The Ability to WIN

Partners for Progress NFP, (PFP) is proud to announce that once again their riders brought home championship and win titles. What is most exceptional is that all the riders that make up the PFP Traveling Show Team are young adults with disabilities; some cognitive, some physical, some both. During the month of October, the PFP National Traveling Show Team competed at the All American Quarter Horse Congress that offers Equestrians with Disability Classes through the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) organizations in Ohio. The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the world's largest single-breed horse show, with over 23,000 participant riders. The show attracts over 600,000 attendees to the Columbus Ohio area.

For the PFP riders, competing brings levels of challenge and achievement that cannot be matched. The riders must utilize skills many of us take for granted, like the ability to control one-self with in an environment, team building, social interaction, independence, motor skills, and patience. These skills are improved not only through competing but through the week-long travel as well. An added benefit is the friendships and camaraderie that are forged at these shows that many of the riders have never experienced in everyday life.

A total of 6 riders competed from PFP over a week. “When the first Equestrians with Disability Classes were offered around 2008, there were at most 5-6 riders with disabilities competing from a few states. Now, there are as many as 30 riders in some classes from all over the United States. For PFP to take home grand champion wins as well as so many other wins is quite an accomplishment” according to Diane Helgeland, Executive Director at Partners for Progress.

Team PFP came home with 3 Grand Champion Congress Wins, 2 Reserve Champion Congress Wins, 1 Third Place Win, 3 Fifth Place Wins, 1 Sixth Place Win, 3 Seventh Place Wins, 3 Eighth Place Wins, 1 Tenth Place Win, 1 Eleventh Place Win, 3 Twelfth Place Wins, 2 Thirteenth Place Wins, and 1 Fourteenth Place Win among both Independent and Supported Riders.

The Congress show is also judged through the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA). Team PFP earned 2 First Place NSBA Wins, 4 Second Place NSBA Wins, 2 Third Place NSBA Wins, 1 Fourth Place Win, 5 Fifth Place Wins, 3 Sixth Place Wins, 4 Seventh Place Wins, 1 Eighth Place Win, 1 Ninth Place Win, and 1 Eleventh Place Win. These wins were in both the Independent and Supported Riders categories.

Partners for Progress is a therapeutic riding stable located in Wauconda, Illinois. Through their goal-based therapy they help children as young as 3-months old to seniors 80-years old and every age in between. The therapy they offer is customized to each individual based on their specific needs and goals.

“We could not be more grateful to our fans, donors, sponsors, competitors, and volunteers for their support throughout the show season and throughout the year” said Helgeland.