The Magic of Thorncroft

Paul DiFelice suffered a lack of oxygen during birth. The result is living a life with cerebral palsy, mental retardation and visual impairment. After spending the first four weeks of his life in intensive care, Paul came home from the hospital.

His developmental delay was quite obvious:  Paul's parents would get excited at something as elementary as Paul being able to move his arms. He then began early intervention services at 6 months.

When Paul was 4 years old, his mother read an article about Thorncroft. That was the beginning of his now 26 year journey in horseback riding.

He has since had several surgeries to lengthen his leg mucsles and hours upon hours of physical  therapy but nothing has had the effect that riding has. The physical changes were the first noticeable benefit. Then his parents began to notice an additional benefit that Paul didn't get from any of his other therapies:  "Riding horses gave Paul a chance to be up high and see the world from a different perspective." Paul's parents knew right then that horseback riding and Thorncroft would be a permanent part of Paul's life.

Today Paul looks forward to his weekly lesson on Wednesday afternoons with Mr. Dixon because it is "a fun form of therapy." Riding really and truly became a way of life for Paul. His two younger sisters grew up at Thorncroft watching Paul ride, and both went on to become riders themselves.

Today Paul is riding and competing in the annual horse shows at Thorncroft. His mother says that although Paul often comes in last place, it is the ribbon, no matter what the color, that makes him a winner!