Camp HorseAbility, Inc.

I was ready.
My second or third week of volunteering as a sidewalker at Horseability.
I was standing aside the horse as staff members and aides to a 13 year old autistic boy,tried to convince
him to mount the horse.
He was very resistant but with the professional coaxing from both teams,he finally agreed.
After about 5 minutes on the horse,I notice that Matthew's composure has changed. He's totally relaxed,smiling,etc.
"Wow" I said to myself....very impressive.....he didn't want to try,but he did and now he's happy!
However, my biggest surprise was yet to come.
Matthew's ride is complete but he doesn't want to get off.
He gets off. I'm holding his hand as we are about to exit the corral and then he starts pulling me back towards the horse.....he wants to get back on!
You had to be there!
Great day!

i am a 33 year old man with autism. and i ride and volunteer at horseability. i have been there for 13 years. i love being there. they have great riding and camp programs. i like helping at the camp. all of the people at the farm are nice. i like talking to them. all of the horses are wonderful. i do the show series.

HorseAbility impacts the lives of everyone involved, and definitely deserves to be noticed. As a volunteer, the best part of my week is coming to the barn. When I first started volunteering, I didn't have any experience with horses. All I knew was that I really loved what HorseAbility was doing and wanted to be a part of it. The staff and other volunteers were so welcoming, and showed me everything I needed to know and how to care for their horses. It was a great experience, and it showed me how special the bond between a horse and human really is.

HorseAbility is a great place to volunteer no matter what your horse experience is, The staff will teach you how to care for our horses and riders. In 2011 I started volunteering my time after hearing about it from a friend that I had recently made and when I went to the property and watched the volunteers work with the kids I knew that I wanted to start right away. It is now 2014 and I've been volunteering for 4 almost 5 years, in the time that's past I've worked with many kids that hold a special place in my heart and have worked with some amazing animals. The staff that I work closly with have become part of my family and can talk to them about anything. Horseability has opened my eyes to an amazing world. I have been influenced and plan on starting the process to recieve my PATH certification in 4 weeks and continue my work with HorseAbility

When I retired from being a NYC teacher after 37 years, I wondered what I could do that would be as rewarding. Volunteering at Horseability is it! No matter what my mood is when I arrive to volunteer, I am bound to be uplifted when I see the miracles that take place. Children and adults with a variety of disabilities from MS to CP to Down's Syndrome and more end up smiling and bonding with another creature and finding out how much they CAN do instead of what they can't! It is truly a Win, Win Win place. Older horses are saved and given love and a new career; volunteers find a purpose and clients get a new lease on life!

I volunteer during the year on Saturday mornings and for our camp Horseability for the one week in august. I love waking up early on a Saturday morning. Everyone is so nice and friendly there. I love seeing the kids happy faces when they are in a lesson, and seeing how much fun they are having really brings a smile to your face. If your having a bad day you can just go there and you instantly feel so much better. I started many years ago to many to count. There is no place I rather be then to be volunteering for such a great cause.

Horsability is a wonderful place. All the other volunteers and the directors were very sweet and helpful to me as it was my first summer volunteering there. The horses are so adorable and very well kept. It was a very eye-opening and overall amazing experience and I definitely plan to volunteer again in the near future.