The first Pennsylvania National Horse Show/LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Qualifier of 2025 was held on Saturday, May 10, at Walnut Grove Farm in Dover, Pa., with 14 riders ultimately qualifying to compete at the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships, to be held October 17, 2025, at the PNHS in Harrisburg, Pa.

Riders competed in two different categories, including Assisted Walk/Trot and Unassisted Walk/Trot. A total of seven riders competed in the Unassisted Therapeutic Riding division, including Brella Johnson, Brie Moyer, Olive Bennett, Emily Dolan, Charlie Rosewag, Addison Mook and Braelyn Dietz. While maintaining total control of their horse without the help of volunteers, riders were judged at the walk and trot.

The remaining seven riders competed in the Assisted Walk and Walk/Trot classes. With the help of a volunteer sidewalker and a horse leader, Daniel Shaffer, Braelyn Carroll, Jaxson Carroll, Elaina Heikkinen, Laelin Matarrita, Chase Michelson and Peyton Guresh were judged on the same movements as the Unassisted division. Beaming volunteers and horse leaders encouraged the riders to be as independent as possible in the saddle, while offering an occasional helping hand.

All riders rode both directions and lined up in the middle before being joined by their family to take photos with their trophies and ribbons. It was vital to Walnut Grove Farm owner and head trainer, Renee Poff, to include the families in the winner’s circle. According to Poff, the inclusion is a symbolic acknowledgement of the support and sacrifices the families make to support each rider’s needs.

“A lot of the time the riders are going through some things, and the families are put on the back burner,” Poff said. “I think what makes us special at Walnut Grove Farm is that we accommodate the whole family, as well as the riders. We open up our farm to everyone, and we just love doing it.”

Walnut Grove Farm was founded in 2017 to meet the needs of children of all backgrounds and abilities within their local Pennsylvania community. Their mission is to, “provide a safe and therapeutic location for those with special needs to benefit from equestrian activities.” Poff established Walnut Grove Farm as a way to combine her passion for horses with her love of helping others.

“I have always wanted to help people through horses; horses have been my passion,” Poff said. “I love helping people and making a difference in people’s lives. Walnut Grove Farm was the perfect way to combine the two. We also get great joy out of having the families come along and be a part of the ride, too.”

Besides advocating for families of children with special needs, Walnut Grove Farm is also unique in the structure of its program. Unlike many other therapeutic programs, which focus solely on providing riding lessons to children with physical or mental differences, Walnut Grove offers both recreational and therapeutic programs alongside each other. As such, this LifeVac Therapeutic Qualifier was held in the midst of a bustling show atmosphere, with children of all ages and abilities competing in jumping and flat classes. To Poff, it is important that her therapeutic riders have access to the same opportunities as her recreational riders, particularly because it may not be so in other areas of their lives.

“I think it is really important for these riders to have the same opportunities as anyone else,” Poff concluded. “That’s another thing that’s really special about Walnut Grove’s recreational and therapeutic programs – all of the riders come together as one.”

To learn more about the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships at the PNHS, click here, and to view more photos from the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Qualifier held at Walnut Grove Farm, click here.