As fall quickly approaches and horse-riding weather reaches its prime, Ride On Center for Kids (R.O.C.K.) – a Georgetown-based nonprofit providing therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy for individuals with cognitive and physical challenges – held their annual Horseshoe Club Fall Party. Horseshoe Club members adopt horses for a monthly or annual fee, providing daily care for horses in order to continue their life-changing services.
Horseshoe Club members are committed to fully funding the care and feeding of R.O.C.K.’s horses in support of the R.O.C.K. mission – to improve life skills in partnership with the horses. By providing funding for the horses’ expenses, R.O.C.K. is then able to provide scholarships to families in need of financial assistance for R.O.C.K. services. R.O.C.K. currently houses 26 horses, which requires a large amount of financial assistance. With the average cost of one horse estimated to be approximately $3,600 annually, R.O.C.K.’s total expenses equate to over $90,000 per year. The Horseshoe Club is a key factor to R.O.C.K.’s success.
The fall Horseshoe Club party aimed to find sponsors who make the financial commitment to keep the horses happy, healthy and able to provide services to R.O.C.K. participants. Ranging from $50 to $300 per month, sponsors supplement a horse’s care and feeding and have the opportunity to meet, pet and build a personal relationship with their sponsored horse.
