Therapeutic riding not just horsing around
GREENE – Having operated for two years with mostly volunteer hands and the financial help of scholarships from multiple organizations, Verde View Equestrian Center, Inc. (VVEC), a nonprofit therapeutic horse riding center in the Town of Greene, is reaching out the community for help.
A golf fundraiser will be held for the organization starting at 3 p.m. Saturday at the River Run II golf course in Kirkwood, NY. At $75 per team for 18 holes of golf and a dinner, VVEC hopes to raise the money necessary to continue its mission of providing independent riding for individuals with physical, cognitive or social disabilities.
“There are so many benefits to therapeutic riding,” explained VVEC Program Coordinator Lori Piccirilli. “Not only is there the benefit of being with a large animal and learning confidence and proactive safety measures, but there's also the core strength that comes from riding, and the motor planning that comes from steering, stopping and facilitating movement of the horse.”
Other advantages include learning the steps and procedures of riding, and exercising physical, social and mental features while having fun doing it, Piccirilli added.
“What we generally see afterward is a more amicable person who's willing to work on other things. I think the empowerment from them being on the horse transfers into their daily life,” she said. “It might be as simple as being more patient, or as dramatic as actually walking as opposed to sitting in a wheelchair.”
Being a relatively new facility that opened in 2012, VVEC tailors to the demands of its special needs riders. Piccirilli explained it all starts with a site visit and an application process. “They really need to know what they're getting in to,” she said.
After a visit from a potential rider, Piccirilli, with the help of Executive Director Marissa Piccirilli, undergo a strenuous process of pairing the individual with the right mix of volunteers, the right horse, and an appropriate riding lesson plan. And with more than 90 trained volunteers and 8 horses on hand, they can always find a good combination, Piccirilli said.
She added, “We painstakingly go through that process with every single one of our riders … Our hope is that if they would like to ride while they’re not here, they have the skills to do that.”
Though no existing state laws require VVEC to obtain special certification, it has gone above and beyond expectations of a typical therapeutic riding center. The organization maintains certification through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH), making it one of only three centers in a 90 mile radius to do so. Other nearby PATH certified centers operate in Rochester and Albany.
PATH is the go-to organization for therapeutic horsemanship all over the world. VVEC is one of only 800 PATH certified centers in the world and pending an upcoming review from PATH, it may become one of only 350 centers with premier accreditation.
“One of our greatest benefits is that we have a vast exposure and experience of working with a variety of special needs,” Piccirilli said, citing nearly 50 riders ages 5-78 currently signed up at VVEC, some of whom have been referred by therapists and service organizations including Springbrook and Catholic Charities. She added that sessions are typically paid privately or supplemented by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Other riders might also receive assistance via a $5,000 scholarship donated to VVEC by the Raymond Corporation, among several other donations.
The ultimate goal, said Piccirilli, is to one day become a self sustaining program with a full paid staff. The organization is also working with a variety of therapists and trained counselors to assess progress of individuals after therapeutic riding.
In addition to the upcoming golf fundraiser, VVEC has an ongoing “Safety in the Saddle” fundraising campaign to purchase equipment for riding. Donations are always welcome, Piccirilli said.
To donate or to get more information about VVEC, visit its website at verdeviewec.org or call 607-656-9512.
A golf fundraiser will be held for the organization starting at 3 p.m. Saturday at the River Run II golf course in Kirkwood, NY. At $75 per team for 18 holes of golf and a dinner, VVEC hopes to raise the money necessary to continue its mission of providing independent riding for individuals with physical, cognitive or social disabilities.
“There are so many benefits to therapeutic riding,” explained VVEC Program Coordinator Lori Piccirilli. “Not only is there the benefit of being with a large animal and learning confidence and proactive safety measures, but there's also the core strength that comes from riding, and the motor planning that comes from steering, stopping and facilitating movement of the horse.”
Other advantages include learning the steps and procedures of riding, and exercising physical, social and mental features while having fun doing it, Piccirilli added.
“What we generally see afterward is a more amicable person who's willing to work on other things. I think the empowerment from them being on the horse transfers into their daily life,” she said. “It might be as simple as being more patient, or as dramatic as actually walking as opposed to sitting in a wheelchair.”
Being a relatively new facility that opened in 2012, VVEC tailors to the demands of its special needs riders. Piccirilli explained it all starts with a site visit and an application process. “They really need to know what they're getting in to,” she said.
After a visit from a potential rider, Piccirilli, with the help of Executive Director Marissa Piccirilli, undergo a strenuous process of pairing the individual with the right mix of volunteers, the right horse, and an appropriate riding lesson plan. And with more than 90 trained volunteers and 8 horses on hand, they can always find a good combination, Piccirilli said.
She added, “We painstakingly go through that process with every single one of our riders … Our hope is that if they would like to ride while they’re not here, they have the skills to do that.”
Though no existing state laws require VVEC to obtain special certification, it has gone above and beyond expectations of a typical therapeutic riding center. The organization maintains certification through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH), making it one of only three centers in a 90 mile radius to do so. Other nearby PATH certified centers operate in Rochester and Albany.
PATH is the go-to organization for therapeutic horsemanship all over the world. VVEC is one of only 800 PATH certified centers in the world and pending an upcoming review from PATH, it may become one of only 350 centers with premier accreditation.
“One of our greatest benefits is that we have a vast exposure and experience of working with a variety of special needs,” Piccirilli said, citing nearly 50 riders ages 5-78 currently signed up at VVEC, some of whom have been referred by therapists and service organizations including Springbrook and Catholic Charities. She added that sessions are typically paid privately or supplemented by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Other riders might also receive assistance via a $5,000 scholarship donated to VVEC by the Raymond Corporation, among several other donations.
The ultimate goal, said Piccirilli, is to one day become a self sustaining program with a full paid staff. The organization is also working with a variety of therapists and trained counselors to assess progress of individuals after therapeutic riding.
In addition to the upcoming golf fundraiser, VVEC has an ongoing “Safety in the Saddle” fundraising campaign to purchase equipment for riding. Donations are always welcome, Piccirilli said.
To donate or to get more information about VVEC, visit its website at verdeviewec.org or call 607-656-9512.
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