SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Riding Centers

On May 1, 2010, at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel, we will celebrate SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers’ annual Boots & Bonnets Charity Gala.

7 pm - Cocktails
8 pm to midnight - Dinner & Dancing with the musical group Fried Ice Cream

Dress is Derby Bonnets and Dress Boots
prizes for the best bonnets and best boots

We are planning a spectacular night of live music, dancing, fine food, auction treasures and much, much more! This very special night is a salute to years of hope and healing through therapeutic horseback riding and related therapeutic activities for thousands of Houston area children and adults with disabilities.

Honorary Chairs: Sugar Land Mayor James and Gay Thompson

Honorees: The Wise Family — William and Marie Wise, Hugo and Mary Elizabeth Sand, Jon and Genna Evans, and Vivian Wise

Therapeutic horseback riding tremendously impacts the lives of individuals with brain damage, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, autism, Down’s syndrome, spinal injuries and many other disabilities. By using the movement and spirit of the horse, combined with the teamwork of the rider, instructor, therapist and volunteers, therapeutic horseback riding produces life-changing results!

You can directly contribute to the success of this event by donating an item or items to the live and/or silent auction. Your auction donation will be recognized in the gala program that night and will be listed on our website. SIRE is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please download the Auction Contribution Form and mail to: SIRE, c/o: Harla Kaplan, Director of Development, 1035 Chamboard Lane, Houston, Texas 77018, fax to 713-263-7134 or call 713/639-1681 for more information.

Nearly 400 people blazed into the Houstonian Hotel for this year’s SIRE Trailblazer Luncheon held last week. President of the SIRE Board of Directors Richard “Whitey” White and Executive Director Jimm Williams provided the audience with background on Houston’s Therapeutic Riding Centers and the positive impact of therapeutic riding on physical and cognitive abilities. Guests also heard testimonials from clients Steven Schultz, Derrick Perkins, Nathaniel Hunter and family members about how SIRE has enriched their lives. The luncheon was free to guests and serves as a fund raising event with no minimum donation requirement.

SIRE provides programs for individuals who have physical and cognitive disabilities, sensory impairments and psycho-social disorders. SIRE works with its clients to improve motor skills, balance and posture while stimulating the cardiovascular system and normalizing muscle tone. The client also experiences the three-dimensional movement of the horse, similar to a human’s gait, which is difficult to duplicate in a clinical setting.

SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit therapeutic horseback riding organization which uses the spirit and movement of the horse to benefit people with disabilities. SIRE has been active in the Houston area for 26 years and currently serves clients at sites in Hockley, Spring and Fort Bend County. SIRE is a premier accredited center with NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association). For more information about SIRE, call 281.356.7558 or visit www.sire-htec.org.

It is time to start planning SIRE’s 2010 Shindig at the Houston Hilton Post Oak on May 1, 2010. We need help with invitations, decorations, entertainment, auction items, underwriters, and table sales. There will be an organizing meeting on Monday, January 11 at 7 pm. (Place to be determined based on the best location for the majority of volunteers). If you have always wanted to be in on the decision making, please contact Harla at development [at] sire-htec.org. We welcome your input on making the 2010 Shindig the best and most fun ever! Please respond by December 31, 2009.

So what is a Round-up and why is it important to SIRE’s development efforts?

Round-ups are the best way to introduce people to the magic of SIRE and its mission. Just by listening to our one-hour presentation, a person can understand the freedom from disabilities that therapeutic riding brings to our clients. Not talking about it, not watching a video, not handing out a brochure, but sitting in the bleachers as a part of a therapeutic riding lesson is more powerful than any other message we can bring to the community about the benefits of SIRE. It captured me!

Round-ups are usually scheduled monthly at each of our three locations, conveniently on Saturday mornings. While clients are participating in their regular classes, we describe what is happening in the arena. Round-Up attendees see first-hand the client-specific therapeutic session planned by the instructor, understand the role and interaction of the volunteers, and appreciate the special bond that forms between horse and rider.

Round-ups are informational only… we never, ever ask our guests for money. When they ask how they can help, we tell them the best way to help SIRE is by spreading the word about what we do—and by inviting their friends and business associates to our next Round-up. You can do the same!

—Richard “Whitey” White, President

JOIN US FOR A ROUND-UP

Leave your checkbook at home and
come learn more about our amazing
equine-assisted therapy for people
with disabilities.

2009 ROUND-UP DATES

Hockley
5/16, 7/18, 10/3 and 11/14

Spring
4/18, 6/13, 9/12, 10/17 and 12/5

Ft. Bend
5/2, 6/27, 9/19, 11/7

Students looking to bring mini therapy horse to school, routinely

By TANA ROSS
from The Magnolia Potpourri - Updated: 02.10.09

It did not follow them to school but students at Nichols Sawmill Elementary want Tess, a miniature horse, to visit them on a regular basis. The little horse that can, one of a stable full of equine therapy horses at S.I.R.E. in nearby Hockley, has a hoard of fans at NSE since visiting last December as part of a Gifted and Talented Community Problem Solving Program.

“My students choose this project after visiting S.I.R.E. (Self Improvement Through Riding Education),” fifth grade gifted and talented teacher Cherrie Edwards said. “When Tess comes into a school she becomes quiet, responsive and she knows she is a teacher.”

S.I.R.E. is a therapeutic riding center that uses horses to help children with disabilities. Tess was selected by Edward’s students to interact with eight students in NSE’s Life Skills class, and the results were remarkable. Read more

Did you see this video on Channel 26 over the weekend?

On the evening of Saturday May 10th, more than 500 Texas gentlemen and their ladies will crowd the Downtown Hyatt Regency to kick-up their heels for SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers, at the 2008 Silver Star Shindig.

This annual black-tie gala celebrates SIRE’s 25th Anniversary of therapeutic horseback riding that benefits children and adults with disabilities.

The 2008 Silver Star Shindig honors: long-time volunteer, Peggy Wagner, with the SIRE Lifetime Humanitarian Award for her significant dedication to client advancement; Baker Concrete Construction, with the Community Investment Award for generous donations to construction projects in the development of the SIRE-Spring arena, and Paige Kinkade of Medcare Pediatric Group in Fort Bend County, with the Medical Award, in recognition of the extraordinary health care services provided to area disabled children.

The generous contributions of time and resources given by these amazing partners enable SIRE to grow and expand their therapeutic riding programs to serve more people with special abilities throughout the Greater Houston Area.

For example, Larke Dampeer was born with a zero Apgar score, which means she had no breathing nor did she have a heartbeat. Therapeutic riding at SIRE has had such a dramatic improvement on her life, that in less than two years, Miss Larke can walk independently, has more fluid movement in her upper body, and feeds herself. All of the physical improvements have allowed Larke to now be able to interact and play with other children her age. The ability to communicate with her SIRE horse, Jessie, is a great boost to her self-confidence and overall has brought Larke a greater level of joy and quality of life.

Another young client, Emily Hughes, has difficulty walking, but can independently ride her horse. Although, it takes great focus for her to quiet her muscle spasms, she can complete a trail course each year at the Top Hands Horse Show at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. While riding on the back of a horse, Emily can leave her limitations on the ground and experience freedom of movement and confidence of self.

Now beautiful young woman, Emily Lund, who has ridden with SIRE for six years, progressed from a very frightened child with three volunteers at her side to a confident, independent equestrienne. Emily will now be leaving SIRE to head off to college on a full scholarship that covers her studies through her Masters degree

SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers, is preparing for the 15th annual Saddle Up for SIRE Ride-A-Thon trailride to be held Saturday, October 13 at 7il Trails in Cat Spring, Texas. This very important fundraiser helps support our programs of equine-assisted therapy for people with disabilities in the Greater Houston Area.

Horseback riders will enjoy a 12 or 6 mile unguided ride at 7IL Trails; just 50 miles west of Houston near the old German town of Cat Spring. Registration is $60 ($75 after October 9). Your registration includes the trailride, lunch provided by the award-winning BBQ cook-off team, The More or Less Cookers, and a special edition 2007 Ride-A-Thon t-shirt.

We’ll keep the “fun” in fundraising with prizes for top fundraisers. An exciting part of the Ride-A-Thon has always been the Team Competition. And you don’t have to ride a horse to win! Form a minimum 2-person team of riders or non-riders and compete for top fundraising prizes.

The top fundraising SIRE clients also get to ride our SIRE therapy horses on a specially designed trail and compete for prizes of their own!

Underwriter packages are available at $250, $500, $1000 and $5000 levels.
This trail ride celebrates 24 years of improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities and last year raised over $78,000 that went to support therapeutic horseback riding programs for 190 individuals who ride weekly at SIRE’s three locations – Hockley, TX; Spring, TX; and Fort Bend County @ Sienna Stables.

The mission of SIRE is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities using horseback riding and related therapeutic activities, such as hippotherapy and carriage driving. SIRE offers programs for children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities, sensory impairments, and psychosocial disorders.

For a registration brochure, information on becoming an underwriter or more details, call Harla at 713-263-1498 or visit www.sire-htec.org.

On the evening of Saturday, May 12th, more than 500 buckaroos in tuxedoes moseyed in to the Downtown Hyatt Regency ballroom to kick-up their heels for SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers, at the 2007 Shining Stars Over Texas Shindig.

It’s not a barn dance anymore! At this annual black-tie dinner-dance and auction, Bob Allen, Sports Anchor, KTRK ABC TV 13, returned as emcee for the evening, and shared his personal story about how SIRE benefits children and adults with disabilities.

Guests sat down to a five-course dinner surrounded by glittering table decorations and a backdrop of twinkling white stars. As the auction progressed, patrons danced to music by ‘Sound Advice’ .

This year’s Shining Stars Over Texas Shindig honored two of SIRE’s brightest stars, Jackie and Bill McDonald, of Magnolia, Texas. The generous contributions of time and resources given by this amazing couple enable SIRE to grow and expand their therapeutic riding programs, serving more people with special abilities throughout the Greater Houston Area.

Thanks to the continued support of volunteers like the McDonalds, children and adults with cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities are receiving the life-changing benefits of equestrian therapy.

SIRE was established in 1983 to provide equine-assisted therapy for people with disabilities of all ages. Today, SIRE operates three premier accredited NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) centers in and around Houston, and is recognized as one of the nation’s top therapeutic riding programs.

Each week, approximately 187 clients ride at SIRE Hockley, SIRE Spring, and SIRE Fort Bend @ Sienna Stables.

Hunting PLC announced today that it is donating $100,000 in proceeds from the Hunting Art Prize to SIRE, a Houston-based charity that uses therapeutic horseback riding and related activities to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The contribution includes funds generated from an auction at the April 29 Art Prize gala, as well as a donation based on sales of the finalists’ work shown at the event.

“We are pleased and honored to be able to show our support for SIRE in this way,” said Dennis Proctor, Chief Executive of Hunting, whose U.S. corporate headquarters are located in Houston. “We believe strongly in what the organization does, and are glad for the opportunity to help them grow and gain greater recognition for all that they do.”

SIRE, which stands for Self Improvement through Riding Education, has served the Houston area since 1983. It is one of just 212 therapeutic riding centers to earn Premier Accreditation by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association out of 700 centers nationally.

The Hunting Art Prize relocated to Houston in 2006 after 25 years in London, where it emerged as one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious art competitions. Houston artist Francesca Fuchs won the $50,000 prize, which is one of the most generous in North America.

About Hunting PLC
Hunting PLC is an international oil services company providing support solutions to the world’s largest oil and gas concerns. Established in 1874, it is a fully listed public company, traded on the London Stock Exchange. For further information, visit www.hunting.plc.uk