My son and I were volunteers at the Riding Center during the summer of 2009. My son wanted to do some volunteer work that he could use on his college application. I am a nurse and just wanted to see if the program was being run professionally. Both us had a wonderful experience at the riding center. It was wonderful to see these children that usually had very little reaction to their environment to have great big smiles across their faces and a few of them even laughed out loud which their parents reported was very rare or nonexistent. The therapist at the center has nothing but love for the children. She turns no one down. Her first priority is that each child that needs the therapy gets the therapy. She worries about who is going to pay for the therapy later. That is why the center is so successful. The goal is to help children that can benefit from hippotherapy. I encourage everyone to visit the riding center; you will see angels at work. And the more than likely you will want to be a volunteer.
I have watched a dream unfold as children grow up through their experience on horse back. I've watched as an Autistic young man learned his right from the left, learned how to abstract think and how to have self control. I experienced a severe Cerebral Palsy rider become independent upon horse back and a you woman , that after a swimming accident, with a C3 fracture, becoming totally paralyzed, was able to hold her own head up-could use her arms/wrists to guide her horse and finally ride independent within the arena. The wonders seen here on the Mountain have and will continue to be the closest thing to a miracle I will ever know. Prospect Mountain is a mission set forth by God to all of us that come and experience the healing power found within our old miner's town. Horses are truly a gift to share.
I have heard nothing but good stories coming from the services that Prospect Mountain Therapeutic Riding provides to the children. I can't think of a better organization or way to provide what these children need. I have heard also of other organizations that use a similar format and have had tremendous results for the children. Isn't that what counts?