Access Adventure, Blog, Brain Injury, Stonewall Sporthorses, Therapeutic Driving
Caption: Michael Muir, left, rides with student Mario Scharmer, who suffered a catastrophic traumatic brain injury. (Rebecca King courtesy photo) By Susan Hiland, Daily Republic SUISUN CITY — Michael Muir has not let a diagnoses of multiple sclerosis stop him from enjoying the outdoors, even if it is from his wheelchair. The 67-year-old’s love of horses keeps him ticking along just fine. Over the past 55 years, he has represented the United States four times in world and international championship carriage driving competitions, winning medals and champion honors in Germany, Austria, France and Great Britain. He also founded Access Adventure in 2005, enriching the lives of people with disabilities, injured veterans, at-risk youth, senior citizens and special needs children. His program provides the opportunity for therapy through educational, outdoor activities. The program also provides people with disabilities of all ages the opportunity to ride and learn about recreational carriage driving and therapeutic driving. Access Adventure provides youth programs and unique educational opportunities relating to preservation, ecology, wildlife habitat and rangeland management. His work doesn’t stop there. He breeds the Stonewall Sporthorses at Rush Ranch headquarters on Grizzly Island Road, which has created a livelihood for him and an adventure far beyond what he could have ever dreamed. “Horses have been central to the quality of life for me,” Muir said. “I’ve done a lot of fun things because of them and been able to share that, which is important.” At 15, he was diagnosed with MS; it has waxed and waned for him but has never daunted his spirit. He was in the Dixon 4-H when his attention was...
