Fall kicks off season of incredible transformations thanks to equine therapy
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson needs volunteers to begin a new semester of changing the lives of students with disabilities
As fall approaches and the weather cools down, things are heating up at Therapeutic Riding Of Tucson as a new group of students with disabilities eagerly awaits the new semester. But as the semester gets closer, the non-profit horse therapy center desperately needs volunteers.
Each student at TROT gets on a horse with the assistance of three volunteers. These volunteers work under the direction of a trained instructor and TROT's Program Director Sandy Webster to help guide the children through therapy which helps them improve balance, coordination, motor skills, and even speech skills. Adaptive or Therapeutic Riding has been shown to contribute positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of people with disabilities.
"Every volunteer will tell you they have experienced a miracle at TROT," says Executive Director Meg Linton. "One volunteer tells a story of a child who wouldn't touch or talk to anyone who wasn't in his family at the beginning of the semester. By the end of the year, he was hugging his helpers."
Our Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Certified instructors work with parents/caregivers, and riders to set appropriate goals for each participant. The instructors, with the support of a skilled team of volunteers and horses, enable students to safely develop independent riding skills.
The semester kicks off on September 17th with a new executive director, Meg Linton, at the reins. TROT has been a part of the Tucson community for almost 45 years and thrives on community engagement.
We invite you out to visit the ranch to see and hear these stories yourself. It's an incredible opportunity for some great video, interviews and nat sound. If you'd like to schedule a media visit, please contact Diane Mulligan at 720.273.0927.
