Do More Mondays - #20 - "Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre"

Hiya!  One more day until this month ends!  I normally look forward to this because February is a sluggish month.  March means one step closer to Spring along with a bunch of fun activities.  As much as it is exciting, it also stresses me out with all the things that still need to be planned and organized.  I don't always deal with stress in the most healthy manner even though it is something completely manageable.  Despite all that, I need to remind myself more often that these are just small challenges compared to what less fortunate people must go through daily.  They have more reason to bicker about it than I do and how they deal with it can teach everyone a valuable lesson in what they are capable of.

That is why this week I'm making a donation to 'Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre' ~ a registered charity that provides quality therapy, recreation and life skills programs to children and adults with a wide range of special needs.  Their programs focus on individual abilities in an environment of challenge, enjoyment and achievement; to help develop their full potential and lead them closer to independence. 

Working with horses can provide more than just riding skills - you can also learn companionship, responsibility, confidence, leadership, vocational and educational skills, and may offer competition venues in various riding disciplines.  Building a relationship with an animal is very rewarding in many respects; for a person with an emotional, social or psychological disability, the trust and loyalty of an animal demonstrates to the individual how important they are; they may then apply this newly-acquired self-esteem to personal relationships. A horses may also help a person feel in control of their situation, since in dealing with horses there is a direct relationship between action and reaction.  Riding a horse is also a unique experience and it helps empower a person and enable them to connect with others on a personal level. The sometimes-unpredictable nature of animals and situations also creates a real-life environment in which fears can be confronted, and adjust to situations beyond their control.

I challenge anyone to do more.