Anyone who loves animals knows how beneficial they can be to lifting someone's spirits, providing companionship, and sometimes helping a person remain independent. The same is true of horses and their riders, especially those riders who rely on the horse to help them develop balance, coordination, and strength. For these riders - adults and children - with physical, mental and/or emotional disabilities, horseback riding is therapeutic. It builds their confidence and independence as they learn to ride and care for a horse.
You can be part of this special relationship between horse and rider by serving as a volunteer safety side aide and horse handler for Stable Influence Charity Programs. At sites throughout the Valley, including Pecos and Higley roads in Gilbert, volunteers assist with riding classes for disabled kids and adults. These volunteers are trained to lead horses, walk at the side of the riders, tack and untack horses, and help riders mount and dismount.
If this sounds like volunteer work you'd like to try, contact Chris Hudson at (623) 465-0637 or visit http://stableinfluence.org.
• A Helping Hand is our weekly spotlight on a volunteer opportunity in the East Valley. Find other ways to help at www.volunteermatch.org.
