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| Last updated on August 15, 2008 |
To enrich the lives of individuals in need through a relationship with horses in a safe and natural setting.
Description:
Morning Dove provides therapeutic riding, hippotherapy and mental health programs for people with special needs. Our programs are designed as therapeutic interventions that are part of an integrated treatment plan. Instructors and therapists partner with the horse to carry out the sessions.
History:
Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that was incorporated in 1998 and gained 501(c)3 status in March 1999. The organization was started by Ken and Ginger Dierdorf at their farm in Whitestown, Indiana with the goal of serving children and adults with disabilities in the Lebanon, Avon, Danville, and surrounding areas. Morning Dove is an affiliate member of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). The center began operations in May, 1999 with 7 riders, 10 volunteers, and 3 horses. The program was run from March through the middle of December.
In May of 2000, Morning Dove reopened its doors to 21 riders, 30 volunteers and 7 horses. Classes were provided three evenings a week and Saturday mornings. Rider participation continued to increase in the pursuing years until 2004. In 2004, the partnership between the two founders, Ken and Ginger Dierdorf, was dissolved due to personal reasons and the business was moved to Zionsville and remained under the direction of Ken Dierdorf until November 2004.
In November 2004, Jan Helsper became Executive Director. The programs continued on Saturday mornings throughout the winter at a leased indoor facility in Zionsville. Classes were led Jan Helsper, a NARHA registered instructor. Morning Dove had now become a year round program.
In 2005, program expansion necessitated the addition of two more NARHA registered instructors, Blair McKissock and Susan McDowell. These two instructors brought a wealth of experience in the therapeutic riding arena as the well as the field of autism and children with other disabilities. Contractual agreements were signed with St. Vincent Pediatric Rehabilitation Services and Boone County Mental Health to provide equine assisted activities to their clients.
The demand for therapeutic riding and other equine assisted activities continued to grow and in 2006 Morning Dove entered into an agreement with Easter Seals Crossroads to provide therapeutic riding to their clients with autism as well as participate in their annual summer camp, Camp Ability. This program was funded through a private donation of $50,000 specifically for children with autism referred by Easter Seals Crossroads. Morning Dove also received a $35,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Boone County to create and run a program called the Fatherhood Initiative. This was such a successful program that another grant was approved to continue the program in 2007.
With the growing demand for services and a waiting list for clients, it became evident that a larger facility was needed. In January 2007, Duke Realty Corporation offered Morning Dove the use of a 24 acre farm complete with an indoor riding arena. This facility allowed further expansion of the programs. By the end of 2007, Morning Dove served 75 to 100 clients a week and provided a total of 1824 equine assisted activity hours.
Programming for 2008 will include a wide range of equine assisted activities to meet the ever changing needs of the surrounding community.
Contact people:
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Lisa John, Executive Director, (phone), (email)
Blair McKissock McKissock CTRS, MSEd, Project Director, (phone), (email)
Lisa Carroll, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) |
Address:
Web Site: http://WWW.MORNINGDOVETRC.ORG
Directions:
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Please visit our website under "Contact Us" for specific directions from your location. www.morningdovetrc.org
Or call us at (317)769-5161. |
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