Page 39 - 2021 TAA Magazine

Central Kentucky SANCTUARY

Riding for Hope EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM

TESTIMONIAL:
“In our continuing
efforts to change the
lives of some of our
community’s most
vulnerable citizens,
we have found the
alertness and
intelligence of our
Thoroughbreds to
be excellent therapy
partners as their high
energy levels and
general
inquisitiveness require
participants to fully
engage in their
MARK MAHAN
Here’s something you don’t see every day – two Thoroughbreds under Western saddle treatment sessions.
maneuvering through the equine therapy center’s obstacle course at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Without the support

Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, based at programs include Operation Remount (for veter- of organizations
the Kentucky Horse Park, is dedicated to enrich- ans and military service members with combat like TAA, it would
ing the community by improving the quality of injuries or resiliency issues such as PTSD), a
life and health of individuals with special needs partnership with the Kentucky National Guard; be much harder to
through therapeutic activities with the horse. I RIDE (for youths living in at-risk households), a provide these
CKRH offers services in the following areas: partnership with child-welfare organizations and
Physical/cognitive/developmental disabilities: the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice; valuable services.”
A program for individuals challenged by mild to and EASTT (for survivors of sexual trauma), a
severe medical conditions such as autism, cere- partnership with Ampersand Resource Center.
bral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, or Learning Disabilities: A program for indi- FOUNDED: 1981
stroke. Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship, viduals with academic or vocational challenges.
CKRH’s flagship service, includes mounted activ- Unmounted activities are designed to improve ADDRESS: P.O. Box 13155

ities designed to improve fine/gross motor skills, basic educational elements (i.e., reading, spell- Lexington, KY 40583

balance, strength, coordination, response to ing, math) and tangential skills, such as organiz-
verbal commands, and elementary problem solv- ing, sequencing, and memory retention. Specialty PHONE: (859) 231-7066
ing. Specialty programs include HorseAbililty programs include STABLES, a year-round alter- MAIN CONTACT: Pat Kline
summer programming for special-needs youth, nate educational program of the Fayette County
and Horse Tales, a memory-recall program for Public Schools for approximately 60 students in WEB ADDRESS: www.CKRH.org
seniors with dementia. grades 7-12, and Vocational Training, for indi-
Mental health: A program for individuals with viduals with mild disabilities who are developing SOCIAL:
emotional, social, or behavioral challenges. employment skills in horsemanship or facilities/ CKyRH
Mounted and unmounted group activities are farm maintenance. @CKyRH
designed to improve emotional awareness and CKRH serves more than 1,100 participants @CKyRH
regulation, tolerance for stress, decision-making annually through the efforts of 300-plus volun-
skills, and connection with others. Specialty teers and 29 equine therapists. AVERAGE NUMBER OF
THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 8
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 37