Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. is looking for volunteers to help with its therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with special needs.

HHTLC, a registered nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers, is located 10 miles south of Tamaqua near Route 309. It offers therapeutic riding lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings from May through October.A training session for new lesson volunteers will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 at the center. Lesson volunteers must be at least 14 years old, in good health, and able to walk for an hour at a time, and successfully complete the volunteer training session. Experience with horses and/or people with disabilities is helpful, but not necessary.HHTLC welcomes the volunteer assistance of professionals in the allied health fields of physical, occupational and speech therapy. It also needs people with horse experience to lead horses during riding lessons."Our volunteers tell us that they get a lot more from the program than they give," says Harvey Smith, executive director. "It is very rewarding to be part of the growth and accomplishments of our riders. Volunteering is a great way to have fun and feel good about yourself at the same time."Therapeutic horseback riding has been shown to improve balance, posture, strength and coordination. It also helps to increase self-awareness, self-confidence, attention span and independence in the rider. Often, riders also gain improved social skills.HHTLC serves riders with a wide variety of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, attention deficit disorder, developmental delays, Down syndrome and traumatic brain injury, among others. The lessons are designed to be both therapeutic and fun."Some of our riders receive many different types of therapies," says program director Elaine Smith. "Therapeutic horseback riding is by far their favorite, and riding is the highlight of their whole week. It's the horses that make all the difference. It's as if they work magic for some of our riders."In addition to lesson volunteers, HHTLC also needs people to assist with grounds maintenance, cleaning saddles and bridles and fundraising.Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact coordinator Jane Ostroski at 610-298-2546 or

jeohhtlc15@gmail.com.For information on enrolling a rider, or more information on the center, call the Smiths at 570-386-5679 or visit

www.horsesandhorizons.org.