LEAP therapeutic riding Press release

This is more information about our organization please read and  contact for more information if you are interested in volunteering, or becoming a participant in the therapeutic riding lessons.

Mission Statement:

The mission of Lehigh Equestrian Academy Project is improve the lives of people with cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding, and other equine- assisted therapies.

Who do we serve?
        We serve people of all ages and backgrounds, from children to adults. We plan on helping veterans in the near future. The participants have varying degrees of disabilities such as cognitive, physical, physiological, and behavioral, and sometimes multiple disabilities. LEAP is designed to assist and benefit people with a wide range of disabilities.

What is therapeutic riding, and how does it help individuals with disabilities?

Therapeutic riding is when the movement and interaction of a horse is used to help individuals with disabilities in different ways. It helps individuals with physical disabilities because a horse has a three dimensional gait that mimics the human walk. This improves on the riders balance, core strength, flexibility, muscle tone, posture, and coordination. This can promote independent in everyday tasks and can help a participant become more independent. It can help individuals with sensory issues since the horse can provide a sensory input that some participants need and allow them to learn while they are getting a positive sensory input from the horse. Emotionally it can help overcome fears, anxiety, and greatly improve on individual’s self-confidence. Cognitively it can allow individuals to focus, and be able to concentrate more, and learn letter, number, and sentence structure since this can will be incorporated while riding a horse. This improves everyday life for individuals by allowing them to focus more in school, and can improve grades and life skills. It also has a social aspect and allows participants to interact with individuals with similar disabilities, and learn different social skills. No one feels like they are different when they are here everyone feels accepted and special, therapeutic riding changes life for the better.

Volunteers:

Volunteers are an essential part of LEAP without them our program cannot run. We need sometimes up to three volunteers per participant one horse handler, and two side walkers.

Volunteering at LEAP is more than just donating your time; it is helping people with disabilities achieve things they may have never thought was possible until they rode a horse. You can help these individuals accomplish their goals and allow them to build self-confidence. To volunteer at LEAP you do not need to have any experience working with horses or individuals with disabilities, we can train you to volunteer here.

Volunteers can benefit by learning new skills, working with horses and individuals with disabilities. Excellent resume builder and community service hours. Be part of a fun, positive, and rewarding experience. We are looking for volunteers who are committed and are reliable, willing to learn, can follow LEAP policies and procedures, and be kind and respectful to other.

Volunteers are need for all different things at LEAP if you are not interested, or feel you can better benefit LEAP in a different way than helping out in lessons, we are always looking for help anyway we can get it. Please let us know if you have any special skills that you feel can benefit our program.  

LEAP Volunteer Orientation Saturday, Oct 26 2013 10am-1pm

Please RSVP to Kelsey you can call or Text at 267-226-8616 or e-mail at Krepsch@gmail.com

Please leave your name number and that you are interested in volunteering at LEAP.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, Oct 26th 2013 at 10 am.

Please visit our website for more information and more ways to help LEAP www.leapriding.org