Golden Dreams Therapeutic Riding

The Mission: Golden Dreams is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit public organization dedicated to enriching, improving, and empowering the lives individuals with special needs (both children and adults)—and their families—who can benefit from therapeutic ri

Middleburg, VA (I-Newswire) February 6, 2013 - Golden Dreams is a therapeutic riding center in Middleburg, VA actively looking for veterans and their families, children and adults for a 12 week riding session with certified instructors starting March.

Individuals with almost any cognitive, physical and/or emotional disability can benefit from therapeutic riding through safe and supervised interaction with horses—riding spurs students’ physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. Through the horse's rhythmic motion, the rider is better able to organize information to the brain, which allows for greater concentration and memory. The horse provides an unconditional partnership where increased self esteem, self empowerment, and a sense of well-being can flourish. The horse's body provides warmth to muscles with high tone thereby aiding in relaxation. Other physical benefits include increased muscle strength, improved balance, joint mobility, and coordination. Through social interaction with peers, volunteers, and instructors, our riders are able to learn and build relationships in a nonjudgmental, safe, and supportive environment. And a sense of responsibility develops as the rider learns to take part in the care of the horses and equipment.


Benefits
Being astride a horse helps the rider develop balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, right and left handedness, motor planning, sequencing, communication, body awareness, muscle strength, flexibility, vestibular stimulation. Nonphysical benefits include teamwork, socialization, and increased self-esteem. Individuals with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, Down Syndrome, autism, brain injury or head trauma, visual and and hearing impairments, mental, learning, or emotional disorders, and muscular dystrophy all can benefit from supervised equine interaction.


Guiding Principle. Learn, be safe, contribute, have fun.


olden Dreams is also seeking volunteers. Please look at the website and call if you have any questions.

http://www.goldendreamsriding.org/
(540)687-5800