Community helps repair fences for therapeutic riding program

Published: Monday, March 30, 2015 at 10:32 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 30, 2015 at 10:32 p.m.

Students at Hillcrest School can again safely participate in therapeutic horseback riding programs after several community leaders and businesses came together to finance the repair of aging fences at the program site.

Nine months ago, Marion Therapeutic Riding Association officials announced that the agency was in a funding crisis and needed about $40,000 to operate the program and another $15,000 to repair the facility behind the school at 3143 SE 17th St., especially the fencing, which was in dire need of new posts, boards and gates.

Hillcrest is a public school for students with severe mental and physical disabilities. The MTRA program gives riding lessons to the students, some of whom have never walked, and officials say each childs transformation is almost immediate, with many of them coming out of their shell for the first time.

The organization has provided therapeutic horseback riding lessons to Hillcrest students at no charge to the school system for more than 30 years.

The MTRA facility is a PATH International Premier Accredited Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center, meaning the 2,200 feet of fencing must meet PATH guidelines.

By late summer, MTRA had raised $40,000 to cover expenses to operate the program through the 2014-15 school year, but desperately needed the $15,000 to repair the fencing.

The fences at Hillcrest were falling down, said Vinson Willits, a member of the board of directors. If not repaired, it wouldnt be safe to conduct classes.

Willits said the materials for the repairs would cost thousands of dollars, and the specialized equipment needed and labor hours would be extra costs.

Tony Mendola, president and principal owner of Oxford Downs Race Track in Summerfield, heard about MTRAs problems and offered the organization his credit line at Sparr Building & Farm Supply.

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Community helps repair fences for therapeutic riding program