Therapeutic horseback riding group gets support from 100 Women Who Care
T.H.R.I.L. provides therapy on horseback to improve the quality of life for children, youth and adults with intellectual, physical and emotional challenges.
Founder, Kelly Russell, extends a huge thank you to 100 Women Who Care -Kawartha Lakes for their generous donations received recently of $12,350.
This funding, applied to the Adopt a Therapy Pony Program will help to deliver their services without having to raise riders’ fees and give us a base to develop our new programs in the coming months, according to a media release.
Therapeutic riding has been recognized for decades as a unique activity that offers many benefits. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, over 30 riders a week from ages 4 to 60 experienced the joy on being on a trained therapy horse at T.H.R.I.L, working on their balance, strength, muscle tone and coordination, spatial awareness and improving their self-esteem, communication, socialization and their riding skills.
“We also open our doors to regional community groups to enjoy a few hours visiting the farm, the horses and ponies. T.H.R.I.L.’s aim is to provide quality, certified, insured, therapy horseback riding program at minimum cost to the participants, with the assistance of donations, discounts from local businesses and volunteers from the community,” says Russell.
“Our volunteers are an integral part in providing this amazing joyful experience. They come from all sorts of diverse backgrounds, not all with horse experience, and they all have the desire to make a difference in the lives of those with special challenges.”
Riders must have a diagnosed disability. Some of the challenges riders are going through include ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, autism, visual and hearing impairment, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, Down syndrome and other global developmental delays. As well THRIL assists riders with acquired disabilities due to illness or accidents such as stroke, cancer, paralysis and brain injuries.
Riders often arrive with canes, walkers, wheelchairs and using a ramp and mounting platform, get on a horse or pony and ride away. Visit www.thril.ca for more information.
