Whitewater Therapeutic & Recreational Riding Association

WTRRA IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES, YOUTH-AT-RISK, ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY THROUGH EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES.

WTRRA IS A PREMIER ACCREDITED THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM. TWO PATH-INTL CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTORS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SERVE PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES. WTRRRA SESSIONS BEGIN IN APRIL AND RUN THROUGH NOVEMBER. SESSIONS VARY IN LENGTH - 4, 6 AND 8 WEEK SESSIONS WITHA WEEK BREAK BETWEEN SESSIONS. DURING THE YEAR WTRRA OFFERED THE FOLLOWING FIVE PROGRAMS: 1. HOOF BEATS OF HONOR FOR VETERANS, WHICH OFFERS FOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE: A. VETERANS AS VOLUNTEERS: VETERANS SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS IN WHITEWATER PROGRAMS INCLUDING THOSE FOR VETERANS, CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH AT RISK AND THE ELDERLY. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE BASED ON THE VETERANS INTERESTS. B. VETERANS ON THE GROUND: VETERANS AND INSTRUCTOR WILL WORK THROUGH A CURRICULUM TO PREPARE THE HORSE FOR A VARIETY OF EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES WHILE THE VETERAN GAINS SKILLS IN HORSE HANDLING TECHNIQUE. C. VETERANS IN THE SADDLE: VETERANS LEARN BASIC TO ADVANCED HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS IN A GROUP OR IN AN INDIVIDUAL CLASS WHICH MAY INCLUDE TRAIL RIDING, PARADES, HORSE SOCCER. PRIOR RIDING EXPERIENCE IS NOT NECESSARY. D. VETERANS AND FAMILY: THE VETERAN, SPOUSE AND CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES TO FACILITATE FUN AND COMMUNICATION WHILE LEARNING HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS ON THE GROUND OR IN THE SADDLE. WTRRA HOOF BEATS OF HONOR HAS BEEN AWARDED GRANTS FROM PATH-INTL EQUINE SERVICES FOR HEROES AND IDAHO SERVICES FOR VETERANS. 2. THERAPEUTIC RIDING - THERAPEUTIC RIDING IS MORE COMMONLY REFERRED TO BY PATH-INTL AS EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AND THERAPIES OR EAAT. A. HIPPOTHERAPY: THE USE OF HORSEBACK RIDING AS A THERAPEUTIC OR REHABILITATION TREATMENT BY OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SPEECH/LANGUAGE THERAPISTS; B. EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES ARE ANY SPECIFIC ACTIVITY E.G. THERAPEUTIC RIDING, MOUNTED OR GROUND ACTIVITIES, GROOMING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT, SHOWS, PARADES , TRAIL RIDES, DEMONSTRATIONS, ETC, IN WHICH WTRRA CLIENTS, PARTICIPANTS VOLUNTEERS, INSTRUCTORS AND EQUINES ARE INVOLVED. THESE INCLUDE : A. GENERAL HORSEMANSHIP/THERAPEUTIC CLASSES: WTRRA INSTRUCTORS TEACH HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS TO INDIVIDUALS 4 YEARS AND BEYOND WITH SPECIAL NEEDS . FOR EXAMPLE, INDIVIDUALS CHALLENGED WITH NEUROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS, PTSD, ANXIETY DISORDER, STROKE, ADHD , AUTISM ETC WITH DOCTORS CLEARANCE. B. DEVELOPMENTAL RIDING: PROVIDING EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS CHALLENGED WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WTRRA WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL WORKSHOP, DEVELOPMENT CENTER, HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AND CARE GIVERS TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING MOUNTED AND GROUND ACTIVITIES, PARADES, HORSE SHOWS AND TRAIL RIDES. 3. WTRRA SPONSORS AN EQUINE 4-H CLUB PROVIDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS TO INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY 4-H INCLUDING 4-H HORSE CAMP AND HORSESHOWS. 4. EQUINE EXPERIENCES FOR THE ELDERLY: THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES TWO EXPERIENCES: A. MINIATURE HORSE VISITS TO THE NURSING OR ASSISTED LIVING HOMES. MANNY OR LADY LOUIS MAKE BED SIDE OR COURT YARD VISITS TO RESIDENTS. THESE VISITS STARTED 23 YEARS AGO WHEN TATER TOT THE MINIATURE HORSE WITH THE HUGE HEART FIRST RODE IN THE VAN TO MAKE HIS WEEKLY VISITS. B. THE ELDERLY MAY ALSO TRAVEL TO THE WTRRA ARENA TO MEET THE HORSES, GROOM, LEAD AND POSSIBLY MOUNT DEPENDING ON DOCTORS CLEARANCE AND THEIR INTEREST. 5. YOUTH-AT-RISK: YOUTH REFERRED BY PARENTS, SCHOOLS, JUVENILE SYSTEMS, HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES PARTICIPATE IN HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES, VOLUNTEERING, BARN OR HORSE CHORES.