Page 6 - October 2022 Issue.indd

Creating a Pathway In 2019, the organization rebranded part of each program. A common goal
itself to Positive Strides to reinforce the is to help riders begin to ride indepen-
to Healing for 40 confidence, self-esteem and optimism dently for an appropriate amount of time

Years that its riders achieve through its thera- based on their abilities. It helps improve
peutic horse programs. “Our riders are their balance, self-esteem and sense of
wonderful and inspire us each and every self-worth.
Positive Strides Therapeutic Riding day.” says co-founder Sandy King. “Th ey "I have been taking my grandson to
Center was founded 40 years ago by are so proud of themselves, as they Positive Strides since January 2018,”
Sandy King and Jessie Browne in order should be, and their smiles say it all.”
says the grandfather of a rider. “He has
to combine their passions for horses
According to King, riding can help had problems most of his life. He has
and helping people. It was known as
strengthen muscles in the rider’s body been in quite a few programs that the
Talbot Special Riders for many years
associated with speech. Several children State has tried, and most have failed
and served a small group of riders with
who were told they would never speak leaving him feeling he can’t do anything
special needs in the Talbot County area.

have spoken their very first words while right and that he is a failure in life. Each
As the need for equine-assisted activities
riding. week at Positive Strides, he seems to
and therapies grew, the organization
be improving in his riding habits and
grew to serve adults and children in “During our 2021 Fall Session, the thera- his overall attitude toward life. I have
Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen pist of one of our new riders reported asked him about his riding and how it
Anne’s counties. that he constantly talks about the time makes him feel. He told me that when
he spends riding,” says Kim Hopkins
From autism and addiction recovery to Thomas, executive director. “Accord- he is riding, it makes him feel free and
PTSD and cerebral palsy, equine ther- ing to her, he is normally very shy and in control of his emotions. His teachers
apy can play a powerful role in giving reserved in interactions with others. But and all of the volunteers treat him as

a person the confidence and skills they as soon as he arrives on the farm, he has though he is important and he feels that
need to live a fulfilling life. Positive a huge smile on his face! He loves telling most vividly."
Strides’ CATCH Riders program helps his horse to ‘walk on’ and ‘whoa.’ He is Positive Strides couldn’t operate with-
youth at risk and adults recovering from making great strides at being able to ride out the help of its volunteers. “Our
family violence and sexual abuse. Just more independently.” volunteers are the backbone of Positive
brushing and interacting with a horse Strides,” says King. “Th ey are dedicated,
can calm a person with dementia or help Setting goals with individual riders and enthusiastic and believe in our mission.”
someone with depression. working towards achieving them are
It can take up to three volunteers per
rider, one to lead the horse and two to
walk on each side of the rider. Sessions
%RRN Local Author are conducted for 32 weeks over the
winter, spring, summer and fall seasons.
6LJQLQJ Howard “Buddy” Dunn Like many other organizations, Covid

author
impacted operations and took a toll
of ONLY GOD on the nonprofit’s finances. “We had
to suspend all services and fundraising
for over a year, yet continued to provide
Saturday, October 15 • 10-1 top notch care to our seven therapeu-
tic horses and ponies,” says Hopkins
What’s New Shop Thomas. After training volunteers on
Covid protocols and putting in place
additional safety and health practices,
Your Local Christian Book & Gift Store Positive Strides resumed therapeutic
riding sessions in 2021 and is on track
Bibles • Music • DVD’s • Books • Jewelry to achieve near full capacity in 2022. In
fact, there are plans to expand its stables
Greeting Cards • Wall Art • T-Shirts and add two more horses to its programs
in order to support future growth.
224 Market St., Denton
One new area that has taken off has been

410-479-0006 We have great gifts!
the Time to Ride program for at-risk
For your convenience we offer Bill Pay, youth. Created by the American Horse
Notary Service, and Copy and Fax services Council, Time to Ride is an aft er-school
program that gets students out of the
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