Eric Angelo and Skyler Leonard

Adaptive Rider and Volunteer

The first thing that you will notice about Eric Angelo is that he is always smiling, despite any of the challenges that have come his way. Eric, born with Down syndrome, is now 30. Eric started at Little Bit when he was only six. At an early age he faced heart surgery and abdominal surgery to remove his gall bladder. His condition resulted in low muscle tone that responded very well to the movement of the horses during those first 10 years of riding. As a teenager, he was described as having a beautiful “seat,” or the posture a rider has on horseback.

Outside of Little Bit, Eric has been an active member of the community. He graduated from the Lake Washington Transition Academy and has worked at Microsoft for over nine years as a Day Porter. He also participated as a greeter for the Woodinville Rotary Club until he was hired by Microsoft.

In addition to his outside efforts in the community, Eric has played a very active and significant role in the Little Bit community. He has participated in nearly every Pat Flynn Horse Show and the Margo O’Callaghan Dressage Show. Competition has taught him what it means to compete and try your best.

One of the highlights of his riding career has been participating in Little Bit’s demonstrations at Emerald Downs, where riders helped introduce Little Bit and equine-assisted services to those who attended the horse races.

For these reasons, and many more, Eric was selected by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) (now PATH International) to be the 2007 Child Equestrian of the year. He was recognized for the joy and camaraderie that he brings to class as well as the opportunities he’s taken to give back to the community.  He and his family attended the awards ceremony in California along with friends Paula and her son Skyler, who was Eric’s sidewalker.

Speaking of Skyler. . . Skyler Leonard began volunteering at Little Bit when a significant loss while at college had a devastating effect on him. He decided to leave school and return home. He had been a rider when he was younger, so his mom suggested they both come volunteer at Little Bit. On his first day at Little Bit, Skyler met Eric and his family. A bond was formed that continues many years since that initial meeting.

“After my second class with Eric,” Skyler said, “I drove home in tears because during that lesson I felt joy and purpose in something I was doing for the first time in months.”

“Eric was the brightest ray of sunshine in my life,” said Skyler recently. “He continues to be an important part of my life. We visit often and even travel together. Eric is incredibly generous and infectious. He brightens everyone’s day.”

Skyler’s Little Bit connection and his relationship with Eric convinced him that he should reconsider his career plans. Skyler went back to school to study child psychology and childhood development. He taught in a low-income community in Phoenix with the Teach for America program before heading to the University of Denver to complete his PhD in Clinical Psychology. He completed his residency and postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Oregon Health & Science University. He has been a neuropsychologist at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital since October 2021.

“I truly love my career,” said Skyler. “It was hugely informed by my time at Little Bit.”

He concluded by saying, “Eric, the Angelos, all the kids at Little Bit, helped me appreciate how much we all benefit from a neurodiverse, inclusive environment.”

When you talk to Eric, it’s not just the friends he’s made at Little Bit that have been important to him. Eric is quick to point out the horses that have been important to him during his 24 years at Little Bit. Among them are Bjorn, the first horse he rode, and then Stetson and Strider. Mostly recently, you can find him astride Dancer.

Beth Angelo, Eric’s mom, shares that the Little Bit community has also been important to their family. Family members of Eric’s classmates get together during class time, connect for activities outside of Little Bit, and share holiday celebrations together.

 Find more 50th anniversary stories HERE.