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Volunteer Training for Therapeutic Riding Program!

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Contributed by: Alison Weems on 3/21/2008

What:

The Right Step at Coventry Farms in Littleton is a new therapeutic riding program intended to serve a wide variety of individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational, and behavioral issues. Our first session of therapeutic lessons has been a great success. Our next session will begin June 15.

Successful therapeutic riding programs rely heavily on VOLUNTEERS to assist riders before, during, and after their lessons. No previous experience is necessary, however, all volunteers are required to complete a training workshop to learn unique rider assistance techniques and horse handling methods. Our next training for new volunteers is on Sunday, June 8, 12-2:30pm. Training workshops are generally offered once a month.

We have volunteer opportunities for "side walkers" and "horse leaders" (see below). The minimum age is 14 years old.

SIDE WALKERS are responsible for the safety of riders. They help get horses ready for class, and assist riders with helmeting and mounting. They guide the rider safely as he or she gets to know and care for the horse. During the lesson, side walkers prevent the rider from falling off without holding him or her on the horse.

HORSE LEADERS are responsible for the horse's safety and control at all times. They reinforce rider's signals to the horse and maintain proper distance from other horses in the class while walking, changing directions, and passing. This role requires previous horse experience.

If you have any questions or would like to sign up, please contact the program coordinator, Alison Weems, at alilou3@msn.com or at 720-206-9749.

Directions to Coventry Farms:

We are located on the SE corner of Santa Fe and Mineral, near Aspen Grove Mall and C-470. Our official address is 7990 S. Santa Fe but the entrance is on Mineral. From Santa Fe, you want to turn EAST on Mineral. Within about 20 yards (after you go under the railroad bridges), you want to turn right onto a dirt road. It comes up really quickly after you make the turn onto Mineral so be sure you're in the right lane and you have your blinker on to warn the car behind you. There's a small sign at the end of the dirt road. Drive down the dirt road about 1/2 mile, make a big hairpin curve to the right, and keep following the dirt road around to the left and up to the big blue arena.