FAQ
HAPPY TRAILS RIDING ACADEMY FACT SHEET:
updated 12/08
Happy Trails Riding Academy (HTRA) was founded in 1983 by T.J. Barreiro and has been in operation since 1984. HTRA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, Federal ID # 94-2882855. As Happy Trails Riding Academy launches into its 26th year, we hold true to our mission, a nonprofit program that enriches the lives of children and adults with physical, cognitive and psychological disabilities through equine facilitated therapy.
HTRA has been a Premier Accredited Riding Center with The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc. (NARHA) since January 1997. Happy Trails is the ONLY Premier Therapeutic Riding Center accredited by NARHA in the San Joaquin Valley between Bakersfield and Modesto.
In March 2002, HTRA bought a 25-acre parcel of land at 2773 E. Oakdale (approx. 1000 ft. east of Mooney Blvd.) in Tulare. In 2005, we completed Phase I of our property development and began classes for the first time on our own property. In 2006 we had almost 100 riders in our program, including 31 new riders from our waiting list. In 2007, we had 107 riders, adding 30 more from the waiting list. In 2008, we continued our program with 45 to 50 riders per session, and added 23 new riders to our classes. 2008 will forever be known as “The Year of the Sensory Trail”. Kiwanis Division 18 did an incredible job on the Sensory Trail. We will incorporate using the Trail in our classes. We are looking forward to increasing our classes and number of participants in 2009. We will also continue working on Phase II, which includes covering our arena and building a hay barn.
HTRA serves riders from Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties. We serve riders from Lemoore, Hanford, Avenal, Visalia, Tulare, Exeter, Porterville, Lindsay, Dinuba, Orosi and Fresno. We assist riders with cerebral palsy, ADD, ADHD, head trauma/brain injury, sight/hearing impaired, developmentally disabled, autism, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc. The horse’s body moves the rider’s body like it is walking. No piece of gym equipment can replicate this three-dimensional motion. Benefits from therapeutic riding: increased balance, strength and flexibility, increased ability to process information, improved language and communication skills, and increased independence and self-confidence.
One of the great things about having our own property is having room to grow. We would like to increase the number of students we serve and make year round therapeutic horsemanship a possibility. Just as important is maintaining quality and advancing our curriculum. We average between 40 - 50 riders per session. Each class typically contains 3 - 5 riders and lasts approximately one hour. In the past fifteen years, our rider base has grown from nine to over 100. We have a waiting list for all sessions. Our youngest rider is 3 years old and our oldest is 65+. Ninety percent of our riders are children under the age of 18. Program Director, Lisa Cotta-Meek, has served as lead riding instructor since 1995. Lisa is a certified NARHA Advanced Riding Instructor. A core of approximately 50 volunteers assist during classes each week, filling 90 volunteer slots that must be filled every week. Many volunteers assist in 2 - 3 classes per week with most riders requiring at least one volunteer. Beginning riders and riders with severe physical challenges require 3 volunteers.
HTRA has 16 horses that are also kind and noble volunteers in the program. They range from ages 6 - 25 (that’s 18 - 75 to you and me). They receive love and care from Lisa Cotta-Meek, and many other dedicated volunteers. Horses receive a minimum of 60 days training before a rider is ever mounted on them.
HTRA operates with an annual budget of approximately $200,000. We are a United Way of Tulare and Kings County affiliated agency. We charge $150.00 per six-week session for group riding lessons and $180.00 per six-week session for hippotherapy. This amount is less than one third of the cost. Funding for many of our riders comes from Central Valley Regional Center. We welcome donations from the community and hold several fund-raising events each year.
Happy Trails to you . . . . . . .
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