Poway Valley Therapeutic Riding Center

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE AND/OR EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES.WE STRIVE TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF OUR RIDERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS IN A SAFE, EQUESTRIAN ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT.POWAY VALLEY THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER (POVA) IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED MAY 2011 OFFERING THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. POVAS CORE STRATEGY IS TO USE AFFORDABLE THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTION TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE AND/OR EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR VOLUNTEERS.OUR OVERARCHING GOAL FOR OUTCOMES IS PROGRESS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THIS PROGRESS CAN BE MEASURED BY:INCREASED CORE STRENGTH WHICH LEADS TO SITTING, WALKING HOLDING REINS AND STEERING LEARNING CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS, IDENTIFYING RIGHT AND LEFTIMAGINARY PLAY - THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IN TYPICAL CHILDREN, BUT WHICH IS A CHALLENGE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. THE MOTHER OF ONE OF OUR STUDENTS TOLD US THAT ONE OF THE MOST MOVING EFFECTS OF HER CHILDS RIDING WITH US WAS SEEING HIM ENGAGE IN IMAGINARY PLAY WITH TOY HORSES.FIRST WORDS OFTEN A CHILDS FIRST WORDS COME AS A RESULT OF RIDINGOUR INSTRUCTORS AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE A VAST RANGE OF SKILLS TO THE PROGRAM WHICH IS VITAL TO OUR SUCCESS. THESE QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE: LICENSED SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, ACCOMPLISHED EQUESTRIANS, NURSES, CREDENTIALED TEACHERS, EXPERIENCED AIDS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, FLUENCY IN SIGN LANGUAGE, FAMILY MEMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS.VOLUNTEERS ARE VITAL TO OUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE VOLUNTEERS ARE A PART OF ALL LESSONS POVA PROVIDES. APPROXIMATELY 25 HOURS PER WEEK OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE ARE PROVIDED FOR THE LESSONS. IN 2011 TAUGHT 400 LESSONSIN 2012 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 1800 LESSONSIN 2013 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 3000 LESSONSIN 2014 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 2500 LESSONSIN 2015 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 2100 LESSONSIN 2016 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 2000 LESSONSIN 2017 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 1000 LESSONSIN 2018 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 750 LESSONSIN 2019 TAUGHT APPROXIMATELY 450 LESSONS5 VOLUNTEERS WORK APPROXIMATELY 25 HOURS WEEKLY