H.I.S. PROGRAM
Winter 2010
Therapeutic Riding Lessons
Begins February 21st
Sunday Schedule
2:00 - 5:30 PM
1) February 21st (First Lesson)
2) February 28th
3) March 7th
4) March 14th
March 21st (NO CLASS)
5) March 28th
6) April 3rd SATURDAY (Last Lesson)
Monday Schedule
5:30 - 7:30 PM
1) February 22nd (First Lesson)
2) March 1st
3) March 8th
4) March 15th
5) March 22nd
6) March 29th (Last Lesson)
Thursday Schedule
5:30 - 7:30 PM
1) February 25th (First Lesson)
2) March 4th
3) March 11th
4) March 18th
5) March 25th
6) April 1st (Last Lesson)
Benefits of Riding
There are many types of disabilities that can benefit from therapeutic riding. For people with disabilities, the relationship with a horse can improve interpersonal and motor skills. While riding they will find the horse's motion similar to human walking. These two benefits alone can enhance life, but riding offers much more.
- Improves eye-hand coordination by increasing muscle strength, flexibility, balance and coordination.
- Improves confidence and self-esteem by instilling an overall sense of accomplishment and responsibility.
- Increase positive emotional behavior, social, interaction and life skills.
- Increase communication, memory, speech and learning skills.
- Increase attention, concentration, and visual skills.
- Promote an overall sense of well-being.
- Provide an enjoyable and safe recreational activity.
New Rider & Parent Orientation
First time riders and parents will participate in an orientation at Fox Chase Farm prior to the start of each riding session. The orientation includes a tour of the facility, meeting the horses, a time for evaluation, and determination of needs and goals. The rider or parent/guardian will deliver the required H.I.S. forms and tuition payment at the orientation. General rules and guidelines for the facility will be discussed and the rider will also be fitted for a helmet at this time. Any questions or concerns of the rider or parent/guardian may be addressed during the orientation.
New Rider Orienations are scheduled on an individual basis. Please contact H.I.S. Program Director, Sue Ellen Hargadon, for more information. Sue Ellen can be reached at 757-870-7578 or via email at seharg@cox.net
Sponsor A Rider
We serve 22 - 25 riders each week during
sessions on 6 horses with 5 instructors in
individual and group lessons.
We need 95 volunteer hours each week.
Lessons cost us $220.00 for each hour but
we only charge our students $30.00.
We operate 18 weeks a year and provide
over 200 lessons annually.
The Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV) holds an annual horse show in Lexington, VA every October. We will NOT have lessons on this weekend in order to provide students and their families an oppertunity to travel to the horse show. Traveling to Lexington with your family to watch this show is worth the time and money. We suggest that you make the trip to watch the first time, in order to see if your student is interested in participating in this event.
Three students at Horses In Service have participated in the Annual TRAV Horse Show in the past. H.I.S. students have won 1st and 2nd place ribbons in the following catagories:
If you are interested in participating in the annual horse show in the future, please let me know. There will be additional costs for the families involved, as the expense to transport horses and stay overnight is significant. Also, we have a limited number of horses that we can transport. Please contact Martha Wagner if you are interested in participation or have questions.
