Volunteers from Assistance League of Laguna Beach gathered at the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center to meet and greet Jericho, the horse for which they provided the funding. When they met Jericho, they received a very special and welcome surprise! They learned that their funding not only purchased Jericho, but though some expert negotiating, it also purchased a second horse, Boots. These two new additions were especially appreciated because several horses had to be retired recently because of age.
These horses will provide therapy for physically challenged children, and many of these children receive scholarships from Assistance League for their riding therapy. Equine therapy has been proven to be one of the most effective therapies for physically challenged children making it a natural extension of Assistance League’s Early Intervention Program (EIP) where physically challenged children get physical and occupational therapy from birth to one year or longer.
Funding a horse for physically challenged children was a high priority of Assistance League’s philanthropic committee under chairmanship of Jennifer Paige who is now president of the chapter. This committee got the ball rolling and pursued all the necessary steps to fund a horse, and their efforts were rewarded when they learned they had also funded a second horse.
