'The kids have a way of stealing your heart'

When Jeff Fryman was looking for a place to volunteer, he answered a want ad for help at Lovesome Stables, which provides equine therapy for people of all ages and disabilities.

The first child he assisted had cerebral palsy, and the two really connected. They even discovered they share the same birthday. Fryman was hooked.

“It’s so much more than walking a horse around,” he told Kiwanis members at their weekly meeting in late March.

Lovesome Stables is currently helping riders aged three through 97.

The stable is accredited through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.).

“We’re a taker of all disabilities,” Fryman said, explaining that the majority of equine therapists focus on autism “because that’s where the money is.”

Jody Keeley, the stable’s owner, said they are able to help people with so many limitations because they are one of the few programs with a lift to help mount a horse.

The stable welcomes veterans struggling with emotional issues. Before COVID, Joseph’s House, a veterans’ recovery in Cincinnati that focuses on substance abuse and mental health issues, frequently brought residents to ride, but they have not returned yet.

Fryman said Lovesome Stable offers “connection and community” for those “struggling with life.”

“It’s amazing what people will tell you when brushing a horse,” Keeley added.

“Some of those guys have really been through some stuff ... I don’t know how they walk around in the world,” Fryman said.

Keeley tends to acquire older, more experienced horses for Lovesome Stable. They have to acclimate to a lot, she said, such as wheelchairs and the lift.

In May, the stable will host a day for every special needs child in the local elementary schools.

“The kids have a way of stealing your heart,” Fryman said.