Dear Family & Friends, 

Hooves & Paws Rescue has been contacted by several individuals regarding Equine Therapeutic Riding for special needs children. We have done extensive research on this type of program and we will be working initially with children with the following problems. 

Medical/Psychological Problems Including The Following:
Physical/Sexual/Emotional Abuse
Dangerous to self or others
Migraines
Substance Abuse
Thought Control Disorders
Weight Control Disorders 

We hope to get this program up and running before winter 2009 hits so we have a lot of work to do in a short time!  We need your help and so do these children who want to get involved in our program. Please let us know if you can help in anyway.   

The following is some information about the program and just a few of the things we need to get this program up and running for these children. The only funding we will get will be through a program which offers assistance to special needs children for this type of activity.  This program will cover only the charges for the Equine Therapeutic Riding lessons.   

We will provide lessons in the summer months Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. During the winter months we will only be able to provide lessons if we are able to erect an inside arena for riding lessons. We are looking for adult volunteers with horse experience, patience and a positive loving attitude.  

We would love to be able to provide this program year round.  Again, in order to do this we need to raise enough through donations to build an inside riding arena. This inside riding arena does not need to be anything fancy.  It just needs to be either a wood or metal building to keep everyone safe while riding when the weather does not permit us to ride outside. We also need electrical & lighting in this building.  We do have several volunteers that have offered to help erect a steel building if we can raise enough through donations to purchase one. We need at least (3) riding helmets to get started.  We hope to purchase these with donations.  

We need (2) saddles that can be used for Therapeutic Riding.  We hope to purchase these with donations. 

We have (2) great horses who will be involved in this program at this time.  Chuck, our current lesson horse who is an old pro with children and adults & a new addition to the rescue, AJ.  AJ is a beautiful Red Roan gelding that was donated to our rescue recently and is being rode daily by a young girl.  AJ is a is very gentle and loves children. 

If you would like to make a one time donation or a monthly donation toward this program please remember to mark your donations, Equine Therapy Program.  Donations can be made directly through our website or mailed to our rescue for this incredible program.   

We would love to hear any thoughts or ideas you may have regarding how we can get this program up and running for the children.  We are open to suggestions and any fund raising ideas you may have.   

Please feel free to share this information with your family & friends.  This is a very worthwhile cause.