Cole Simonds, 5, climbed onto a tobacco-colored horse named Cody on a recent visit to a Snellville therapy center that uses equine magic to reach people with special needs.

Cole's mother, Tricia Simonds of Lilburn, sat nearby and cheered for her son, who has a developmental disorder.

Vino Wong/AJC (ENLARGE)

Cole Simonds, 5 1/2, of Lilburn, prepares to ride the horse with help from Dr. Marilyn Peterson, right, of Snellville, during a therapeutic ride at Parkwood Farms Therapy Center in Snellville.

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"Look at how tall he's sitting," she said while watching Cole smoothly ride around a ring as Cody stomped up thick gray dust clouds.

"Nice job," the mother shouted to Cole.

Simonds said she has seen her son gain self-confidence, balance and muscle control. He's also started talking more.

During his session, Cole leaned down to hug the horse.

A teenage volunteer guides the horse from the front. The program's founder, Dr. Marilyn Peterson, and an adult volunteer follow alongside the horse, holding on to Cole.

They encourage the child to sit up straight for a lap, then lie on his back to use different muscles.

"It is a lot of hard, hot, dirty work, but the rewards outweigh any negatives," Peterson said. "There is this fellowship that develops here."

Peterson, a chiropractor and horse enthusiast, founded the Parkwood Farms Therapy Center in May 2002, moving her family from Norcross to 9 acres off U.S. 78 in Snellville. She was inspired to help others after seeing firsthand how interacting with horses benefited her three adopted children, all with special needs.

She said her son's autism went from severe to moderate. Her daughter, who was developmentally delayed, is now on the same level as her peers. Her son who had emotional and behavorial difficulties has found a positive outlet.

Peterson carefully screens horses to find those with the right temperament — patient, not too lazy and not to feisty.

She currently has six with just the right stuff, including crowd pleasers Chocolate Chip, who is gray with dark spots, and Red, reddish-brown with a thick white stripe on his nose.

Participants range in age from 2 to 31, and disabilities range from moderate to severe.

Keith Mosley, 31, who has Down syndrome, is the oldest in the program. He's a man of few words, but his mom said the smile on his face when he's at the center says it all.

"It's the first thing we found that Keith responded to," said Karen Mosley who has been bringing her son here from Loganville for a year and a half.

While Keith rides, Elaina Pope, 5, anxiously awaits her turn atop Cody in the covered outdoor ring.

"It gives her focus and concentration," her mother, Claribel Pope, said.

Elaina, who has speech and developmental delays, has improved in many ways in her two years here, her mother said.

Claribel Pope praised Dr. Peterson's dedication.

"When it rains or snows, Doc's still out here," she said.

With 36 special needs riders a week, the work can be exhausting, Peterson said. Families come from Gwinnett, Rockdale, DeKalb, Cobb and Walton counties.

Parents are charged a $135 a month for weekly therapy sessions.

For the first four years of the program, Peterson paid the operating costs using money she earned as a chiropractor and nutritionist.

Now she gets occasional donations, but still struggles to find enough money and volunteers, she said. Anyone interesting in donating or volunteering can call the center at 678-344-6821.