About Us >
About our program...
About our leader...
About our wonderful horses and ponies... PAST....
| Saddles and Smiles is a recreational therapeutic riding program designed for children with disabilities. Our specially trained ponies, horses and volunteers meet on the third Tuesday of every month to offer a leisure activity for children with disabilities and their families. We encourage parents and siblings to join us and experience the fun of horseback riding. But this is not just a pony ride! Research shows that children who participate in therapeutic riding can experience physical, emotional and developmental rewards. The benefits of horseback riding are as numerous as the types of conditions and disabilities served, including increased flexibility, balance, muscle strength, confidence, patience and self-esteem. |
Margaret Liskey, co-leader of the 4-H club Saddles and smiles, has years of
experience with disabled children and therapeutic riding:
She has a special needs niece, Jordan
-is a certified Massage Therapist
-volunteers with Jefferson county Special Needs classes
-is working on her certification from the PA Council of Therapeutic
Horsemanship-currently at Phase III
-volunteers at Star Equestrian, another riding facility for the challenged
-is a member of NARHA, and working on her certification
-coached Jordan and Wonder at the 2007 MD Equestrian Special Olympics
experience with disabled children and therapeutic riding:
She has a special needs niece, Jordan
-is a certified Massage Therapist
-volunteers with Jefferson county Special Needs classes
-is working on her certification from the PA Council of Therapeutic
Horsemanship-currently at Phase III
-volunteers at Star Equestrian, another riding facility for the challenged
-is a member of NARHA, and working on her certification
-coached Jordan and Wonder at the 2007 MD Equestrian Special Olympics
| WONDER Wonder is Jordan's twenty-something grey mare. She helps out at Saddles and Smiles, competes with Jordan in horse shows and Special Olympics, and also likes fun shows and rides on the beach! |
| POSSUM Possum is 28 years young,and loves to help the kids at Saddles and Smiles - he always brings his owner, Pat Saxon, and best friends Melanie and Aly along with him. Possum also enjoys trail riding and fun shows. |
| TWINKLE Twinkle also lives with Miss Margaret. She is the CUTEST little brown and white pony mare, and loves the kids! She has been known to bring her own babies to Saddles and Smiles with her! Twinkle also works part time for PonyXpress Pony Rides. |
| MISSISSIPPI MIKE Mike is a Haflinger gelding, owned by Miss Margaret. You can always find him at Saddles and Smiles, and he loves dressing up for the costume classes at our fun shows. |
| BOOMER Boomer is a 14 year old Spotted Racking Gelding - He has been participating in Saddles and Smiles for years, in between his successful show career and trail riding - He also loves doing tricks for treats!! |
| HALEY Haley is a Haflinger mare who lives with Mississippi Mike. She is always there to lend a hand to the kids in the club, whether it be Saddles and Smiles, fun shows or beach trips! |
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