Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center is looking for volunteers to help with its special program of therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. Horses & Horizons, a registered nonprofit organization that is 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.

The learning center will hold a required volunteer training session for new lesson volunteers from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the center. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help with riding lessons is required to attend this hands-on training.Lesson volunteers need to be at least 14 years old, in good health and able to walk for an hour at a time. They must successfully complete the volunteer training session. While experience with horses and/or people with disabilities is helpful, it is not necessary. Horses & Horizons 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. 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," said Harvey Smith, executive director.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. Riders also often gain improved social skills.Horses & Horizons serves clients with a wide variety of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, attention deficit disorder, developmental delays, intellectual disability, 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," said Elaine Smith, program director."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. They impart so many benefits to our riders."In addition to lesson volunteers, the learning center also needs people to assist with grounds maintenance, cleaning saddles and bridles and fundraising. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact volunteer coordinator Jane Ostroski, at 610-298-2546 or

jeohhtlc15@gmail.com.For information on enrolling a rider or for more information on Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center, visit

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