By Kimberly Paulk, Senior Connector at SHARECharlotte.com, a free, easy and local website that makes it easy to learn about and engage with our local nonprofits
No one can teach riding as well as a horse. – CS Lewis
“You’ve got to watch this video,” I called up the stairs to my husband after watching a short documentary about Misty Meadows Mitey Riders. I hope you’ll watch it too, because it captures something I won’t be able to in this post – the spirit of the place.
This is a place of hope, where children with special needs get equine-assisted therapy to help them develop cognitively, physically and socially. That means kids improve things like their range of motion, core strength and muscle tone. But they gain much more than that. Their time with the horses, staff and volunteers allow them to experience priceless things like friendship, achievement and compassion.
Mitey Riders has a grand vision—to offer equine assisted therapy to children with special needs for as long as those needs exist in our world. Now in its 20th year, the organization continues to act on this promise. Over 60 families visit Misty Meadows every week and their experiences there are life-changing, not just for the children, but for the volunteers.
Interested in learning more? There are a few volunteer opportunities below. Check SHARE Charlotte for more.
Volunteer for the 2014-15 riding season – walk with the children during therapeutic riding sessions, lead the horses or assist in the barn during sessions. Experience with horses required for some of these roles, but not all.
