TAMPA, FL -- When 8-year-old Catie Gordon is riding, her mother sees pure joy. "Her smile and her happiness, it's everything," said Susan Gordon.
Catie suffers from Phelan-McDermid, a chromosome disorder that severely affects her speech. She also has learning disabilities. But since she started riding horses at the Bakas Equestrian Center in January, Susan said Catie has done many new things.
"I don't know if you saw her on there waving, from the very first loop, she's been doing that. She loves horses and she's learned to say horsey whenever she sees the horses which she never did before," Gordon said.
But Catie may not be riding horses for long. Recent budget cuts from Hillsborough County could force the free program to close by 2011. Already, by October 1, the center may have to cut its staff from 11 to 3.
But those in charge of the center say 3 staff members may cause problems because of the amount of qualified instructors.
Gordon said the instructors at Bakas have hundreds and hundreds of hours of training. "You just can't take another person, that maybe has a longer tenure with the county and say we are going to put them in the ring with these children."
Patrick Vannetta has been at Bakas since it opened 22 years ago. He said he would hate to see the center close. "It would rip my guts out...we've worked too hard."
At last week's budget hearing, Bakas supporters spoke out to save the center.
Among those who spoke was Denise Andretta. She suffered brain damage 30 years ago after a car accident. She said the center is what keeps her going. "My self esteem has been buoyed, my ability to move has changed a lot. It's just phenomenal."
Bakas is just one of the many programs on the chopping block, but volunteer Lorraine, Potocki, like many supporters, wonders why it may be cut when there are few programs for the disabled.
"Where else can their parents take them, not only for them to have enjoyment of riding a horse, but all of the tremendous, tremendous progress that children who didn't speak before can speak. A child who could not move his arms, moving his arms. It's just absolutely amazing."
County commissioners Kevin White and Kevin Beckner both commented by phone Tuesday. Both say they are well aware of the good work done by those at Bakas and both seem committed to helping keep the program going.
