Amy is one with the horses
Born without forearms, she now has confidence
By Dwight Otwell Editor

John Bourscheid/Sentinel Photo Amy LaForest leads one of her favorite horses.

Amy LaForest, 12-years-old, can go into the pasture and bring horses in that other people can't.

It doesn't matter that Amy was born with a genetic disorder so that she has no forearms. She has a special way with horses.

Amy, an Andrews resident, first rode a horse when she was 18-months-old but she doesn't remember that.

"I love horses. They are my favorite thing in the world," Amy NEWS said recently at Equine Second Chance, a horse rehabilitation facility outside Andrews run by Dana and Don Luther and Ron Lasater.

Amy's mother, Lynn LaForest, said Amy has always wanted to do things for herself. But around other people she was shy, would hold her head down and she always assumed that people were staring at her.

Lynn got Amy involved in karate and pottery, which were good but didn't change her personality. Amy rode one of the Luther's horses, Major, at the Bluegrass to Blues Festival in Andrews in June.

"Amy is my first special needs child," Dana said. "Lynn wanted to know if I would give her riding lessons. I said 'Sure. I'll try.'"

The three partners, Don and Dana Luther and Lasater, now want to build a hippo therapy facility in which a certified therapist provides help to special needs kids by teaching them how to ride and care for horses.

Special reigns with handles were designed for Amy, which makes riding less difficult for her.

"Horses know there is something different with a special needs child," Ron said. "They are just as gentle and loving as they can be."

As for her personality, Lynn said Amy is now completely different. She has been emboldened.

"Being able to control an animal of that size and the fact that people here don't treat her any different than anyone else has made the difference," Lynn said.

"Here, they forget (the handicap)," Amy said. "I want them to forget. It's what I want. Horses don't care (about the handicap)."

"Here, we don't treat anyone differently, whether they are poor or rich or have special needs," Dana said. "I just want a safe haven for kids."

Amy said the new confidence has carried over into other aspects of her life. She can walk up to people and talk to them and do what needs to be done, she said.

Lynn said that taking care of horses takes a lot more effort for Amy. But she likes to do things herself.

"Amy rides well," Dana said. "I don't see her as different anymore. She loves horses. She is one of the most amazing kids."

Dana said that Amy is the reason she is moving more from her business Horseshoe Creek Riding Stables toward connecting horses with handicapped and under privileged kids.

"For 57 years God has given me the opportunity to learn all about horses," Dana said.

It all seems to pay off with a look at Amy's beautiful smile as she mounts and rides one of her favorite horses.