Second Annual Derby Day Party to Benefit
Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship in Richmond
January 6, 2016 — RICHMOND, TX …The second annual DERBY DAY PARTY will be held on Saturday May 7th at Safari Texas. Funds raised from the event will benefit Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship, a 50l(c)3 organization, and its programming for individuals with special needs. Information about Tickets and Sponsorship opportunities are available at http://www.reiningstrength.org (click on “Derby Day” tab).
The need for therapeutic horsemanship services is great: the Reining Strength team estimates that over 90,000 Fort Bend County residents could benefit from therapeutic horsemanship programming. The services are appropriate for people of all ages with a wide variety of common diagnoses, including anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, CVA or stroke, Down syndrome, intellectual and learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury and many others.
“In 2015, Reining Strength served over 35 participants and provided over 500 hours of equine assisted activities. Our numbers are projected to surpass that significantly in 2016. We have developed special relationships with local physical therapy groups and the Boys and Girls Club of Fort Bend County. Clients from each of these diverse audiences have unique and specific needs that a therapeutic horsemanship program can effectively address,” said Heather Hernandez, M.Ed., Executive Director of Reining Strength. “Recently, a therapeutic riding client’s mother was sharing with us how impressed she was that for the first time her seven year old son is able to sit up on his own in a chair and stand upright while walking. Both she and the child’s therapists attribute this success to riding.”
As the results of scientific research continues to validate the horse as a valuable ‘agent of change’ for therapeutic horsemanship riders, this is an exciting time for the therapeutic horsemanship industry. A recent study* proved the impact of therapeutic horseback riding for people with autism spectrum disorder, where improvements in measures of irritability and hyperactivity were documented after just five weeks. Significant improvements were also observed on a measure of social cognition and social communication as well as the total number of words and new words spoken.
Ms. Hernandez has been establishing therapeutic horsemanship programs across the country as well as educational benchmarks for the industry for over ten years. She is heavily involved with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (“PATH Int’l”) as an Advanced Instructor and is a Certified Equine Specialist by the Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association (“EAGALA”). A Special Olympics Equestrian Certified Coach, Heather was also a Co-Director of the Therapeutic Riding Center as a faculty member at Texas Tech University.
Heather co-founded Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship in 2014 along with her parents, Tom and Peggy Hernandez, launching a campaign to help people with special needs in Fort Bend County. The second annual Derby Day Party marks a new tradition the organization seeks to build upon as it grows and further establishes its roots in Fort Bend County, having celebrated their first anniversary as a 50l(c)3 in December 2015.
About Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship
Reining Strength Therapeutic Horsemanship provides therapeutic horsemanship programs for people of all ages — children and adults — who have physical, cognitive, social and emotional needs. As participants work with horses in a custom tailored program, the goal is to help each of them realize their individual potential. Reining Strength is a 50l(c)3 nonprofit organization, and and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Events and rider assistance funds help cover costs of the service that tuition does not cover. A Path Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International recognized center, their riding facilities are located at 8811 FM 359 in Richmond, Texas. Information regarding enrollment, volunteering, and donations can be found at www.reiningstrength.org.
- Study published July 2015 was one of the first large-scale, randomized, controlled trials demonstrating efficacy of therapeutic horseback riding for the populations with autism spectrum disorder and it showed significant findings. Reference: Gabriels, Robin L. et al (May 05, 2015) “Randomized Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, July 2015. Volume 54, Issue 7, Pages 541-549. Retrieved from http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567%2815%2900284-1/abstract?cc=y=