Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – Spring is in the air, and so is the buzz surrounding the 2025 Helen Woodward Animal Center Therapeutic Riding Show. The annual event invites parents, friends and family members of therapeutic riding clients to gather for a performance of newly-developed equine skills in the Center’s Riding Arena.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 2025 Therapeutic Riding Show takes place Saturday, May 17 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Center’s Therapeutic Riding Arena: located at 6523 Helen Woodward Way, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.
A special theme is chosen each year to help encapsulate the show. The theme is kept secret prior to the event, and unveiled day-of. However, taking a sneak-peak through the rose bushes, we can say attendees will feel the welcoming embrace of the spring season come Saturday. Following the inspirational riding will be a presentation of awards to the riders.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program began in 1983. The program was developed to encourage growth and skill-based learning for children and adults living with a variety of special needs, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and Autism, stroke recovery and learning disabilities. Therapeutic riding can be markedly beneficial for individuals living with a range of personal challenges from cognitive to physical, emotional, and/or social.
Therapeutic Riding is designed to make learning fun for students, and engaging for the Center’s therapy horses. During weekly sessions, students ride specially-trained horses with certified instructors. Riding instruction incorporates obstacle courses which allow riders to navigate their horse through cones and mazes, and over poles. Basic riding skills require an integration of all parts of the body (hands, legs, and eyes), and aid in developing core strength. Additionally, the student’s self-confidence increases as they accomplish the variety of skills they may not have previously thought achievable.
Therapeutic riding is not only centered around just the act of riding, as students learn horse husbandry skills such as grooming and thought-based every day care, skills they can translate into their personal lives. The program creates a heartwarming outcome for those involved, most importantly, the unmistakable joy experienced by its riders.
For the tenth year in a row, Magic 92.5 morning personalities Jagger and Kristi will host the Therapeutic Riding Show. The dedicated animal-lovers are long-time supporters of animal rescue and Helen Woodward Animal Center. Every Monday morning, the duo promotes orphan pets on the feature segment “Kristi’s Kritters”, and they participate annually in the Center’s annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon as surf dog teachers, participants, hosts, and judges for the costume-contests. Jagger and Kristi are passionate horse lovers with three of their own.
The Therapeutic Riding program utilizes specially-selected horses to do this extremely detailed work. To care for these uniquely trained animals is costly. The Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program is made possible thanks to the generosity of Barbara Menard, Charity Fair Horse Show, Confidence Foundation, George and Janie Muller Fund, The Halicioglu Family Foundation, Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, Jeanne Bates, John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation, Katherine Nowak, Myers Family Foundation, and the Samuel I. and John Henry Fox Foundation. Their kindness allows for the service to be provided weekly our riders living with challenges. Those interested in taking part in keeping this special program going may choose to contribute at https://animalcenter.org/TherapeuticRiding.
“We get to watch as these riders learn and develop throughout the year… which makes this day even more special because now their families and guests get to see all their growth,” explains Therapeutic Riding Program Manager Courtney Mellor. “There’s a certain feeling of enjoyment and delight when you see our riders share their accomplishments while on the back of an adaptive horse. These animals have become a true friend for them. It is a clear cut and dry example of how much animals, and people, can give to one another.”
If you would like more information about the therapeutic riding program, or how you can get involved, please contact Therapeutic Riding Program Manager Courtney Mellor: (858)756-4117 x321, or visit https://animalcenter.org.
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: https://animalcenter.org.
