"Where hopes are safe long enough for miracles to happen."
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"Where hopes are safe long enough for miracles to happen." |
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EQUESTRIAN SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAM Hope Haven Horse Farm is working with the Hendricks County and Putnam County Special Olympics groups to provide persons with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become useful and productive citizens who are accepted and respected in their communities. We are all working together to realize the same goal. To that end, Hope Haven offers therapeutic riding lessons and training for Special Olympics Equestrian athletes. Our Special Olympics Coaches work with each athlete to make sure that he or she is as ready as possible for the annual Equestrian Special Olympics Event in September. Hope Haven volunteers and the Hope Haven Youth Board Members work with the Special Olympic athletes during their lessons, accompany them to the annual competition and even ride with them as Certified Unified Riders. This is one of the most rewarding activities for volunteers at Hope Haven. ------------------------------------------------ 2009 During 2009, there were 25 special needs riders who trained for and competed at the Equestrian Special Olympics Event on Saturday, September 12. Therapeutic riding lessons are available year round, weather permitting. Special Olympics requires that participants in the Equestrian event complete at least 10 training sessions. Most of the riders take therapeutic riding lessons as well as the required 10 training sessions. This year, several of our fantastic sponsors donated the use of horses so that all of our 25 qualified riders were able to attend and compete at the event. To check out photos from the 2009 Special Olympics Equestrian Event please CLICK HERE ------------------------------------------------ 2008 Therapeutic riding lessons for 2008 were given all year long. These lessons are to prepare riders for the Special Olympics Equestrian Event which is held in September each year. This year there were 24 riders who practiced to be ready for the Event. This year's event was on September 6 at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds in Danville, IN. Beginning in June of 2008, the 24 riders began practicing the showing, riding and musical patterns they would be expected to perform at the Event. Each athlete must complete 10 therapeutic riding lessons in order to compete at Special Olympics. Hope Haven lost several horses to illness and/or old age early in the spring and summer. A short time before the Equestrian Event, Hope Haven found out that each horse that we transport to the event would only be allowed to carry two riders that day. Since we had 24 riders trained and ready to compete, we realized that we did not have enough horses to take everyone that was ready. Twelve riders were taken to the Special Olympics Event for the competition. -------------------------------------------------- Twelve riders were not able to attend the Special Olympics Event. The good news was that even though 12 athletes were not able to attend the Special Olympics Event, they attended and participated at a horse show three weeks later. The Hope Haven Walk / Trot Showcase was held at Hope Haven on September 27. These 12 riders had been practicing all year and this was their chance to show relatives and friends how much they had learned and how well they are able to ride. This horse show had competition classes based on the Indiana Youth Challenge and the Indiana Special Olympics Equestrian Event. Each of the riders won ribbons in their classes and at the end of the competition championship trophies were awarded to riders who rode exceptionally well in one of their classes. More than 100 family members and friends were in attendance to watch the athletes compete. A lunch was served midway through the competition. Hope Haven's volunteers helped each of the riders and provided and served the lunch. A special thank you goes to the Greencastle Kroger Store and the Kroger South Store in Terre Haute for gift certificates to purchase the items for the lunch. -------------------------------------------------- If you would like to help support the this program at Hope Haven, please click the DONATE button. -------------------------------------------------- If you wish to find out more information about the Special Olympics Programs PLEASE CHECK HERE -------------------------------------------------- See Program Fees page for applicable fees for this program. |
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