The world is full of bad things happening to good people.

Hurricanes destroy cities, planes crash into buildings, trains spill dangerous chemicals.

But sometimes, you come across someone who's taken a 'bad' experience and turned it into something good.

Debbie Kuehn introduces us to one such person tonight in our Someone You Should Know segment...

From the time he could slide into a pair of Tony Llamas, Michael Richardson loved horses.

(Michael Richardson, Horse Trainer) "The empathy that a horse posesses, the ability to touch somebody in a manner that stimulates their ability or thetr desires to better themselves."


Loved riding them, and training them, and loved just being around them.

But then one day, in a split second, Michael Richardson's life turned upside down.

(Michael) "I was in a jeep accident. And I rolled my Jeep."


Paramedics threw a sheet over Michael leaving him for dead, but his friend insisted they take another look. Then, doctors at the hospital gave him 24 hours.

That was more than 20 years ago. The Jeep had rolled over the top of Michael crushing his legs, but not his spirit. (Michael) "I was able to ride five weeks post-injury and that just spurred my interest, spurred my ability, spurred my desire realizing that horses would be in my life to some degree. And that's what brought this all about."


Yes, Michael was back in the saddle. And it was just what the doctor ordered.

(Michael) "The horse's movement is extremely similar to the way we gait. They call it hippor therapy in a therapuetic setting. And becasue the movement is so similar, it helps stimulate the neurological system, the muscle-skeletal system, and therefore creating more ability for trunk support and verbal skills improve. I mean it's juset a whole array of different things."


Today, Michael and his wife own and operate Broken R Ranch near Hico, Texas. There, he trains horses and riders. He also speaks to groups all over the country about therapuetic riding.

(Michael) "It's emotioal, spiritual, it covers a whole array of issues that gone might enocunter."


As a boy , Michael Richardson loved horses. As an adult, he's learned to harness that love and put it to use helping others.

Debbie Kuehn KX News.

Richardson spoke at a fundraising banquet for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. Officials there are hoping to expand their therapeutic riding program. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list