Sometimes unfortunate circumstances have a way of changing our lives for the better.
When a car accident left Bob Pisani with traumatic brain injury, he and his family sold their ranch and home in Colorado and moved to Mariposa. Doctors offered no hope for recovery. His wife, Nancy Kemp, slid into depression and gave her horse away.
Once settled, though, Kemp found a riding instructor for her daughter. Meeting Shawna Dahl and her horses was life-changing. To this day Kemp has to hold back the tears as she recounts the events of the past three years. It wasn't long before she started riding again. And her husband is completely recovered. After too many long months of not smiling, Kemp has a lot to smile about now.
But that's only half the story.
Eleven years ago, a 4-month-old baby girl in a Vietnamese orphanage showed all the signs of developmental delays seen in children who had been institutionalized for much longer. Adopted by Kemp, Tallulah's progress remained slow. Until her father's accident, the move to Mariposa, and spending several hours a week at Dahl's ranch. Within two short years, Tallulah placed third in a 4-H horse show. And the developmental delays have disappeared.
"I don't have well-dressed grooms waiting at the stables to do the hard work," Dahl says. "Everyone who comes here learns it all. They get the whole experience, from shoveling manure and cleaning stalls to leading and playing riding games in the arena. I call it practical horsemanship."
From ages 5 and up, riders learn to capture the horse, groom, tack up, feed, clean and lead. Dahl's expectations are high. She doesn't allow anyone to use words like "can't," "don't" or "won't."
Robert Hartgenbush grew up in the city, and was timid when it came to horses. But that was something he wanted to change. At the first class when he was told to capture the horse, he thought, "No way!" But after taking Dahl's classes three days a week for a year, he not only faced his fears, he bought a horse of his own. He and his horse developed such a bond, a 6-year-old rider told him, "You and Jack fit together like two pieces of a puzzle."
Surrounded by mature oaks on 10 acres of pastoral foothills land, Dahl's ranch allows families and individuals to spend time growing relationships with the animals and with each other.
Christy Wall and her nine kids have learned to ride with Dahl.
"Horsemanship has taught us so much," Wall says. "The self-knowledge from doing manual labor, and the confidence, poise and collection that communicate to a 1,000-pound animal in language that's clear and consistent -- these are all things we use in real life."
Wall and others appreciate Dahl's approach that matches riders with horses, and teaches the whole person. With the privilege of riding comes responsibility and self-discipline. And life lessons about respecting others, being a team player, working hard and persevering.
"She's very attentive and observant, and really knows how to bring out the best in both the horse and the rider," Wall continues.
Shawna Dahl was given her first horse when she was only 3 1/2 years old, and spent almost two decades showing Arabians alongside her mom.
Dahl is hoping to partner with local service organizations for sponsorships, which would provide classes for underserved children.
Some of her clients have helped financially to level ground and put up fencing; others volunteer hours by doing ranch chores because they believe in what she's accomplishing.
"It's so rewarding to me, watching the kids mature while learning to ride," Dahl says. When they excel here, they excel in other areas of life."
She and her horses are changing lives one ride at a time, and anyone who's ridden with her knows it's true.
For more information about her ranch, visit www.solidsunset.com, or call (209) 377-8202.
Debbie Croft writes about life in the foothill communities. She can be reached at composed@tds.net.
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