Founded in 1984, the Kent Association of Riding Therapy (KART) strives to help children and adults with disabilities enhance their social and developmental growth through therapeutic horseback riding. KART’s multi-faceted program enlists the help of their students in the daily management of their barns to give students a sense of responsibility and pride, as well as under saddle lessons. 

How does KART serve their community?

“Our programs support education and health, serving special education students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) from Kent County Middle, Kent County High, and four elementary schools: Garnett, Galena, Rock Hall, and Chestertown Christian Academy. We also serve adults from the Kent Center, Camp Fairlee participants, and the Horizon program. 

“For those students from the Kent County school system, we work closely with the teachers and administrators at the schools. Thanks to their feedback, we know that the riding program improves the learning environment in the classrooms. Barn management supplements and reinforces the riding portion of the program, providing a holistic approach to equestrian education in a natural setting. 

“After the students return from riding lessons, they show an increased ability to learn– cognitive skills increase and behavioral problems are minimized. Our instructor works diligently with the students to improve their attention span, information retention, and physical abilities. 

“We’re excited to report that not only can we notice improvements in our students’ mental and physical health, but that parents and teachers regularly express that our students show individualized improvement thanks to the holistic approach to therapeutic riding.”

What are some of the biggest challenges your organization currently faces?

“One of our biggest challenges is the financial burden of the day-to-day care of our horses and maintenance of our facilities. Well-fitting tack for the horses is also expensive, not only upfront but also to replace our equipment as needed. One particular challenge is to supply our riders with enough helmets so that each rider has their own. We would also love to elevate our community outreach and search for more volunteers. Additional assistance with fundraising would also be truly beneficial.”

How has this grant impacted your program’s ability to serve your community?

“Thanks to the grant from the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation, we’ve been able to fund essential needs such as horse care, adaptive equipment, certified instructors, and facility maintenance. These resources ensure we can create a safe, effective, and inclusive environment for the children and adults with disabilities who benefit physically, emotionally, and socially from our therapeutic riding program. With help from this grant, we’ve been able to expand our reach and increase accessibility to our program. With your continued support, we can continue making a meaningful impact on the lives of our students and their families.”

Can you share a success story of a horse or participant who benefited from your program?

“One of the participants had never spoken a word. Until one day, out of the blue, they said “walk on,” loud and clear. We were all struck speechless. The teachers, instructors, and volunteers who witnessed the moment were brought to tears. 

“Not all success stories are so blatant– there are many day-to-day little miracles that mark the increased independence and confidence of our students. When some of the children first enter the program, they have to be surrounded by volunteers in order to feel safe and confident. It brings us joy to watch them advance in their riding ability until they can ride independently. The joy on their faces can’t be measured. According to our teachers, “Riding is all our students talk about. Their balance improves, they listen to instructions better. We feel it gives them a sense of purpose.”

What future goals do you have for your program and how can additional support help?

“In the years ahead, we hope to expand the number of schools participating in our program and enlist more volunteers to help us meet the growing need. But if growing the program comes with additional needs, such as more tack and equipment and notably, more horses. This leads us down the rabbit hole of increased horse care needs as well.”

Is there anything else you’d like donors/grant supporters to know about the impact of their support?

“As our program continues to grow in response to increased community need, we are respectfully requesting additional funding to help serve more participants, cover rising operational costs, purchase adaptive equipment, and expand staff. Any support would directly enhance our ability to deliver high-quality, inclusive therapeutic services and ensure the long-term sustainability of our program.”