Laura: "Ride for Joy Therapeutic Riding Program has been a tremendous asset in Payton's progress. In this crazy journey of raising a daughter with Autism, Ride for Joy has been one of those exceptional services that we have stumbled across that has helped us to "beat" her Autism. It is truly a magical place that I would highly recommend to anyone that is raising a child with special needs. The staff, volunteers and horses are all truly dynamic! It's refreshing to go to a place that loves my child for who she is and is acutely aware of what she can become. Ride for Joy definitely has helped Payton with her speech, self-esteem, motor skills and develop her imagination; just to name a few of the benefits we have seen since she first sat atop a horse at RFJ. It is a truly special program for very precious kids!"
Tara & Sean: "Dear Ride For Joy Staff, We would first like to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your patience and support each week at horse lessons. We started the program in August 2009 and it has been a tremendous benefit to Amelia. It is an hour of pure parent joy to watch the smile that lights up on Amelia's face when she enter the horse arena and sees "Stretch" the horse she rides. Ride For Joy has created confidence in Amelia that was not there as well as given her something to socially talk about, an area that is challenged by her Autism disability (lack of social skills). Physically Amelia benefits because of her central nervous system issues, being on the horse creates a calming effect that follows for quite sometime after horse lessons. After lessons for a moment in time each week Amelia carries on an hour of direct conversation but then we slowly revert back to off topic and irregular speech pattern. We hope over time that she will get better at riding so she can spend more time on a horse and it will help her disability.
We look forward to helping Ride For Joy grow and continue to help other children the way it is for Amelia."
Paula and Nate: "Smiles from ear-to-ear…this is the reaction we had when watching our special needs son, Evan, riding “Buttons” for the first time. In the few weeks that Evan has participated in the Ride for Joy program we have seen many improvements with his speech and sign language. His attention to detail and eye contact has improved along with his balance and strength. The staff and volunteers are warm, supportive, gracious, people who give of their lives to benefit those families touched with special needs children. We cannot express our gratitude enough and encourage other families to participate in Ride for Joy. This is a positive experience you don’t want your child to miss. Thank you Ride for Joy."
Ana and Juan: I just wanted to let you know that Sebastian had a lot of improvements since he started his therapy at ride for joy. Before this therapy he used to not like to wear helmets or anything that would cover his head, he use to get annoyed by this, and now he is not bothered by the helmet, he also now wears hoods. He has improved on following directions, we have also noticed he enjoyed riding the horse and in this time that he has not been going we have noticed that he misses it.
Thank you for everything you did for him in his therapy, and we hope to get him back next session.
