Horses for Healing is reaching out to the local community for volunteers to make a positive difference in the lives of children with special needs. HFH's next session begins Feb. 15. Children will attend therapeutic riding lessons Mondays through Thursdays from 8:45 until 12:45 for six to 10 weeks.
HFH provides therapeutic riding lessons to children with special needs which helps them grow physically, mentally and emotionally. Oftentimes, children achieve breakthroughs in the saddle that traditional therapies have not been able to accomplish. Volunteers receive the privilege of seeing young lives change as a unique bond forms among the team of child, horse and volunteer. Volunteer duties include helping the children make horse-related crafts in a classroom setting and walking alongside the child as they ride. But the volunteer's greatest impact is the positive influence they form with the children.
"Volunteering at Horses for Healing is a unique and rewarding experience," said Executive Director Linda Brown. "Volunteers see so many positive life changes. We have children who say their first words while riding a horse and some take their first steps because of the physical strength, balance, and coordination they gain from riding. Anyone will be deeply gratified by the difference they can make by spending as little as four hours a week at Horses for Healing."
Volunteer orientation classes will be held in the morning from 9 a.m. until noon on Feb. 1-4. There are also orientations from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Feb. 2 and Feb. 11. New volunteers must attend only one of these classes. No horse experience is needed, only a desire to help.
Horses for Healing is located at 14673 Daniels Road in Bentonville. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Elaine via email at [email protected], or call the barn at (479) 795-0570.
Community on 01/27/2016