Testimonials
Our daughter Anna has ridden with Riding Unlimited for twelve years and we credit her opportunities there with a huge percentage of her progress during that time. Her physical, emotional and social development have all been so positively impacted that we feel an extreme debt of gratitude towards your program. The horses, volunteers and staff have all been wonderful for Anna and are the hub around which her world revolves.
When Anna began riding, she mounted fearfully from a ramp, was supported by sidewalker and was led around the arena. Her trunk strength, balance, postural insecurity, lack of ability to do sequential tasks, extreme problems with motor planning, and confidence were all huge issues for her. These issues didn't just affect her as she began to learn to ride, but as she tried to negotiate through the hazards of life as a person with mental retardation caused by a rare genetic disorder called 48, XXXX Syndrome.
Obviously, Riding Unlimited can't eliminate Anna's underlying disability, but you have helped her to conquer the challenges her disability presents to a degree we never would have dreamed possible when she began. Anna now grooms and helps tack "her" horse, mounts from a block, rides totally independently, rises to post at the trot, follows three step directions and has even begun to canter! Under the aegis of Riding Unlimited she participates in Special Olympics at the state level and The Chisholm Challenge horse shows where she has amassed friends and confidence along with ribbons, medals and belt buckles. The pink ribbons (they match her favorite rides' saddle pad!) are just as important to her as the blue and watching her fellow riders get awards is just as much fun as having those gold medals hung around her own neck. These experiences have only been possible because of Riding Unlimited.
There are no words which can express the joy which riding has brought into Anna's life and the richness which her love affaire with your special horses and volunteers and staff has brought to Anna.
Thank you most sincerely,
Sarah McArdle
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