In the fall of 2008, my daughter Renee' and I decided to explore the possibility of starting a therapeutic riding program in Josephine County, Oregon. I presented the idea to Connie Hicks who'd had previous experience teaching therapeutic riding. Connie's past experience included five years instructing at Woodlands "Horses for the Handicapped" program in Montverde, Florida. She'd also been one of the instructors selected to coach the Florida Special Olympics Equestrian Team at the 1995 Special Olympics World Games.
With the use of our horse facility and Connie's experience as instructor for those with disabilities, we decided to give it a go. Choosing "Healing Hearts & Hooves" as the name of the program, we began the process of incorporation and filing for tax-exempt status, while Connie began to spread the word about the new program.
In the summer of 2009, we tested a trial program with 1 student and 1 horse donated to the program. In the summer of 2010, the program received its first grant from the William H. Hurt Foundation, which covered the first year's insurance and the filing fees for tax-exempt status. In the late summer of 2010, we started our second student in the program. During our summer 2011 session we had a total of 15 students who participated.
Located just outside Cave Junction, Oregon, Healing Hearts & Hooves holds classes from June to October of each year. Our goal is to provide an exceptional therapeutic riding program for people with disabilities, improving the quality of their lives with exercise and activities designed to improve physical, cognitive and associative functions.
We welcome inquiries regarding information about our program, how to register as a student or volunteer, and/or how to donate to Healing Hearts & Hooves. We are a 501 (c) (3) exempt organization and your donations are greatly appreciated as well as tax deductible.
With the use of our horse facility and Connie's experience as instructor for those with disabilities, we decided to give it a go. Choosing "Healing Hearts & Hooves" as the name of the program, we began the process of incorporation and filing for tax-exempt status, while Connie began to spread the word about the new program.
In the summer of 2009, we tested a trial program with 1 student and 1 horse donated to the program. In the summer of 2010, the program received its first grant from the William H. Hurt Foundation, which covered the first year's insurance and the filing fees for tax-exempt status. In the late summer of 2010, we started our second student in the program. During our summer 2011 session we had a total of 15 students who participated.
Located just outside Cave Junction, Oregon, Healing Hearts & Hooves holds classes from June to October of each year. Our goal is to provide an exceptional therapeutic riding program for people with disabilities, improving the quality of their lives with exercise and activities designed to improve physical, cognitive and associative functions.
We welcome inquiries regarding information about our program, how to register as a student or volunteer, and/or how to donate to Healing Hearts & Hooves. We are a 501 (c) (3) exempt organization and your donations are greatly appreciated as well as tax deductible.
