Recently, my mother texted me an article from her local newspaper, The Gettysburg Times, about a local therapeutic riding program in that area. It’s called Shining Stars Therapeutic Riding Program, and according to their website is dedicated to improving the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being of individuals through equine-assisted activities and therapy.
The article featured a story about an autistic boy who is blind. He was able to attend a therapy session at Shining Stars and could touch and ride a horse for the first time in his life. He was visibly elated by this experience, and it was very impactful for everyone involved.
Shining Stars was founded in 2003 as a faith-based ministry and serves around 250 children, adults, seniors, and veterans annually across Adams and York counties.
They offer several programs like Therapeutic Riding, which is designed for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional special needs. The program utilizes the three-dimensional movement of horses to improve posture, balance, core strength, and motor skills while reducing stress and anxiety.
They also have Therapeutic Cart Driving for guests who cannot physically get on a horse. This therapy engages core and upper-body muscles while enhancing hand-eye coordination.
Another program offered is Stars and Stripes for Veterans. This is offered free of charge to active-duty military and veterans to build fellowship, relieve trauma-related stress, rebuild trust, and foster emotional healing through mounted and unmounted horsemanship.
For older adults and seniors, they offer the Silver Stars program. This provides activities focused on older adults and seniors experiencing depression, isolation, or cognitive decline.
And finally, they offer the Equine Connection and Youth Camps.
Shining Stars relies on a fleet of therapeutic horses and over 200 active volunteers annually to deliver individual and small-group sessions.
Shining Stars maintains a dedicated scholarship fund so that no participant is turned away due to an inability to pay.