Kassi Jackson - Forgetting the neigh-sayers

Lindyn Devenport labels parts of a horse as part of an activity during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Saturday, June 9, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Forgetting the neigh-sayers

Dirt covers the floor, the sun is shining brightly outside and a constant giggle is shining through the arena inside. With her hair tied back, helmet on and boots pulled up, Lindyn Devenport takes the reins.

Just like any other horse-loving 6 year old child, Lindyn is anxious to hop on her horse and trot around; however, Lindyn's time with the horses means a lot more than just riding. It means practicing her skills in a different means than her average peers.

Lindyn is a special little girl, tackling every day while living with a global developmental delay that creates challenges with her cognitive, and some physical, abilities. Termed the SNC4A mutation of the 17th chromosome, Lindyn understands a lot more than she can express, according to her mother Meredith Devenport.

Due to her challenges, Lindyn participates in multiple therapies, of which horse therapy is one.

While at school, she is intertwined between the regular classroom, the special needs classroom and is pulled out for speech, occupational and physical therapies, according to Meredith.

"We try to do gross motor [activities] with physical therapy every day," Luke Cowell, physical therapist assistant at Woodland school district, said. "It depends on her mood, her attitude -- some days she's more willing to participate, other days [Lindyn's] not as willing."

With Cowell, Lindyn practices hitting baseballs for hand-eye coordination, jumps on a small trampoline, rides a tricycle "on the road" to help her focus and follow a path and other coordination activities like jumping jack sand skipping. Cowell works with her for a given amount of time, adjusting her daily routine as needed. After her "play time" therapy, Lindyn switches gears for "work time" therapy with occupational therapist Teresa Cobb. Both Cowell and Cobb have been working with Lindyn since her start with Woodland schools at age three.

"She came in to us as an early childhood student and has continued forward and made lots of gains from day one until now," Tamara Miles, director of special services for Woodland school district, said.

But Lindyn hasn't only made strides in the classroom. She's trotted her way through progress at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship (MVTH). Since beginning with MVTH in August of 2017, Lindyn has grown exponentially in her listening, communication and control skills.

"Here, she was empowered to take control over her horse to do different things," Varina Luttrull, program director for MVTH, said.

Lindyn uses adaptive tack while at the therapy barn. Holding the reins seems like a simple skill, but there's more to it. The reins Lindyn uses has tennis balls attached to them. Each colored ball represents a direction. While being coached, Lindyn is told "yellow ball" or "orange ball" to help guide her in her lessons, as part of the therapy barn's efforts to help her understand her movements better, while reinforcing color recognition exercises.

Kristen Seyer, Lindyn's cousin who also volunteers to side-walk along Lindyn and her horse and help coach her at the barn, explained the benefits of the ball reins: they allow Lindyn to focus better, as well as to help understand her left and her right while keeping her engaged.

"With the balls she can just grab onto the balls and is able to steer and it is more likely to hang on to them than let go and get distracted like with the other reins," Kristen Seyer, side-walker and cousin of Lindyn, said. "They're really helpful with understanding left/right and also keeping her engaged."

Not only has Lindyn been able to continue honing her skills while on horseback with MVTH, she has also been provided with an outlet that has allowed her to embrace new challenges, new environments and new people. "There were reservations at first but now she openly and willingly goes in to newer situations better," Meredith said.

Waking up every day, taking on new challenges and meeting goals, Lindyn continues to exceed expectations. "She showed exactly how much she could do after she started growing up," Seyer said. "And she's blowing doctor's minds."

"My daughter is the happiest person probably you'll ever meet," Meredith said. "And for some reason, it's like she's a rockstar -- everybody she meets, she leaves an impact on. And I've never seen another kid like her."

Lindyn Devenport, right, 6, swings with her little brother William Devenport, 3, while their father Derek Devenport watches in their backyard Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, right, 6, plays on her climbing bar wile her parents Derek and Meredith Devenport watch in their garage Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, hangs on her climbing bar in her garage Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport laughs while her mother Meredith Devenport helps her daughter to relax in her bedroom Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, walks through her backyard while drinking out of her water bottle Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport puts her feet up on the dashboard of her family's ATV while riding out to the pasture to feed their cows on their farm Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, smiles for a photo during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, jumps on a trampoline in her playroom at her home Sunday, June 3, 2018 in Sedgewickville. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, practices skipping while Luke Cowell, physical therapist assistant for Woodland school district, watches her as part of her physical therapy at Woodland Elementary School Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in Marble Hill. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, works with Teresa Cobb, occupational therapist for Woodland school district, as part of her special services provided at Woodland Elementary School Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in Marble Hill. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, is guided by Teresa Cobb, occupational therapist for Woodland school district, to practice her writing skills as part of her special services provided at Woodland Elementary School Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in Marble Hill. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, practices writing her name during summer school at Woodland Elementary School Tuesday, June 5, 2018 in Marble Hill. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport rides Ranger, 15, as Paula Givens, helps her to steer as she uses adaptive tack during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, center, 6, practices labeling parts of a horse with Marie Richardson, left, 5, and Amelia Luttrull, 8, as Varina Luttrull, program director, observes and guides during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, center, rides Ranger, 15, as (from left) Paula Givens, Madisen Luttrull and Kate Zimmerman walk alongside during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, center, rides Ranger, 15, as (from left) Paula Givens, Kate Zimmerman and Madisen Luttrull walk alongside during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport brushes Ranger, 16, before riding him during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport rests her calloused hand on her safety belt worn while horseback riding during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Saturday, June 9, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport carries a saddle back to where it belongs after riding lessons during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, helps fill a bucket full of fresh drinking water after learning how to clean a horse stall during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport grabs Paula Givens arm in frustration during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, left, 6, pets a horse at the Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship barn during a summer camp session Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport, 6, stands up to jump down off of risers during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport rides Ranger, 15, as Paula Givens, side-walks alongside during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindyn Devenport rides Ranger, 15, during a summer camp session at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship Friday, June 8, 2018 in Oak Ridge. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

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