Nestled among the shady oaks, the Delores Barr Weaver Equestrian Center serves as a slice of heaven.
For students, this is a place of peace and serenity. A place to practice and achieve new skills. Our students even take their learned skills on the road. Congratulations to each rider on our Special Olympic Equestrian team
for taking gold at the state championships! Our hearts are filled with admiration and pride for this amazing accomplishment. The therapeutic riding program gives our students a retreat on days when their world may feel overwhelming and challenging.
Horses are strong, graceful, and intuitive, and those are perfect ways of characterizing NFSSE’s five medal-winning therapeutic equines: Penny, Chief, Ranger, Quinn, and Izzy. While learning to ride and care for their horses, a deep connection is made in the arena for our students. A special friendship develops between horse and rider that is pure and genuine. Horseback riding is a sport of grace that helps to strengthen the body, while also serving as a boost
of confidence. For students with intellectual and developmental differences (IDD), a life-changing
transformation takes place on the backs of these gentle giants. The first time students place their
feet in the stirrups and sit up tall always results in big, bright smiles. The glow of achievement
and perseverance on the students’ faces are the reasons NFSSE strives to provide programs like
therapeutic horseback riding to our exceptional community.
Our goal for equine therapy is to enhance confidence, self-awareness, improve
communication skills, and increase trust. This can be witnessed every time you walk through the
doors of our red barn. With a grateful heart, we extend our deepest gratitude to you for your extraordinary support of our school and students as we work to enhance their greatest abilities.
