Best friends come in all sizes.

Volunteer with the Equine-Assisted Therapy program, and help someone find a new best friend.

Do you love horses? Do you want to help people?

Bring your two loves together as a volunteer with Extension’s Equine-Assisted Therapy program!

As a volunteer, you will help children with special needs. You will work with a certified riding instructor and other volunteers who care about people and horses just as much as you do.

You will:

• Help with riding classes.
• Teach riders about horse behavior, care, and grooming.
• Build bonds and understanding with the riders and horses.
• Help riders grow intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally.

Through the Equine-Assisted Therapy program, children and adults with special needs can:

• Improve their strength, coordination, and posture.
• Become more independent.
• Increase their confidence and self-esteem.
• Enrich their quality of life.

Therapeutic Riding Programs

• Therapeutic horseback riding
• Hippotherapy
• Veterans Horsemanship Program

4-H Therapeutic Riding & Activity Center Core Values

• Healing
• Empowerment
• Passion
• Integrity

Equine-Assisted Therapy programs are held at

Elizabeth A. Howard Therapeutic Riding and Activity Center

1225 Old White Road South, West Point, MS 39773

To become a volunteer or learn more, contact Lori Irvin at lirvin@humansci.msstate.edu.

Certification workshops for therapeutic riding instructors are approved by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.

M1182 (05-19)

Copyright 2019 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Produced by Agricultural Communications.

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination in university employment, programs, or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law is prohibited. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Compliance and Integrity, 56 Morgan Avenue, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

For disability accommodation, please contact Cassie Brunson at cbrunson@humansci.msstate.edu.

Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. GARY B. JACKSON, Director