By David Plath | Development Director
Our Fall riding session is nearing its end with 52 participants, each having a diagnosed disability. I would like to thank you for supporting our herd of horses that help to provide exceptional care for the children and adults that participate in our programs.
For 40 years, our programs have been successful because of the synergy created between a participant and their horse. It is this partnership that goes a long way toward meeting individual goals where individuals can improve their balance and coordination, gain strength, build self-confidence, and develop their communication and social skills. Each of our horses work hard to give our participants the very best experience in four distinct programs: Therapeutic Riding, Unmounted Horsemanship, Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
We here at EATSF are so lucky to have the herd that we do. Did you know that half of the horses here at the barn have been in the program for 10+ years? Star and Hallory have been working during lessons for about 20 years! If you have spent any amount of time with our horses, you know how wonderful and well behaved they are, but they weren’t always so well behaved. All horses that come into our program must start somewhere. What we ask of them is so much more than a typical riding setting. Not only do they have to be sound in body, but sound of mind and able to connect with our participants. Enter the Young Guns…
Mo and Cherokee are our newest horses and have yet to be integrated into classes. Ginny, although she has been here a bit longer, is still fairly new to the therapeutic world. These 3 horses are going through summer intensive trainings five days a week to teach them how to do their job safely and effectively. From learning to stand while getting groomed to entering the arena to working with a mock participant on their backs, these horses are being put through their paces to prepare them for their new jobs.
We thank you for your support of our mission and hope that you will consider another gift for our horses. I invite you to come out and see our mission in action when you are in our neighborhood. It would be our pleasure to show you around our campus and share with you our latest achievements.
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