Helping Hands at Hearts

by Connie Weinsoff

Hearts Adaptive Riding Center is a place where miracles happen daily!  Children and adults with various disabilities come to Hearts each week to reap the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding.  Riding horses strengthens their muscles, helps with coordination and learning, improves their outlook on life and boosts self esteem.  Plus it is fun.  Therapeutic horseback riding is recognized by the American Physical and Occupational Therapy Association and Hearts Adaptive Riding is a nationally accredited center.  Hearts, a non profit organization, has been serving the Santa Barbara community for over 23 years. Volunteers are needed to prepare the horses and assist the instructor during the actual lessons.  No horse experience necessary!  Each volunteer is welcomed with an orientation and training session. 

It takes a well trained team of volunteers and staff to make sure rider Amy is safe and comfortable for her ride.

Hearts alsohas opportunities for volunteers to do office work, fundraising, event planning, and facility maintenance.  Sometimes we have big projects that may only take an afternoon to accomplish and really appreciate groups helping us out.

Hearts is open Tuesday thru Saturdays for horseback riding lessons.  Over 60 riders a week come to Hearts to work on specific physical and cognitive goals thru therapeutic horseback riding. 

Volunteer Dan Calderon, a Santa Barbara sheriff, helps with Lilly the Icelandic horse.

Our most inspiring event of the year is happening on May 4th 2008 from 9a-4p.  It is our annual student horseshow where this year’s theme is “Hearts goes Medieval!”   Watch as our riders become transformed into knights and princesses and marvel at their horsemanship “abilities”.  Many volunteers are needed for set up, tear down and to serve lunch and man our game booths.  It promises to be a fun and exciting day.

It’s easy to get involved.  Just visit the Hearts website at www.heartsadaptiveriding.org and download and complete a Volunteer Application.  Then call our volunteer coordinator, Emily at (805)964-1519 to make an appointment to come in for an orientation.  Hearts is conveniently located right off the 101 between Goleta and Santa Barbara near the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s office.

The people you meet while helping at Hearts are caring and compassionate individuals with a love of animals, the outdoors and their fellow man. Join us and start making new friends today and be a part of the daily miracles!

Louise proudly holds the American flag during a rodeo horseshow at Hearts Adaptive Riding with help from volunteer Natalie.

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