Sheila Wyckoff-Dickey

Little Bit Supporter and Volunteer

I am passionate about Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center and was drawn to this community over 20 years ago, first learning about it from my cousin. However, the seeds of my involvement at Little Bit were planted back in my teenage years.

When I was 16, I was competing in a horse show when I started experiencing a pounding headache and dizziness. I woke up 10 days later at Seattle Children’s Hospital, partially paralyzed from the effects of a brain aneurism.

At age 17, while at another horse show, my very dependable horse’s hooves caught on a jump, flipped over, and I wound up in Evergreen Hospital for two weeks, followed by a long road of recovery.

While those years were devastating, they were also pivotal. These two dramatic experiences, combined with my love of horses and many years of riding, led me to complete a master’s degree in recreation and leisure studies. I first witnessed the power of therapeutic riding at a riding center near where I studied in Massachusetts.

I eventually returned to my hometown of Seattle and found Little Bit. I started volunteering on a committee, but that was not enough. Still today, I volunteer weekly in the arena. Little Bit has a reputation of success and seeing it for myself keeps me coming back. Little Bit provides a very individualized approach because literally every participant presents their own unique needs. People, horses, volunteers, staff, and even the facility all have to work together to meet those needs.

Little Bit has certainly changed over its 50-year history, and change can be hard, but it can also be rewarding. I especially admire Little Bit’s continued commitment to safety and the environment. The Little Bit mission has continued to move forward, ultimately leading to more success for the people that Little Bit serves.

 Find more 50th anniversary stories HERE.