THE CAUSE

Profits from the event benefit the Hickory Top Therapeutic Riding

Carolina-Therapeutic-Riding-1

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The Camden Horse & Hound Expo is proud to support and help raise funds for Hickory Top Therapeutic Riding. This organization provides Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) to children, adults, and veterans with cognitive, physical, social, and emotional disabilities. Through a variety of programs, they strive to improve the quality of life for their participants.

Mission

Hickory Top Therapeutic Riding is a unique organization that facilitates relationships between horses and humans to improve the lives and well-being of both.

The organization was founded by a group of passionate horse enthusiasts who wanted to share the joy and therapeutic benefits of horseback riding with everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. Today, Hickory Top Therapeutic Riding provides therapeutic riding lessons to children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. The intimate bond between horse and rider during these lessons can lead to remarkable improvements in physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being. For some riders, the experience is life-changing.

Impacting Lives

The power of a horse to motivate someone to set aside their fear can be transformative. It takes courage to approach a large animal. One of our riders was struggling to “just touch” the horse. She was so empowered by the confidence she discovered in connecting with the horse through touch that she announced she wanted to ride. Her entire body was shaking as she climbed to the top of the mounting block. Standing tall over the horse, determination allowed her to utilize the coping skills that a life with sickle cell disease had taught her. She slowly mounted and took several deep breaths. With the proudest smile, this young lady asked the horse to “walk on.” After a joy filled ride, she dismounted the horse and announced to everyone that she was ready to “ride an elephant!” 

Who They Serve

Individuals ages four and older challenged by: 

  • Amputations
  • Anxiety/Depression
  • At-Risk Youth
  • Autism
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Chronic Illness
  • Communication Disorders
  • Developmental Delays
  • Down Syndrome
  • Epilepsy
  • Genetic Disorders
  • Grief
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Hypotonia
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Learning Differences
  • Low Self-Esteem
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neuromuscular Disease
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spina Bifida
  • Stroke
  • Terminal Illness
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Visual Impairment

For More Information

 PLEASE CONTACT

Amanda Malanuk, MS, CTRI
Executive Director, PATH Intl. Instructor
amalanuk@CarolinaTherapeuticRiding.org

(803)429-2802 EIN number 87-2276635