Program founded to help kids' horse dreams come true

Horses for Heroes gets children of military, police, veterans and more into the saddle

Clockwise from top, Horses for Heroes founder Allison Knott, 17, calls out to one of the riders as 9-year-old Hannah Beery rides in the background during a Feb. 28 open ride. Beery hops up on a horse as Meghan Reid, 8, prepares to ride. Six-year-old Garrett Beery gets a boost up unto a horse from Knott. Bishop Gorman Equestrian Club Vice President Marissa Palmer helps adjust straps for Dani Chaney, 12.Photos by larry Cruikshank/VIEW Clockwise from top, Horses for Heroes founder Allison Knott, 17, calls out to one of the riders as 9-year-old Hannah Beery rides in the background during a Feb. 28 open ride. Beery hops up on a horse as Meghan Reid, 8, prepares to ride. Six-year-old Garrett Beery gets a boost up unto a horse from Knott. Bishop Gorman Equestrian Club Vice President Marissa Palmer helps adjust straps for Dani Chaney, 12.Photos by larry Cruikshank/VIEW Advertisement

She calls them "horse kids" -- children who dream of having a horse all their own. While Allison Knott, a senior at Faith Lutheran Junior/Senior High School, can't buy all the children a horse, she can do the next best thing. She makes hers available to them and gives children free riding lessons.

To do that, Knott established a nonprofit organization called Horses for Heroes, which launched in November 2006.

The program targets children whose parents are military personnel, veterans, police officers, firefighters, nurses and special-needs teachers. It's all a way of saying thank you to the heroes in the community, Knott said.

"Many riding programs either help disabled and disadvantaged children or rescue horses," she said. "Our program ... makes horseback riding affordable and accessible to the families of the people in our community who do so much for us every day."

Each Thursday, Horses for Heroes has an open call for children enrolled in the program. It takes place at the Knott family's second property, a ranch, in the northwest part of town. The family's other home is at The Lakes.

"Some of these kids will come here and say, 'I've never seen a horse before,' " said Sydney Knott, Allison's mother.

Each Thursday afternoon, young elementary-age children descend on the ranch, where two corrals allow them to ride the family's horses. About 50 children participate in the program, but roughly a dozen are on hand each week. Their age range is 5 to 12.

Hannah Beery, 9, and her brother Garrett, 6, have been participants for almost as long as the program has been in existence. They said they've learned how to mount a horse, make it turn and signal it to run. The thing they were taught never to do, Hannah said, is "get near the rear end because you might get kicked."

Dani Chaney, 12, whose father is in law enforcement, has a favorite horse at the ranch named Jaspar.

"I've loved horses my whole life," she said. "I want to be here every day."

Military retiree John Kinnaired brought his grandchildren, twins Kelsey and Sissi Lupton, who are 8 and live in the Sunrise Mountain area. Kinnaired said that after the duo first started participating in the program the first week of February, "They've been horse crazy ever since."

To give the children 1-on-1 attention, the program requires plenty of helpers.

Members of Bishop Gorman High School's Equestrian Club also descend on the ranch. They participate by assisting the young children. Emily Lebeau, 16, president of the club, said there are about 15 members. Allison Knott's two sisters, Katherine and MaryBeth, who also attend Faith Lutheran Junior/Senior High School, help her out.

In addition to riding lessons, Knott and her sisters have hosted play days and parties, sponsored riders in local horse shows and junior rodeos and trained volunteers at local schools to help with their program.

The program isn't all fun and games. Horses for Heroes also has the youngsters grooming the horses and cleaning stalls.

The hope is that Horses for Heroes can garner enough support to provide scholarships for lessons at other facilities and pay entry fees for youngsters who want to compete in equestrian events. After all, Knott said, she started the nonprofit venture just to share her love of horses.

"I had no idea of the impact it has had. I got an e-mail from a lady whose child is involved, and she said it was the biggest blessing in her life. I was like, 'Whoa,' I didn't think I could do that," Knott said.

Besides racking up points for her National Honor Society community service requirements, the program recently brought Knott recognition in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. She enjoys showing her American Paint Horse, named Slightly Fancy, at equestrian shows throughout the country and is currently rated third in the nation for the American Paint Horse Association's 14-18 age division.

Knott will leave for college in Southern California in the fall. Her sisters plan to take over running the program.

For more information on Horses for Heroes, visit horses4heroes.org.