The Second Company Governor's Horse Guard will hold volunteer training for its therapeutic riding program on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 pm in the office headquarters at Fairfield Hills.
The Second Company Governorâs Horse Guard will hold volunteer training for its therapeutic riding program on Wednesday, May 16, at 7 pm in the office headquarters at Fairfield Hills.
Saddle-Up For Life (SUFL) is a horseback riding program for people with disabilities. Launched in 1998, SUFL currently provides a highly supervised riding program for residents of Southbury Training School. In addition, there is a small lesson program on Tuesday evenings, and a program for injured veterans is in the planning stages.
The participants in SUFL have a variety of handicaps such as Downâs syndrome, cerebral palsy and visual impairment and they range from mild to profound retardation. In their own way, each one benefits from horseback riding.
Each rider on horseback requires three volunteers â one on each side and one to lead each horse. A certified therapeutic riding instructor administrates and attends all riding sessions.
Although it is helpful, volunteers do not have to have experience working with horses. Applicants must be physically fit â you may have to trot alongside your rider! There is no minimum age requirement, but side walkers need to be at least five feet tall.
The Second Company is a member center of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA.org) and follows the rules and guidelines set forth in their standards manual.Â
More training sessions will be added, if necessary. For further information, contact Sgt. Cindy Joyce at (203) 426-5686 or email publicaffairs@thehorseguard.com.
