Welcome to Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center, a member of the
North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. At Morning Dove
we have come to appreciate the incredible effect horses have on
individuals and the therapeutic benefits they have to offer those in
need. Having created several partnerships in the community, Morning
Dove is proud to offer several programs to meet the individual needs of
children and adults with physical and emotional disabilities, as well
as, at-risk youth. Through a partnership with St. Vincent Hospital, we
are also able to offer hippotherapy, a program for children that uses
the horse to facilitate outpatient therapy in a fun and safe
environment.
With
continued growth, we at Morning Dove know that succeeding tomorrow
requires planning and preparation today. Morning Dove’s rapid
growth has required us to re-evaluate the current facilities and begin
steps to ensure the future of our clients’ needs. Morning Dove is
now working to create the facility necessary to meet these needs.
Through fundraising activities and the generosity of the community, we
know that we will soon be able to meet this goal. On behalf of the
students and staff of Morning Dove, thank you for your support.
Jan Helsper
Executive Director
Morning Dove
is an incorporated, non-profit organization started in 1998. We believe
that no one can do everything but everyone can do something. Our goal
is to be able to provide services to anyone who needs them. We offer
therapeutic riding, hippotherapy and mental health programs. Our
facility is currently located in Zionsville conveniently off of I-65
and exit 334.
* Classes are offered weekdays and
Saturdays running in 8-10 week sessions. Each group class is 45 minutes
and private lessons are 30 minutes long. Classes are structured based
on the needs of the rider.
* Our instructors are certified through the North American
Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and are trained in
established therapeutic riding techniques, CPR, safety standards, and
first aid. It is our goal to provide professional development
opportunities for our instructors so they can ensure the highest
quality and most innovative therapeutic experience for our riders.
* The volunteers at Morning Dove go through an initial
orientation as well as ongoing training. They assist in horse handling,
sidewalking, preparing for lessons and the care of our horses. We also
utilize volunteers to help with fundraisers and administrative work
matching their personal skills.
We
value the skills and experience our volunteers bring to Morning Dove
and offer opportunities to continue expanding that knowledge base.
Volunteer trainings and public workshops are held regularly to
keep up with the demand. Check out our calendar for upcoming dates.
* Public programs are also available at Morning Dove. We offer a
variety of public programming including open houses, special speakers
and clinics by established professionals from equine and education
fields. Check our calendar for new offerings or contact us for more
information. Our staff is also available to speak to your group about
what we do at Morning Dove. Ask about badge workshops for your Boy and
Girl Scout troops!
Individuals with the following disabilities often participate in therapeutic riding:
* Autism, Mental Retardation, Emotional Disabilities, Muscular
Dystrophy, Brain Injuries, Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit
Disorder.
The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding include:
*Relaxing tight muscles
*Improving posture and balance
*Increasing flexibility
*Decreasing muscular atrophy
*Increasing muscle strength
*Elevating cardiovascular and pulmonary output
*Improving joint and muscle function
*Enriching self-esteem and confidence
*Increasing self-awareness
*Developing proprioception and sensory motor skills
*Improving social skills and overall quality of life.
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