Sjoerd Witteveen
Martha Lloyd-Smith (right), here shown with Judith Love on a horse, is a volunteer instructor with Community Association of Riding for the Disabled. She was recently honoured with an Ontario Citizenship Medal.
Markham
November 15, 2008 10:02 PM
10 minutes with Martha Lloyd-Smith
Keely Grasser
Martha Lloyd-Smith stands in the middle of an indoor equestrian field, her students on horseback, awaiting her instruction on navigating a course of pylons.
What’s unusual about these riders is they all have a disability and are using the hobby as therapy.
What’s extraordinary about their instructor is she’s been helping disabled riders for more than three decades, without asking anything in return.
Ms Lloyd-Smith has spent 32 years volunteering at the Community Association of Riding for the Disabled, a therapeutic horseback riding centre nestled deep in G. Ross Lord Park in North York.
That’s why one of her riders decided to nominate Ms Lloyd-Smith for this year’s Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. She was presented with the provincial citation last month.
“She’s so awesome,” Judi Island, who nominated Ms Lloyd Smith, said. “I can’t believe anyone could be so dedicated for such a long time to other people... She has much a good understanding of horses and people with disabilities.”
Ms Lloyd-Smith has life-long experience with horses and said she instantly fell in love with the program.
“Then I just stuck with it,” she explained. “It was a perfect thing for me to do. To help others. To give back. To work with horses.”
The program revolves around highly-trained horses and an accessible stable.
And of course, staff and tireless volunteers, like Ms Lloyd-Smith who instructs a Thursday morning class.
Riding has many therapeutic effects. The repetitive swinging motion improves balance, co-ordination, strength and muscle tone. It also gently mobilizes joints, improves sensory processing, concentration and communications skills.
It’s also great for the spirit, Ms Lloyd-Smith explained.
She said she gets the same benefit from helping the riders.
Ms Lloyd-Smith is also a longtime canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society and she and her husband have been foster parents to 23 rescued Golden Retrievers over the years.
On top of that, she’s worked at Big Brothers/Big Sisters of York for 27 years.
But still, Ms Lloyd-Smith said she was surprised when she won the citizenship award.
She contends the people she helps are the real inspiration.
“They are a lesson to all of us,” she said.
Q: How did you feel when you found out you won the award?
A: Well, I thought, my goodness, why me? First of all, I look at so many people here who deserve it. Then I met the people down there (at the awards ceremony) and the things they are doing and it makes you feel like a little speck of dust.
Q: What does your family think?
A: I think they quite enjoy hearing about it. As long as they’ve known me I’ve been doing it. When I got the award, they were so sweet. They were really proud. I hope, it’s always in the back of my mind, that it’s an example for them.
Q: What makes your work at CARD rewarding?
A: The rewarding part is to see that progress. The very best part, to me, is when you say to them, “OK, I’m going to unhook the lead shank.”
Q: Tell me about some memorable students
A: I do remember one boy, Tom, who was very autistic. We had him for years and years. He kept us on our toes. He was a challenge, but he was so much fun. I always remember this kid and wonder what he’s doing now. Another one, more recent, is Sam. He’s 85 and an amputee. He has one leg. He says he spends all week looking forward to this hour. He gets on and he wants to go fast!
Q: What makes CARD volunteers keep coming back?
A: It’s the nature of the work because you’re working with people that respond in such a positive way. We watch them progress. We watch them go from being led on a lead to being free. Plus we’re all horse people. We are also friends now. It’s a great support system if we need it. So it’s just a combination of all of these elements.
Q: What’s your take on volunteering?
A: I’m doing it to help others but I’m doing it very well knowing I get as much out of it. It really turns out to be a two-way street.