The Dreams Of Carousel Riding Center
Carousel Riding Center is a place where dreams come true. It is a place where friends can meet, where those who have never walked can acheive movement on their own and accomplish what many able bodied individual can not. Our program is geared towards all disabilities... mental, physical, and emotional. We strive to give our kids and adults a chance to excel at something that most people never get a chance to do. Not only does it help with coordination, balance, self-worth, self-discipline, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and for some of them, it is the first time they ever show an inclination towrds team work. You have to comes spend a Saturday morning and see the joy on the faces of those that ride,they are not just led around on the end of a rope. We are teaching them to steer, walk, trot, turn on the forehand, etc.. we are teaching them to ride, as well as using the natural movement of the horse to mimic the walk, and therefore help develop muscles. Take the time and come spend the day, you will be amazed at what you see, it will make you really believe. There are pictures of a few of our riders below, these people are riding independently for the most part, free of whell chairs, free of confinement.
This is a picture of a teenager by the name of A.J. and the pony Patches ( 35+ years old) who he rides.
Bryan and Carousel in a lesson.
Geoff is a young man who sustained a traumatic brain injury as a teenager. He went from a robust young man to a man confined to a wheelchair in the span of a moment. When he first started riding Speedy it took 3 people , two sidewalkers with their hands on him and a leader. Geoff still has three people out there, but none of them are touching him or his horse, he can walk, turn and stop all on his own... he has once again regained a small portion of his freedom.
Stephen is the reason that the center exist at all. He inspired Carol to go to all the effort to start CRC. He is a neat young man, who borm wiht multiple disabilities.. His mother and his sister volunteer and his father, Lt. Col. Mitchell from R.A.F.B is on the board of the center.
This is a picture of Open Gates Sue and her young rider.