Check out the June issue of Heights Magazine, for stories about some of our supporters, clients, and volunteers who live in the Heights.
You merge onto the freeway, the skyscrapers of downtown Houston at your back. It’s early Saturday, so the ribbon of road ahead of you for once has few cars. The drive goes smoothly. Turning off the freeway, you pass through the gates for SIRE – Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Center after just a few more miles. From the drive and living in Houston, you know we’re big and spread out. Even so, it’s hard to believe nearly 900,000 people with disabilities live in the Houston area. SIRE, a Houston area nonprofit, has a mission to change those lives through accredited therapeutic horsemanship programs.
One recent visitor, stepping out of her car at SIRE, exclaimed “It’s like a spa, it’s so peaceful!” SIRE’s three locations – in Hockley, Spring, and Richmond – each have a distinctive country feel though they are less than an hour’s drive from the Heights.
At first glance, SIRE may look like any other stable. Look more closely, though, and you’ll notice nearly every rider has a helper on foot guiding each horse. Most riders also have one or two more helpers, called sidewalkers, walking next to the horse alongside the rider. Waiting riders may be sitting in wheelchairs or leaning on walkers. Others might be in a parent’s arms or sitting alone, humming and staring off into space.
Riders here, like those anywhere, are learning riding skills and are gaining strength and flexibility. But this is SIRE, where riders and their families benefit so much more. SIRE’s horses, donors and volunteers build strength, empathy, and motivation, enabling more productive, fulfilling and independent lives. Riders can start as young as three, even younger in some cases. You’ll also find many middle-aged riders and even some well north of retirement age. The same can be said of SIRE’s volunteers. Currently, SIRE and its 400 volunteers serve more than 300 riders a year, with 230 riding each week.
You can read the rest of the article, with stories about SIRE client George Daponte and volunteer Karla Goolsby – both at the Spring site – and SIRE supporter Tonya Daily, all Heights residents, here.