safety, requiring helmets and proper footwear, and does not train for or participate in speed events. From the first lesson on the not-so-scary-after-all Professor Ernie, the tall but totally gentle beginner’s horse, Risner helps “her kids” gain skills and self-confidence as they graduate to more challenging mounts, all the way through competing at prestigious shows, if they choose to go that far. “Linda is really good with the kids. They like her, they want her approval and they’re willing to work hard to get it,” said Erica Garrett, mother of student Haden Garrett, 7. Haden’s dad Jacob adds, “She (Linda) has just the right amount of patience, and will get onto the kids if they need it.” Following the show in Carthage, a three-day event, most walk-trotters from Risner’s barn took home at least one ribbon. The two teens she brought did well too, placing in both Western and English events. But Risner does not measure success with ribbons. “I’m an educator, not a competitor,” she said. “Particularly in the 10 and under group, I tell parents not to be encouraging their kids to be competitive. I’d rather they’d go and do their best, learn something each time, have fun, make friends, and have a good experience. If they do that, the ribbons will come.” With the horses, too, Risner considers a show a success if the horse tries to do everything the rider asks, particularly if the animal overcomes an obstacle or learns something new. So, predictably, Linda’s kids’ success stories don’t always come with ribbons attached. There’s eight-year-old Jaxson Willard, who contracted bacterial spinal meningitis at six months, leaving him with speech, hearing, and physical handicaps. A rider for three years now, Jaxson has in the last year learned to walk independently, relying only on a walker. His mother Regina Willard says that while many influences have contributed to his progress, the equine therapy program “is a big factor.” Or there’s Katie Tyree, 9, whose family bought her a pony last year, which promptly reared up and threw her. “She was afraid of Sisco, and I was afraid he’d hurt her,” recounts Katie’s mother Cindy Tyree. “After riding another horse here, she built up her confidence, then used the skills she’d learned on Sisco. If she hadn’t gotten lessons, I don’t think she’d ever rode him.” On their own, the family goes to Little Britches Rodeos, and Katie and Sisco are now barrel racing together, her mom reports. Sometimes the lessons are more about life than horses. Phil Whitsell says his grandson, Trenton Eades, 15, has “learned to win and lose with dignity.” Trenton’s sister Madison, 6, is learning pluck. “She’s bit the dust more than once, but is always willing to get on again. She loves to ride,” said Risner. Stacy Mitchell, 8, still thinks riding is fun, even after three years of lessons. “When we first came, Stacy was very passive. She’s learned on a horse to be assertive, and that’s helped her in other ways,” says her grandmother Bonnie Mitchell. Amelia Hulvey, 12, boards her horse Smokey at Risners. “When I started (taking lessons), I thought it would be easy. It’s harder than it looks,” she said. On the good side, she’s learned to ride both Western and English, and to jump Smokey. The down side, she said, is “It’s expensive (to own a horse) and it takes a lot of effort.” Also, “sometimes I get mad at my horse when he’s bad.” Despite the disclaimer on competitiveness, the Risners’ students do win. Ashley Kimberling, 14, was their first rider to compete successfully on a national level. Now other young riders are moving into the limelight. During their first year of competition at quarter horse shows, Ashley Strange, 13, and Lauren Walker, 15, are consistently placing. They’ve won several circuit championships and are now competing in Columbus, Ohio, at this year’s All American Quarter Horse Congress, the largest single breed horse show in the nation. Linda pushes herself, with weekdays scheduled to overflowing with lessons and horse-training, followed by weekends devoted to long hauls to demanding shows. While she concedes it can be stressful, she says, “How many people can get up every day and go to a job they love? I love horses and I love kids and this is the best way I’ve found to combine the two.” Motivating her in part, she says, are happy childhood memories of hours and days spent with her horse and her friends at the public stable in Columbia. “We want to be able to offer kids today some of the same opportunities,” she said. “It feels good to know we’re making a difference in their lives.” “THROW IT TO ME” said occupational therapist Cyndi Fowler to little Piper Wickens, 3, of Mtn. Grove. Piper, a Down’s syndrome child, is not a bit afraid to be astride Sassy, even though this is only her second ride. “I see a benefit already, at least in spirit,” said Jerry Wickens, her dad. “She talked about Sassy for days.” A team of professionals with Physical Therapy Specialists provides physical, occupational and speech therapy for the Equine Assisted Therapy Program. Assisting is volunteer Gordon Voelschow. GETTING GOOD HORSES Having good horses is a key factor in the Risners’ success. “Without them, we wouldn’t have a program,” Norman commented. An important source of quiet mounts for equine therapy is through donations. The Helping Hands Equine Program, a not-for-profit organization, cooperates with Physical Therapy Specialists to provide the therapy program. Helping Hands is able to offer Missouri tax credits to horse donors through the Neighborhood Assistance Program. “We’re proud of the fine horses which have been donated. These animals take good care of our special needs children, plus sometimes the other kids can show them, and the fees earned from offering that service help pay the feed and vet bills for our therapy horses,” Linda explained. The Risners have also raised and trained a number of kids’ mounts, most notably Sassy Topnotch, the foundation of their breeding program. Under Linda, Sassy placed ninth in the Quarter Horse World Show as a two-year-old. Now 17, with a sprinkle of white hair fading her sorrel face, she’s taught dozens of kids to ride. Sassy’s first-born son, sometimes referred to in Horse Trader ads as “Risner’s stud,” is siring topnotch pleasure colts, while Sassy’s three oldest daughters, ridden by teens, have earned “Register of Merit” on their show records. They sell high. “Sassy helps make our land payments,” jokes Risner. The dollar figures attached to some of the animals boarded in Risners’ barn can be staggering. On a stroll down the hall, Linda motions toward one stall and casually mentions that the horse in it sold for $25,000, or that one over there, the owner turned down an offer for $40,000. But not all are double-digit. She’ll help clients find and buy a horse, and often knows who’s selling a kid-worthy registered quarter horse in the $2-3,000 range. Occasionally she’s able to match up a family with a pleasant-tempered pony for a lot less. For anyone thinking of buying a horse for their child, the Risners have some advice. First of all, don’t buy an inexperienced horse for an inexperienced rider. Make the deal contingent on a vet check for soundness, and don’t be afraid to ask for a trial period. For high dollar purchases, it will probably pay to hire an expert to help assess the horse. A patient search and thorough evaluation is worth the trouble, Risner says. “Getting the right horse for your child can make the difference between finding true love or falling into true disaster.”  --   END

“SIT UP STRAIGHT” calls out riding instructor Linda Risner, from off camera in the center of the arena. “Chin up and heels down.” She is speaking to this group of students, who during their lesson practiced walking, trotting, and loping, then weaving through cones and trotting over landscape timbers. They are, from left, Clara Vaughn, 10, Autumn Russell, 5, Amelia Hulvey, 12, Haden Garrett, 7, Stacy Mitchell, 8, Katie Tyree, 9, and Madison Eades, 6.