Horses for Healing Calls for Volunteers
by August 24, 2009 12:00 am 65 views
Horses for Healing, a nonprofit therapeutic riding center in Bentonville, is gearing up for the 2009-2010 school year by putting out a call for volunteers.
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In the next few weeks, students will begin arriving on buses to begin six-week sessions of horseback riding courses.
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The nonprofit partners with the Bentonville and Rogers school systems to provide riding programs for children with emotional or mental disabilities.
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The program, which in 2008 provided equine-assisted therapy to over 250 special needs children, mainly relies on donations from the community for funding.
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Theresa Thompson, volunteer and outreach coordinator, said it cost about $50,000 a month to maintain the classroom, arena, pastures and horses.
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About 21 percent of that expense is covered by the income-producing side of Horses for Healing, which includes riding lessons and equine boarding.
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Thompson said it also takes 130 volunteers per week, in addition to the seven full-time staff members, to run the program.
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Volunteers are needed to walk beside children while they ride, to lead arts and crafts projects and to teach children about the horses.
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Volunteer training starts Aug. 31 and the first six-week session starts Sept. 14.