Open house at therapeutic horseback riding center
Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center will hold an open house from 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the center. There is an indoor riding arena, so activities will be held rain or shine.
Therapeutic horseback riding demonstration lessons are scheduled for 2 p.m. There also will be a Chinese auction, carriage rides, children's activities, free refreshments, and door prizes.Harvey and Elaine Smith's Helping Horse Farm is home to Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center. It is located 10 miles south of Tamaqua at 375 Zion's Stone Church Road, just off Route 309.Smith, an occupational therapist, is the center's executive director and lesson instructor. His wife, Elaine, is the program director and also is an instructor. Both are certified instructors with PATH International and also with the PA Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship.Instructors, riders, volunteers, and parents of some of the riders will be on hand to answer questions. Videos and additional information on therapeutic horseback riding also will be available. There is no charge for admission.For more than 20 years, Horses & Horizons TLC has served children and adults with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, mental retardation, Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.Therapeutic horseback riding has been shown to improve balance, strength and posture. For those with learning or mental disabilities, therapeutic riding helps to increase attention span, patience, and motivation for learning.It also boosts self-image and independence, as well as helping to promote socialization.Horses & Horizons TLC holds lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings from May through October.It currently is in need of volunteers for its second eight-week session of lessons, which is scheduled to begin on July 6. There is a required training session for new volunteers on June 13 from 1 to 5 p.m.Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer, or for more information about the center and the upcoming open house, can contact the Smiths at 570-386-5679 or