After a year of being closed due to the pandemic, Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. is getting ready to begin a summer session of therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children and adults on July 12.

For the program to be safe and effective, many volunteers are needed. You can help; HHTLC’s staff will teach you what you need to know, so experience with horses and/or people with disabilities is helpful, but not necessary.

A training session for new volunteers is scheduled for June 26 from 1-5 p.m. at the center, located 10 miles south of Tamaqua near Route 309. Anyone who wishes to become a lesson volunteer for the summer session is required to attend this hands-on training.

HHTLC is a registered nonprofit organization that is staffed entirely by volunteers. It offers therapeutic riding lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings. This year it has scheduled a summer session of lessons and a fall session. Each session is seven weeks long. You are asked to give one or two hours of your time on either lesson night for a seven-week session.

Fourteen is the minimum age for lesson volunteers. There is no maximum age, provided a volunteer is in good health, and can walk for an hour at a time. In the interest of safety, volunteers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before the start of lessons.

New volunteers will be trained as side aides who assist riders during lessons. HHTLC also needs people with horse experience to become horse leaders, and it welcomes the volunteer assistance of professionals in the allied health fields of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Volunteer Coordinator Jane Ostroski said, “Our volunteers are often amazed at the progress our special riders make physically, mentally, and/or emotionally from participating in lessons. It is very rewarding to help make a difference in their lives. Volunteering here is a great way to feel good about what you are doing and have fun 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. Riders often gain improved social skills as well.

HHTLC 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.

Program Director Elaine Smith said, “Some of our riders receive many different types of therapy. Therapeutic horseback riding is by far their favorite, and riding is the highlight of their whole week. The horses make all the difference. They impart so many benefits to 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 Ostroski at 610-298-2546 or jeohhtlc15@gmail.com. For more information, visit the website at www.horsesandhorizons.org or call Elaine or Harvey Smith at 570-386-5679.