At its recent year-end celebration, Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. named Carolyn Eisenhart the organization's Volunteer of the Year for 2015.

Esther Wetzel received the honor of "Volunteen" of the Year. The celebration was held Nov. 1 at the Zion's Stone Church hall near the town of Snyders to show appreciation of the organization's many volunteers, and also to recognize the achievements of its riders.This was Eisenhart's third year of volunteering for the nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding program for the disabled. She served as a side aide during lessons. Her special ability to assist riders with challenging behavior issues made her a favorite of their parents. Eisenhart is employed by Thomas Pharmacy in Orwigsburg. She is also a consultant with Ambit Energy.For the past two seasons of lessons, Wetzel has volunteered as a side aide in lessons and also has assisted with various projects.Executive Director Harvey Smith said, "Horses & Horizon's is strictly a volunteer organization. We have numerous teenagers who volunteer to help with lessons, usually for only one or two sessions to satisfy their school's volunteer or graduation requirement. This year, Esther did a great job of assisting with riders in all three sessions of lessons, and she also willing took on additional tasks."Wetzel is a student at Lehigh Carbon Community College, majoring in business. She works part-time at Giant Food Market in Lehighton. She also recently opened a booth at The Slatington Marketplace, formerly the Bus Stop Flea Market, where she sells antiques and collectibles.As part of the celebration, Smith and his wife, Elaine, the program director, did a presentation of the organizations' mission statement and some of the highlights of 2015. They then awarded the organization's more than 50 volunteers with certificates of appreciation and its 30 riders with certificates of achievement. The event featured a potluck dinner and games.Horses & Horizons is a registered nonprofit organization. Since its founding in 1993, it has operated from Harvey and Elaine Smith's Helping Horse Farm, located between Tamaqua and New Ringgold. The lesson program is staffed entirely by volunteers. It serves riders who range in age from 3 years old to 70 with a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional disabilities.For information on becoming a volunteer or enrolling a rider at the center, visit

www.horsesandhorizons.org, or call the Smiths at 570-386-5679.