SARASOTA-MANATEE ASSOCIATION FOR RIDING THERAPY INC
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Mission Statement
SMART Mission Statement: Enriching the lives of people with special needs through therapeutic horse-related programs. Tagline: “Empowering lives through the healing power of horses.” At SMART, we strive to improve the quality of the lives of our SMART Riders and their families through therapeutic horseback riding, carriage driving and equine assisted activities. Through respectful partnerships with our horses, we create an environment that promotes a life of inclusion, respect, growth and independence.
About This Cause
There is a real need for effective, inexpensive therapeutic activities for individuals with disabilities in our community. SMART served 425 participants and their families from Manatee, Sarasota and surrounding counties in 2014 and we consistently have over 25 individuals on our waiting list. SMART provides the community with a unique and fun place for children and adults with disabilities to be actively engaged in the out-of-doors in a safe, caring, supportive, natural environment. The human-horse connection frequently helps to open psychological doors that otherwise might remain closed. Moreover, in an age where access to health care is severely limited for many, SMART provides a program that improves physical and cognitive functioning in a setting that is enjoyable yet structured -- where goals are set and realized. The nature of SMART as a mostly volunteer-staffed organization allows it to reach even the most destitute of the population, providing services that would otherwise be out of reach. SMART provides these services to all individuals with disabilities regardless of their financial hardships. Over 60% of our current participants require scholarship funding. Individuals who have any type of physical, emotional or cognitive disability are eligible to participate in SMART’s program. Some of the challenges our participants deal with include: cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, Down syndrome, developmental delays, autism, epilepsy, speech impairments, blindness, attention deficit disorder, head trauma, stroke, learning disabilities, physical impairments, post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological or emotional challenges. Individuals must be at least 5 years of age and there is no maximum age. Due to safety reasons, our riding therapy program can only serve individuals who weigh less than 180 lbs. However, we also have a carriage-driving program, which allows individuals who weigh more than 180 lbs. (or use a wheelchair) to safely participate in carriage driving--along with other equine assisted activities. All of the horsemanship skills that are developed during equine assisted activities, therapeutic riding and carriage driving provide the participant with the opportunity to increase physical strength and stamina, improve balance and coordination, improve general health, and achieve a sense of well-being. A respectful and affectionate connection to the horse is encouraged and fostered, and teamwork is promoted between the participant and their horse. Independence is promoted and multi-task learning is encouraged, helping each individual with a disability to achieve daily living skills. With the special needs of our participants in mind, and creative caring on the part of our 5 certified instructors and volunteers, we use the movement of the horse, the connection to the horse and the natural environment to help heal the body, mind and spirit of every SMART participant.