Riding High

When 8-year-old Lance Goetsch first tried to ride a horse, his small body could only slump over the saddle. Diagnosed with autism at age 2, Lance has a number of sensory difficulties, including body coordination.

But his excellent posture atop Lullaby at the Ventura County Special Olympics Invitational on Sunday won him a shiny blue first-place ribbon, which he proudly displayed to anyone and everyone he could.

“Riding has helped him in so many ways,” said Lance’s mother, Michelle Goetsch of Thousand Oaks. “Not only with the sensory problems, but for his self-esteem. He understands what that ribbon means.”

Lance was one of 40 developmentally challenged athletes ages 8 and older to compete in three equestrian events: equitation, pole bending and working trails. The event drew participants from Los Angeles County--including some from the San Fernando Valley--as well as Ventura and Orange counties.

The daylong competition in Moorpark, which culminated with a pizza dinner and dance Sunday evening, replaced a two-day equestrian championship normally held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds each July.

Chellis Rogers, area director for the Ventura County Special Olympics, said leaders of the organization’s Southern California chapter canceled the championship this year because there were too few smaller competitions throughout the year to warrant the cost of holding it.

The invitational, therefore, was the only chance for the athletes--who had been training for the last eight weeks in the Special Olympics program--to show off what they have learned and win the coveted blue and red ribbons.

“After all they’ve practiced, this is their opportunity to shine,” Rogers said, adding that efforts are already underway to raise funds for a championship next year.

More than 500 developmentally challenged athletes in Ventura County compete year-round in 14 sports, said Melinda London, regional manager of Special Olympics of Southern California.

The Handicapped Equestrian Learning Program--one of two equestrian training centers for the Special Olympics in Ventura County--held the regional competition Sunday at Pete Peters’ 23-acre ranch on Walnut Canyon Road.

“I won second place,” shouted a proud Amanda Graham of Simi Valley.

“But I like winning first place,” the 14-year-old quickly added.

Amanda, who has both developmental and physical problems, has been riding every Saturday for three years in Peters’ Handicapped Equestrian Learning program.

“Even when they just get on the horse, you can see an amazing difference in them,” said Valerie Ward, a coach in the program. As she watched Amanda flit around telling person after person of her accomplishments, Ward noted that the program’s social aspect is also critical: “‘The horses are only half of it.”

Peters, who raises and boards horses, said he and his wife, Opal, got the idea to launch the program 17 years ago after she had started doing volunteer work with blind children. Opal died 12 years ago, but Peters has continued to shepherd the program.

“What else would I do with my time, sit around and twiddle my thumbs?” he joked.

Michelle Goetsch said the program has not only done wonders for Lance, but has helped her deal with the hardships of rearing a developmentally disabled child.

“A lot of times you have to deal with the disappointment that everyone else is ‘better,’ ” Goetsch said. “But with this, I get to see him succeed and do well. It’s so nice.”