Ancient legends and myths among several Native American tribes speak of the Dream Catcher. According to the Ojibwa people, the Dream Catcher is a mystical and maternal Spider Woman who serves as the tribe’s protector, especially for children and those in need. In ancient times, as the tribe grew and dispersed across the land, she created a web-like Dream Catcher to protect them from afar.
On twenty-two pastoral acres in rural Toano, Spider Woman continues to cast her protective web; this time in the form of Dream Catchers at the Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center. What began as a small dream has, through the love and care of its volunteers, certified instructors, and staff, created a world class riding center dedicated to improving the quality of life for those who have been handed some of life’s greatest challenges.
In 1993, two nurses from Cumberland Children’s Hospital opened a therapeutic riding center in the belief that equine-assisted activities would help their patients improve fine motor skills, gain a sense of self-worth, and grow confidence as they mastered simple and complex tasks while astride a horse. Their program became known as Dream Catchers. By 1996, Dream Catchers was providing 35 to 40 lessons per week. Then the hospital was sold, and Dream Catchers relocated to a leased facility in 2002.
That same year, a young and accomplished horsewoman, Cori Sikich, lost her battle with an eating disorder. As her family struggled with their pain and loss, they turned their mourning for her tragic loss outward, in the hopes her life and passing would give meaning and purpose to others. In 2004, Susan and John Sikich provided Dream Catchers with a permanent home on a stunning piece of property with ample room to expand. Held in trust by the Cori Sikich Foundation, the family found a positive way to honor her life.
Dream Catchers had an immediate impact on a community that stretches from New Kent County through York, the Middle Peninsula, and down into Southside Hampton Roads. Their efforts captured the hearts of philanthropists Angie Johnson and Wade Johnson, MD, who believed Dream Catchers was worthy of significant financial support. In 2006, they directed the capital improvements resulting in this state-of-the-art riding center.
Today, Dream Catchers provides more than 4000 lessons each year for students ages 4 to 100. With a stable of 13 horses, 8 instructors, licensed clinicians, and approximately 17,500 hours of volunteer staffing annually, Dream Catchers is truly a dream come true for area residents with special needs. All instructors are certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH), the organization that oversees professional standards and certifications.
“Each participant arrives with a referral,” explains Board President Thomas Miller. A retired anesthesiologist living in Williamsburg, Tom began as a volunteer at Dream Catchers four years ago, before assuming the position of Board President. Not just content to handle administrative duties, Tom and his wife are still active barn volunteers.
“There are a number of paths coming into a program like this. The two major elements are of course the riders; in this case children and adults with special needs, and the horses. Since we are a therapeutic riding center, everybody needs a diagnosis. It could be through a family physician, a children’s orthopedist, a psychiatrist or psychologist, or a social worker.
Then, our PATH-certified Operations Manager conducts a thorough assessment of the child or adult: what their physical abilities and disabilities are; do they have enough core strength to ride a horse; what their emotional and mental capabilities are; and what kinds of assistance will they require. Many of the riders are severely handicapped; some are completely wheelchair-bound.”
Some special needs may include ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities and development delay, Down Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, paralysis, speech impairment, spinal disorders, visual impairments, emotional and behavioral challenges, and terminal illnesses, to name a few. Each need requires special pairing with a compatible equine partner.
“As you know, each horse is gaited differently, so pairing an individual with a specific horse is crucial,” Tom explains. “With patient confidentiality foremost in mind, Dream Catcher volunteers may not know the specific diagnosis, just the unique requirements for pairing horse and rider.”
A horse’s motion closely replicates the human stride, so riding helps improve flexibility, balance, muscle strength, and concentration. The benefits derived can also increase confidence, patience, and self-esteem. Individualized programs include:
Therapeutic Riding & Horsemanship
Horsemanship skills may be taught on horseback or on the ground for the purpose of promoting strength, increasing flexibility, developing balance, and social skills. A unique interaction develops between each horse and rider so that two become one.
Equine-facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP)
Licensed mental health professionals and certified equine professionals work together to design a program that fosters patience and empathy, reducing anxiety and depression, boosts confidence and trust, and improves frustration tolerance.
Equine-facilitated Learning (EFL)
An educational approach developed and organized by credentialed practitioners to facilitate personal growth and development of life skills through equine interactions. Benefits include developing a strong work ethic, improving attention, gaining self-esteem and confidence, and helping to better understand non-verbal communication.
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy incorporates the movement of the horse as a treatment strategy by a licensed speech/language pathologist to address impairments and speech limitations.
“Participation in these various programs waxes and wanes for a number of reasons. Hot and cold weather are deterrents to riding. Economically, it’s not feasible to maintain a heated and air-conditioned space in the indoor riding arena. The sweet spots for us are in the spring and fall,” Tom continues.
“Programs like this are estimated to be $170 per hour. We charge $56. The rest is provided through volunteer hours, fundraisers, grants, and our partial and full scholarships for riders.”
“We currently have 44 teams busy preparing for our upcoming Catch a Dream campaign and horse show,” adds Terry Jacoby, Dream Catcher’s Development Director. “This is dedicated to our participants, and it’s their day to shine in front of family and friends.” Major sponsors, such as Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que provide financial support as well as serving up more than 200 meals for the event.
Some of the stars for the upcoming show were going through their paces inside the indoor arena. The soft scuff of horse’s hooves on the artificial turf muffles the sounds of instructors and horse leaders guiding both horses and riders through carefully placed obstacle courses. While the horse leader is completely focused on the movements and behavior of their horse, side walkers are positioned on each side near the riders’ heels, focused entirely on the safety of the rider.
It takes a special horse or pony to become part of the Dream Catchers team. Hundreds of hours of intensive training are required to become a certified therapy horse, and each one goes through intensive evaluations before being selected.
Many of them have been loaned to the program by their owners. In the bright and immaculate stable, each animal has its own box stall, complete with placards that identify each by name, breed, height, gender, color, date of birth, and owner and/or loaner. Annual sponsorships and donations help underwrite the costs for feed, supplements, tack, farrier fees, and veterinarian care. A well-organized tack room features carefully inventoried saddles and bridles that pairs the tack required for each horse with the needs of the riders.
This year, Bridles & Boots is an exciting new version of Dream Catchers’ annual fundraiser, formerly known as Bridles & Bowties, always a sellout evening. About 375 guests spend the evening enjoying a cocktail hour, appetizers, oysters, and tours of the facilities, student spotlights, a meet and greet with the equine stars, and a seated buffet with live auction. Generous sponsorship support ensures that Dream Catchers can continue to provide exceptional services to the community. The event is always a favorite on the Williamsburg social calendar.
Dream Catchers has a dream of its own. They have begun building an endowment fund, which over time will generate an annual income to support their operations and programs. Dream Catchers welcomes volunteers who possess a passion for horses and for helping those in need, and are always on the lookout for lesson volunteers (horse leaders and side walkers), facility volunteers, and office help.
With two riders in the program, one parent expressed her heartfelt words of gratitude that other parents can relate. “Dream Catchers is a magical place where children with special needs can be themselves. They are welcomed with open arms, loved and accepted. Not only does Dream Catchers offer a safe haven, but I feel a peace there that I seldom feel otherwise.”
For the staff of Dream Catchers, each moment with their riders is indelibly captured in their hearts and minds. One incident still resonates. While being lead to the outdoor riding arena, a young woman with MS, suddenly threw her arms open wide and began singing Born Free. Recalling that story now, there wasn’t a dry eye in the group.
In horse cultures worldwide, ‘Horse’ possesses great physical power. In understanding the power of ‘Horse’, compassion, caring, teaching, loving, and sharing are gateways to this power. Dream Catchers has tapped into that source of power in order to bring life-changing therapeutic programs to those with the greatest needs. The Spider Woman continues to cast her protective web.
Special thanks to Thomas Miller, Board President; Terry Jacoby, Development Director; Janet Mayberry Laughlin, Interim Executive Director; Beth Yurkovac, Operations Manager, and to the instructors, volunteers, and riders who allowed me to be a part of their world.