Horses, volunteers help kids with special needs

A nonprofit using therapy horses to help children with disabilities is expanding to help more Houston-area children, and volunteers are needed.

Inspiration Ranch provides equine therapy to children in need of physical and cognitive growth, from those born with autism and struggling with involuntary ticks to those living in a wheelchair.

A specially trained horse, with the support of a certified instructor and three volunteers for each rider, provides therapy coordinated with each child’s medical treatment and school special education programs. Through therapeutic riding, parents regularly see in their children improvement in cognitive, social and behavior skills and increased physical strength, balance and motor control, focus and learning capacity.

Inspiration Ranch recently relocated from a 15-acre property to one with 40 acres in Magnolia, about an hour northwest of Houston. The organization relies on volunteers to help maintain the ranch and keep it safe for its horses and children who ride them.

Hundreds of volunteers from ExxonMobil are working at the ranch this month during one of the area’s largest “United Way Days of Caring” events, intended to call attention to the needs of the Greater Houston/Montgomery County community. But more volunteers are needed.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Inspiration Ranch can call 281-719-9322 or email volunteering@inspirationranch.org.