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Mikayla East is 9 years old, but the Avilla native already spent most of her life in the saddle of a horse.
She has also spent much of her young life helping others through her horsemanship.
On Saturday, East was out in the hot sun riding her horse, Romeo, in the Cerebral Palsy Center’s annual Horse and Mule Show at King Jack Park Arena in Webb City.
East’s grandfather, Richard Getty, said he’s been helping raise money for the CP Center for years and he got his grandchildren involved at a young age.
“I have 10 grandchildren and I’ve been blessed because every one has been in good health,” Getty said. “When you see those children at the CP Center, that’s what it’s all about. These kids need all the help they can get. I’m not a rich man but I believe in giving back and these kids are the best part of giving.”
East talks about the saddles and hats she’s won in different riding contests, but she also talks, with startling maturity, about helping the children at the CP Center.
“Every year at Christmas I thought about these children in that condition and I figured I could help,” East said. “I got started and I couldn’t stop. It was like a dream.”
Bible Donkey
Three-year-old Jack is a donkey with a legend on his back.
Owned by Yvonne and Denny Kay, Girard, Kan., he has a pattern of dark brown fir shaped like a thin cross on the light gray fir on his back.
The Dennys said Jack is a Sicilian donkey. Legend has it that Jesus rode on the back of the Sicilian donkey when he rode into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion.
That’s why Jack is called “The Bible Donkey.”
The Dennys said Jack is just starting a new career visiting nursing homes and making people smile.
“We’re just starting to get into this,” Yvonne Kay said. “We recently retired and got this donkey and after a while we decided he should be a ministry. Jack is calm and doesn’t kick or bite.”
In fact, Jack was in Webb City on Saturday to do tricks and perform for the crowd.
Not only can Jack stomp his front hoof, bow and stand on a pedestal, he can also apparently play the piano.
“He’s not very good, but he puts a smile on people’s faces,” Denny Kay said.
Mikayla East is 9 years old, but the Avilla native already spent most of her life in the saddle of a horse.
She has also spent much of her young life helping others through her horsemanship.
On Saturday, East was out in the hot sun riding her horse, Romeo, in the Cerebral Palsy Center’s annual Horse and Mule Show at King Jack Park Arena in Webb City.
East’s grandfather, Richard Getty, said he’s been helping raise money for the CP Center for years and he got his grandchildren involved at a young age.
“I have 10 grandchildren and I’ve been blessed because every one has been in good health,” Getty said. “When you see those children at the CP Center, that’s what it’s all about. These kids need all the help they can get. I’m not a rich man but I believe in giving back and these kids are the best part of giving.”
East talks about the saddles and hats she’s won in different riding contests, but she also talks, with startling maturity, about helping the children at the CP Center.
“Every year at Christmas I thought about these children in that condition and I figured I could help,” East said. “I got started and I couldn’t stop. It was like a dream.”
Bible Donkey
Three-year-old Jack is a donkey with a legend on his back.
Owned by Yvonne and Denny Kay, Girard, Kan., he has a pattern of dark brown fir shaped like a thin cross on the light gray fir on his back.
The Dennys said Jack is a Sicilian donkey. Legend has it that Jesus rode on the back of the Sicilian donkey when he rode into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion.
That’s why Jack is called “The Bible Donkey.”
The Dennys said Jack is just starting a new career visiting nursing homes and making people smile.
“We’re just starting to get into this,” Yvonne Kay said. “We recently retired and got this donkey and after a while we decided he should be a ministry. Jack is calm and doesn’t kick or bite.”
In fact, Jack was in Webb City on Saturday to do tricks and perform for the crowd.
Not only can Jack stomp his front hoof, bow and stand on a pedestal, he can also apparently play the piano.
“He’s not very good, but he puts a smile on people’s faces,” Denny Kay said.
