Helen Woodward Animal Center Celebrates the Heartwarming Accomplishments Shared by Riders and Adaptive Horses This Saturday…
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Jun. 01, 2023) – This Saturday, Helen Woodward Animal Center is pleased to honor some very special students at the 2023 Therapeutic Riding Show. The annual event invites parents, friends and family members of therapeutic riding clients to gather in the Center’s Riding Arena for a performance of newly-developed equine skills. Following the moving and inspirational event is a presentation of awards. Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 2023 Therapeutic Riding Show, Wild West – Pony Express, takes place Saturday, June 3 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Center’s Therapeutic Riding Area located at 6523 Helen Woodward Way, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067. This year’s show ribbons and trophies are provided by Evergate Stables.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program was established in 1983 and was developed to assist children and adults with a variety of special needs from cerebral palsy, to Down syndrome and Autism, to stroke recovery and learning disabilities. Students ride specially-trained horses with certified instructors in weekly sessions to develop increased balance and muscle control, improve concentration and short-term memory, and enhance their confidence and self-esteem. Therapeutic riding can benefit individuals with a wide range of challenges ranging from cognitive to physical, emotional, or social. Perhaps the most obvious outcome of the program, however, is the unmistakable joy received by its riders.
The program aims to keep learning fun for both human students and the Center’s specially-trained horses by incorporating obstacle courses allowing riders to control their horses through cones and mazes and over poles. These basic riding skills incorporate all parts of the body (hands, legs, and eyes) and aid in developing core strength and balance from sitting upright during riding and controlling a horse. Additionally, the student’s self-confidence increases as they ride and as they accomplish a variety of skills they may not have thought they could achieve.
For the eighth 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 Helen Woodward Animal Center, promoting Center orphan pets on “Kristi’s Kritters” Monday mornings, and participating in the Center’s annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon as surf dog teachers, as participants and as hosts and judges for the event costume-contests. They are also avid horse lovers and have three of their own.
The Therapeutic Riding program utilizes specially-selected horses to do this extremely detailed work and their care is costly. It is thanks to the generosity of Barbara Menard, the Charity Fair Horse Show, the Confidence Foundation, the Haglicioglu Foundation, the Hariet E. Pfleger Foundation, the John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation, the Meyers Foundation, the S. Mark Taper Foundation, and Wayne Woodman that the service is provided weekly to our challenged riders. Those who would like to be take part in keeping this special program going may choose to contribute at www.animalcenter.org.
“This is always my favorite day of the year,” stated Therapeutic Riding Program Manager Courtney Mellor. “The pride and joy these riders feel when they share their accomplishments on the back of an adaptive horse who has become a true friend is moving. It is such a clear example of how much animals and people can give to one another.”
If you would like more information on volunteering or would like to donate to this program please contact, contact Therapeutic Riding Program Manager Courtney Mellor (858)756-4117×321, go to www.animalcenter.org, or stop by Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6523 Helen Woodward Way in Rancho Santa Fe.
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