Teen Honored for Volunteer Work at Therapeutic Riding Program

A Robinson Secondary School student was recently honored for her volunteer work at the .

Megan Pearson, a sophomore, has volunteered at the riding program since November 2010. The Clifton-based program provides therapeutic riding services for clients with disabilities, at-risk youths, and veterans of the military.

“My friend got me into it, and ever since then I started going every week and really enjoying myself,” Pearson, 15, said.

Pearson, along with four other NVTRP volunteers, was honored at the Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards sponsored by Volunteer Fairfax last month.

“Every day in Fairfax County, volunteers donate their time and talents to touch lives and to build stronger communities,” said Jeanne Sanders, executive director of Volunteer Fairfax. “We honor those volunteers for not only the work they have done but for the inspiration they have provided to so many."

Pearson received a Youth Volunteer Award and the Youth Benchmark 100 Award.

“I was really shocked because I didn’t know that out of all the volunteers they would chose me,” Pearson said. “For them to chose me was shocking and really humbling.”

Pearson’s favorite part of volunteering at the farm is interacting with the riders. In one session with another riding instructor, she saw a boy who was in a wheelchair begin training afraid to get on a horse.

“You could tell he was scared to be that high up,” Pearson said. “[The instructor] had him do things to help him relax more. By the end of the lesson he did some sitting on his horse.”

“It’s why NVTRP is so great, because it allows people to get out of themselves and get involved with the horses in a way they wouldn’t be able to in their regular life,” Pearson said.  

In addition to helping with the riders, Pearson helps coordinate volunteer hours for other volunteers. She also coordinates where the horses are going to sleep on some days.

“At first I was challenging but everyone was really nice about it and the other coordinators let me shadow them,” Pearson said.  

Pearson is looking at colleges right now, and her experience has inspired her to keep volunteering in the future.

“I’m thinking of engineering, but I love working with people,” Pearson said. “I really want to continue my volunteer work into college and maybe work with horses.”