Melissa Walters

We’re so pleased to announce that Melissa Walters will return to Sunrise, Inc. as our riding instructor and is now fully certified as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI).

To become a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor she had to…

• Spend nearly three years learning new riding, and horsemanship skills.
• Volunteer for over 400 hours at multiple facilities, in multiple states, doing stable work, learning about, and teaching individuals with disabilities to ride.
• Complete tests, clinics, workshops, and continuing education for personal and professional development, both online, and in person.
• Go outside of her personal comfort zones by challenging herself and taking a risk with a professional career change.
• Overcome personal obstacles, receiving coaching, pushing ahead with the help and support of family, friends, and multiple individuals from all over the country.
• Melissa was awarded certification as a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor.

This is quite the achievement!

PATH requirements test an individual’s ability to teach group lessons for individuals with minor to significant physical, emotional, and mental disabilities to ride horses. Instructors must prove competencies via testing, and demonstrate the ability to adapt activities to match the individual they’re working with. Therapeutic horseback riding is a proven method of providing therapeutic benefits lending to improvement of the individual’s quality of life.

Congratulations, Melissa, on your personal and professional achievement of passion!

Sarah Miller

We are also proud of Sarah Miller who will start her new dual position as our full-time Head Groom and Volunteer Coordinator. 

Sarah has been involved with Sunrise since 2008. She started out as a volunteer, and becoming more involved over time. Sarah has a strong connection with the horses and is passionate about therapeutic riding. Her horse, Samuel (also known as Mann), has been her constant sidekick as she has been involved in 4-H, trail riding, and therapeutic riding. Samuel is a descendant of the famous race horse, Man O’ War and is one of Sarah’s best friends.

We are so pleased to welcome Chance to our herd. Chance is a 10 year old Haflinger gelding who was donated to Sunrise after the death of his owner of 4 years. Prior to that he was a rescue from a kill pen. He is beefy and not to mention good looking!

If you are interested in donating a horse, our horse leasing program or kill pen rescues, drop us a note for information.

Come join the fun at Depot Fest on Saturday, September 8th!  This fun street fair will be held in the Depot District and highlights include Lemonade Day, vendor booths, food, and a breaking the Guinness Book of World Record’s record for Longest Soul Train.  Sunrise will be serving up Pork Chop Sandwiches and Roasted Corn.  Put on your dancing shoes and come on down to enjoy the fun.  Festivities run from 12-6 pm.  Stay for the evening concert featuring Big James and the Chicago Play Boys & the Tempted Souls Band.  Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased at the Sunrise Booth.  Money raised supports the mission of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Center to promote the health and social development of those with physical, mental, and social challenges through equine assisted therapeutic activities.

Your shopping matters. Shop for Father’s Day at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/31-0979407 and Amazon donates to Sunrise Inc. Therapeutic Riding Center to support our programs!

On Wednesday, April 18, riders, volunteers, and staff came together to celebrate the successful completion of our early Spring riding session.  Over 35 people enjoyed pizza and s’mores while connecting with each other and sharing stories about their Sunrise Experience.  We would like to thank all of our volunteers who help us make a difference in the lives of others.  The Sunrise barn is filled with smiles and laughter during lessons and our volunteers contribute to that joy.  Our riders are very special to us.  Thank you for allowing us into your lives and sharing your challenges, hopes, dreams, and achievements with us.  You all are such an inspiration.

Our next ten week session of lessons begins on Monday, April 30.  If you would like to participate, let us know.  We are scheduling lessons now and have a few spaces left.  If you would like to become a volunteer, give us a call and we will get you trained to help as a sidewalker, horse leader, or stable maintenance.  If you are interested in making a monetary donation to Sunrise, our Scholarship Fund helps our riders in need who cannot afford to pay.  Currently, 90% of our riders receive assistance from the Scholarship Fund which is supported by generous donations from people like you.  We are very excited to begin our next round of lessons and look forward to the Ice Cream Sundae Party to once again celebrate our success!

We are currently accepting riders for the Spring Session.  If you or someone you know could benefit from Horse Therapy, give us a call at 765-935-4291 and reserve your time slot.   Lessons can be held between 9 am -9 pm Mondays thru Fridays.

 

Sunrise, Inc. Therapeutic Riding Center is now offering equestrian programs for veterans and certification mentoring for individuals pursuing PATH Intl. registered instructor certification.

“Being around horses is a unique form of recreational therapy that has demonstrable physical, mental, and emotional benefits,” explains Veterans Program Coordinator Robin Hirtle. “Veterans with physical and mental wounds can come to Sunrise to relax and learn new skills in a calm, positive environment.”

Injured or disabled veterans are eligible to participate in Sunrise’s therapeutic riding and horsemanship programs free of charge. Veterans will have the option of enrolling in a ten week course beginning in spring 2016, or registering for private lessons. Further information about these options is available here.

As part of it’s expansion of services, Sunrise will also be offering mentoring opportunities for individuals pursuing Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) registered instructor certification. This twelve week program accepts applications from PATH Intl. members who have already begun the certification process, and covers safety standards, various illnesses and disabilities, and instructor training. Mentees will be able to complete their required teaching hours through this program.