SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Riding Centers

Anthony Busacca has joined SIRE as the Site Director and Instructor at the Hockley site. Anthony has worked in the horse industry his entire professional life. His experience includes equestrian center management, as well as training and showing dressage horses. He became involved in therapeutic riding in the 1980’s as a volunteer instructor at a small, local riding program in southern California. Now, as a NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) Master Level Instructor and Lead Evaluator he has trained and certified hundreds of instructors all across the United States and in Canada, Japan and Israel. Anthony served on the NARHA Instructor Certification Committee for five years and has presented numerous lectures at regional and national conferences. He has served as the Program Director/Head Instructor of Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, located in the north San Francisco bay area for the past two years. Before that he was Program Director of the Fran Joswick/J. F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano, California for sixteen years.

From Anthony - “I am very excited about joining the SIRE team. In addition to anticipating the satisfaction derived from working with the program’s students and volunteers I am looking forward to expanding SIRE’s instructor training offerings. Inviting people from other neighborhoods to come to SIRE to receive their training and certification as Therapeutic Riding Instructors will have national and global impact as they return home to their local communities and implement what we have taught them.”

More information about all of our staff is found on our website.

SIRE is about success and we have as many stories of achievement as we have clients. Recently, several clients have demonstrated huge improvements in their skills—let us tell you about a few of them.

SIRE Hockley
Ignacio Murguia had surgery to straighten his legs, and he grew several inches. When he came back to ride, he had a “new body” that was difficult to manage. By working hard every week, Ignacio could sit up longer—back in September we were counting in minutes, and now he can sit up the entire session.

Choosing the right horse has helped Erin Brown, a longtime SIRE client, succeed after a setback. Erin fractured her pelvis in a fall at home, and had difficulties when she returned to riding. With lots of hard work, Erin has graduated to a horse with more movement.

It’s easier with a little help from your friends. Two girls, Yessenia Luna and Elizabeth Williams, encourage each other. Being a team has helped each girl learn new skills and share their friendship. Another team, Karen Abbott’s riders called the “Sensational Six”, has practically grown up at SIRE on horseback—they help each other and even have a group cheer at the end of class.

SIRE Spring
Progress can be measured in many ways—how well you hold the reins for steering, how many directions you can follow, recognizing yourself as a successful person.

Whitney Faerber’s family has watched her grow and improve while riding at SIRE Spring. She has been learning to ride without sidewalkers or leaders, and very recently she rode completely independent. The smile on her face lit up the arena.

Being able to sit upright on a horse is a huge accomplishment for some of our riders, especially for those in wheelchairs like Megan Fry. Recently, she participated in the Top Hands Horse Show, and demonstrated her abilities at the Horses & Humans Research Foundation’s Open House Presentation.

SIRE Fort Bend
Several Fort Bend riders have made great strides—some at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Top Hands Horse Show, and some right here in the arena at SIRE.

Five of seven SIRE Fort Bend riders had never competed before at the show: Sebastian Arizpe, Alyse Delph, Erica Haase, Lance Nicholson and Derrick Perkins. Together with our show veterans Allison Meyer and Cade Zimmerman, these riders performed beautifully in their classes and accomplished individual personal goals.

Our 2008 Child Rider of the Year, Alejandro Araque, is one of the hardest working riders at SIRE. His strength and ability to use his body effectively to communicate with his horse continue to amaze us all.

Brittany Ricco is having an amazing semester, as she is taking control of her movements as well as her horse. Brittany can now stop those spasms and work through them.

So many wonderful riders, we can’t mention them all, but they all deserve applause. It’s our pleasure and privilege to work with them every week. They truly are our inspiration.

On Sunday, January 28th, 2007 volunteers, clients and staff gathered at the Katy Visual Performing Arts Center to celebrate the outstanding dedication and performance of our volunteers and clients in 2006. Over 150 attendees flocked in from the Hockley, Spring and Fort Bend sites to partake in a pot luck banquet and receive awards for a job well done!

The following awards were given to the wonderful folks who contributed both their time and support to make it possible for SIRE to serve riders with disabilities at their facility in 2006.

President’s Award: Pat Roddy
Warren Reininger Memorial Award: Richard “Whitey” White

SIRE Fort Bend @ Sienna Stables
Outstanding Staff Member: Melisa Smith
Horse of the Year: Jesse
Horse Angel: Michelle Crawford
Jr. Volunteer of the Year: William Cary
Volunteer of the Year: Susan Young

SIRE Spring
Outstanding Staff Member: Truman Alexander
Horses of the Year: Rudy & Reggie
Horse Angel: Paul Lamb
Jr. Volunteers of the Year: Sarah Lechmann, Elizabeth Lechmann
Volunteers of the Year: Debbie Forth, Laura Claghorn

SIRE Hockley
Outstanding Staff Member: Karen Abbott
Horse of the Year: Ransom
Bill Ryan Memorial Award: Nancy Coyle
Horse Angel: Cheryl Kersh
Jr. Volunteers of the Year: Zach Gavia-Peyton, Emily Laurel
Volunteer of the Year: Luis Cardenas