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Everyday Heroes: Rhythmic horse riding rewards kids, teens with
needs in Hobart
Kafka finds her niche in therapy
Dec. 31, 2007 |
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Lisa Kafka, second from right, assists as Aliyha Zeitler rides a therapy horse Monday. Kafka founded Country Kids
Pediatric Therapy Services in Hobart for children and teens with special needs or recovering from surgery. Jim
Matthews/Press-Gazette
Written by
Patti Zarling
HOBART — It's clear pediatric therapy is more than a 9-to-5 job for
Lisa Kafka.
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The founder of Country Kids Pediatric Therapy Services gets teary
eyed when she talks about how hard children with special needs work
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and how dedicated their parents are. Her eyes well when she frets
that health care isn't there for kids who have long-term needs. And a
tear or two fall when she mentions aging therapy horses nearing the
end of their lives.
Kafka was selected as a Green Bay Press-Gazette 2007 Everyday
Hero in the business category.
Kafka started Country Kids Inc. out of her
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Everyday Heroes: Rhythmic horse riding rewards kids, teens with needs in Hobart | Press Gazette Media | greenbaypressgazette.com
house . She hired additional therapists as
needed and eventually progressed to a new
building in 2001.
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"I always knew I wanted to do something in the
health-care field," she said. She worked with
newborns in the neonatal department at St.
Vincent Hospital, but said she preferred
ZOOM
Lisa Kafka and equestrian therapy client Aliyha Zeitler
stand in front of Kafka's therapy horse Monday. Jim
Matthews/Press-Gazette
Lisa Kafka
working with kids longer term.
Residence: Hobart
Marathon County
Crime Gallery:
Updated March 19
Country Kids is a private practice offering
occupational, physical and speech therapy to
children and teens up to 18 years old, with
transitional help through age 21. The business
serves children, teens and young adults who
Age: 48
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Dec. 1, 2013
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are recovering from surgery or have special
needs. And one of the tools is horseback
riding — or hippotherapy.
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When Kafka saw how much riding helped the
children she decided to seek formal training.
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"Then we decided we'd build a stable and get
a horse," Kafka said. "I can see what dramatic
changes it makes for kids … when we put a
child on a horse, they feel the rhythmic
movements; how else can you give them
something that simulates walking?"
Unfortunately, some insurance companies
don't cover hippotherapy. But kids with issues
like autism or cerebral palsy usually need longterm therapy, Kafka said. She launched the
nonprofit Exceptional Equestrian program to
offer scholarships to help families pay for
such therapy.
Today they have nine horses, with seven used
for therapy.
"It is a wonderful thing to see the excitement of
the kids horseback riding while getting
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physical and emotional benefits at the same
time," said Glen Vannieuwenhoven, who
nominated Kafka as an Everyday Hero.
"Owning a horse is a costly venture, and Lisa
has often taken no compensation for her
occupational therapy services in order to
make ends meet."
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Kafka downplays those efforts, saying all of her staff and many
families have volunteered time to help raise money for Exceptional
Equestrians and do make the program a success.
In addition to individual therapy, the program offers group therapy and
rides. Kafka said horseback riding sometimes provides a sport
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Everyday Heroes: Rhythmic horse riding rewards kids, teens with needs in Hobart | Press Gazette Media | greenbaypressgazette.com
children with special needs can do, if they can't do other things like
basketball.
"It means so much to the kids," she said. "We've even had them come
out here to have senior pictures taken."
But running the program isn't cheap, and Exceptional Equestrians
runs on donated time and money. Schneider National Inc. recently
donated $10,000 for another therapy horse, Kafka said.
The group is launching a capital campaign to raise funds
to insulate
the horse therapy area and build offices and therapy rooms in the
barn area. The program currently stops in winter months because it's
too cold.
She also hopes to build a "sensory trail" from the clinic to the stables
that might include bridges or special steps so kids can practice
therapy outside. She would also like to see a sports court for things
like wheelchair therapy.
Kafka nomination
“My nominee, Lisa Kafka, is an occupational therapist who founded
a business called Country Kids Inc. Country Kids is a pediatric
therapy clinic that offers occupational, physical and speech therapy to
all children with an emphasis on children with special needs. A unique
aspect of Country Kids is that they offer horseback riding as a tool in
the therapy treatment of the child. As a result of the program’s
popularity, she started a non-profit organization called Exceptional
Equestrians in order to expand the riding program. It is a wonderful
thing to see the excitement of the kids horseback riding while getting
physical and emotional benefits at the same time. Owning horses is a
costly venture and Lisa has often taken no compensation for her
occupational therapy services in order to make ends meet.
"Lisa started the clinic in her home and garage but progressed to a
new building in 2001. She is very loyal to her employees even to a
point of creating a financial
burden to her and her family.
"Lisa is also involved in several pediatric therapy organizations and is
an excellent occupational therapist. And, as if all that isn’t’ enough,
she has taken several foster children with special needs over the
years.
"I believe Lisa Kafka is an Everyday Hero although she would never
think that."
-- Glen Vannieuwenhoven, nominator
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