ALPINE EQUESTRIAN CENTER NOW ACCEPTING NONAMBULATORY CHILDREN

July 22, 2011 (San Diego's East County)-- Now there's good news for parents of nonambulatory special needs children. Only a month ago, Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy had to limit its services to ambulatory children, but now, because of two new, trained, wonderful volunteers, Dream Rider can offer equine assisted activities to all special needs children, including those who cannot walk or mount a horse on their own.

Dream Rider still has room for a few more students in its summer program, but since it’s already midsummer, parents should enroll their non-ambulatory and ambulatory special needs children as soon as possible, so the children can reap the benefits of a complete series of six weekly classes.

While Dream Rider’s founder and instructor, Catherine Hand, can and will teach riding lessons to children without special needs, the main focus of Dream Rider’s program is to improve the function, strength, balance, sense of direction, independence and confidence of special needs children through equine assisted activities, which may or may not involve traditional riding. Each child’s activities are custom designed to meet that child’s needs.

Enrollment in Dream Rider’s Summer Program is open only to children ages five to thirteen who weigh less than 140 pounds. The cost of a six-session training period is $150. Donations to provide scholarships for children whose families cannot afford this cost are always welcome. Lesson times are available every day of the week, weather permitting.

To sign your child up for services, or to donate or volunteer, please contact Catherine Hand by phone at (619) 445-2576 or by email at Catherineh@prodigy.net.

Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductable. Catherine Hand is a certified advanced instructor for physical and cognitive disabilities, and a member of PATH International, a professional community offering safe, ethical and humane practices in the field of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies.