Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center (HHTLC) celebrated its 30th anniversary Sunday, June 4, with a picnic for current riders, volunteers and their families.

The picnic was at Harvey and Elaine Smith’s Helping Horse Farm, home of HHTLC.

The weather was ideal, and the event featured carriage rides provided by Kyle Hoppes of Crystal View Carriage Service.

Youngsters played games, fished for minnows, and explored Smith’s authentic Native American tee pee.

HHTLC’s riders and volunteers received a special T-shirt to commemorate the Anniversary.

Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center is a registered nonprofit organization.

Since its founding in 1993, it has operated from the Smiths’ Helping Horse Farm, located in between Tamaqua and New Ringgold.

The Smiths facilitate the riding program, teach lessons, and care for the horses. They have been involved with therapeutic riding since 1985.

For several years before founding HHTLC, the Smiths operated the Eastern Branch of the Schuylkill County Therapeutic Riding Program at their farm.

Harvey Smith is a retired occupational therapist. Both Smiths are credentialed instructors with Path International and are CECTH qualified instructors.

Therapeutic horseback riding at HHTLC is a unique combination of recreation, therapy, and learning that uses the horse to obtain results that sometimes cannot be obtained in a normal clinic setting.

Therapeutic 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’s therapeutic horseback riding program is staffed by volunteers. It serves riders ranging in age from 3 to 70 years old with a variety of physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

HHTLC holds riding lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings from the end of April through October. During its months of operation, in addition to lesson volunteers, it also needs volunteers to assist with grounds maintenance, cleaning saddles and bridles, and fundraising.

Helping Horse Farm is a private residence which is open to the public during lessons, training sessions and special events.

For information on becoming a volunteer or enrolling a rider in Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center, Inc., visit the website at www.horsesandhorizons.org, or call Harvey or Elaine Smith at 570-386-5679.