CKRH is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through therapeutic riding and other equine activities.

Description:
Volunteering at CKRH is a fun way to volunteer, work with horses and to help people with disabilities! Seeing a riders face light up when they ride a horse is a great feeling, and the benefits from riding are tremendous. Not only do our riders learn riding skills, but these skills positively impact everyday life as well.

CKRH provides three main services: Therapeutic Riding, individual Hippotherapy sessions with a licensed therapist from Cardinal Hill Hospital; and Equine Assisted Learning activities which are non-mounted. Therapeutic Riding classes are held M/W/Th evenings and Saturday mornings. Hippotherapy sessions are conducted all day long on Tuesdays and Fridays. Most programming occurs between April and early November.

Regardless of category, each participant interacts with a trusted, accepting horse and is supported by dedicated volunteers, experienced instructors and therapists. Why the horse? The horse's strength, warmth, soothing rhythm and three-dimensional movement pattern provides healthy exercise while improving circulation and muscle tone. The responsibility associated with horsemanship and social interactions within the program benefit our participants physically, mentally, and emotionally by raising self-confidence and encouraging independence through goal attainment.

History:
CKRH has served our community for 25 years. It began as a grass roots partnership between two nurses and a few horse lovers in 1981 with borrowed horses and four clients. These first classes were so successful that those involved decided to press on, and CKRH was given use of a converted tobacco barn at the newly established Kentucky Horse Park. That same year, we gained our non-profit status. CKRH continued to experience steady growth and in 1987 CKRH became nationally accredited as a riding center by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). In 1998, CKRH attained Premier Accredited Center status which is still maintained today.

Contact people:

Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Jeannie Brewer, Special Projects Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (859) 252-5016

Address:

P O Box 13155 Lexington, KY 40511

Web Site: http://www.ckrh.org

Directions:

Enter the Kentucky Horse Park (4089 Iron Works Pike) and go to guard gate. Tell attendant your destination. Turn Left on Cigar Drive just after the guard shack. Go straight on Cigar until you reach the riding concession. Turn Left. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: N/A, N/A minute walk