Debby Sabin, Founder/Executive Director, Lovelane
Source: Monster.com*
Occupational therapist Debby Sabin has turned her passion for horseback riding into a labor of love, with Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, www.lovelane.org, in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Sabin started her career in the field of therapeutic riding and then went to graduate school to become an occupational therapist. After that, she ran Lovelane part-time while also working part-time in more-traditional therapy jobs. She says that she had to knock on the doors of about 20 barns before she found one willing to take a chance on her program. Now Lovelane is her life's work — it has been operating for 28 years, giving special-needs children opportunities to experience the therapeutic values that come with equestrian sports, and has grown to accommodate up to 130 children each week.
Monster: How does therapeutic horseback riding benefit special-needs children?
DS: In so many ways. A lot depends on what the child’s needs are. It can help with strength, balance, tone, endurance, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language and communication, as well as socialization, attention and cognitive skills. It can help focus and provide input to help normalize sensory processing. One example is children who have cerebral palsy or other neurologic disorders: when working with horses, they can benefit greatly from the horses' gait, which mimics the human gait and provides input to help with gait training, trunk control and core strengthening.
Monster: How does therapeutic horseback riding benefit special-needs children?
DS: In so many ways. A lot depends on what the child’s needs are. It can help with strength, balance, tone, endurance, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language and communication, as well as socialization, attention and cognitive skills. It can help focus and provide input to help normalize sensory processing. One example is children who have cerebral palsy or other neurologic disorders: when working with horses, they can benefit greatly from the horses' gait, which mimics the human gait and provides input to help with gait training, trunk control and core strengthening.
Regardless of what the child is working on, it's fun, motivating and empowering, so it brings increased independence, confidence and joy, and that helps all areas of development.
Monster: What led to your idea for a business that brings together your career and your passion, and how did you get started?
DS: It mostly started when a friend in high school had an accident; watching his recovery made me want to be a therapist "when I grew up", so that I could help others as I saw him being helped. I had no idea then that therapeutic riding was a field or that I would end up doing it for over 25 years, but it took hold, and I loved the combination of working with special-needs children in a setting that was fun and inspiring. I also happen to like to be outdoors and riding horses!
Monster: How has being able to help others impacted you?
DS: It is a gift to me. It has provided meaning and purpose to my work and has enhanced my life. It is so inspiring and grounding to work with the children and families, who show such stamina and courage. It has shaped my life, because it brings everything else into perspective. What they say is true, that helping others often helps you just as much as or more than the people you help. I have found a job that I love to do, that is fun and inspiring, and that brings out the best in everyone around me, including myself.
Monster: How do you balance the difficulties of running a business while pursuing something that makes you truly happy?
DS: Working with the special-needs kids in the ring makes me very happy. It's what I've always loved doing. And that is a good question — the bigger the business gets, the more people, personalities and agendas there are, and the more "corporate" you have to become to ensure that you can continue. The balance for me is easier when I ask myself what is most important. I try to be very clear about the mission with all the staff and board, and we focus on the things I won't compromise, what is sacred to Lovelane. This always ends up being the quality of the sessions with the children. I'm dedicated to the business of Lovelane because I want it to go on without me. Sometimes it does get overwhelming to have to attend to the details and business and fundraising and personnel, and to have that take me away from the kids and the program, but without making those other things a success, we couldn’t do the program. So I understand the importance of it.
One of my keys to success, in terms of running the business and making sure it achieves its mission, is that I was able to attract and keep the best staff! Some of the instructors and staff have been with me for as long as 25 years. By seeing who fit into the business and keeping them engaged and happy with their jobs, we have been able to make sure that the reason for our non-profit — the kids — remains its top priority. The staff we have truly believe in that, along with me. In addition, the staff are like a big family, so it makes going to work doubly fun!
Monster: When things got tough, how did you keep going to accomplish your dream?
DS: When I started Lovelane, I had no idea that it would become what it is today. I was just pursuing something that I loved doing, that had a following and a demand, and that other people wanted to become involved with. When the Lovelane program transitioned from being a small backyard operation to a much larger program at our state-of-the-art facility, we went through a tough period. It was a time of a lot of change, which brought some "growing pains". What sustains my efforts and perseverance is that I believe strongly in Lovelane, and I want to see the program thrive and continue on indefinitely. This helps me motor through hard times — trying to make sure Lovelane will continue to offer our services beyond me and our current staff.
Monster: What would you tell people who don't think they have the courage to follow their own passion in life?
DS: It has made all the difference in the world that I have been able to pursue what I loved doing and that my work has become such an important part of my life. The only reason I was able to work so hard and be so persistent and dedicated is because I loved what I was doing. I was making a difference and helping, and I have been surrounded by people I enjoy and respect so much.
I guess I would say that the most important thing in deciding on a direction in life is definitely to follow your passion! You have to enjoy or find meaning in what you do — it's your life!
On a different note, I have to add that my work hasn't just added to my life, it has helped shape my own kids' lives — they have grown up in a barn business, around staff and volunteers who care for them, and around special-needs children they can completely relate to and understand. They know the value of service and how rewarding it is to one's life. They don't take their health and abilities for granted, and they are grateful.
![[+] Feedback](/iwov-resources/images/sm_565656_oo.gif "[+] Feedback")
