New Arenas, New Hope: How a $7,978 Grant Helped Ride Above Disability Welcome 10 New Students
At the Poway Community Foundation, we love seeing a single grant create ripple effects across an entire program. That's exactly what happened with our $7,978 grant to Ride Above Disability, supporting upgrades that expanded the organization's capacity and deepened the impact of a horse the Foundation funded just one year earlier.
Thanks to this funding, Ride Above Disability installed fencing for two arenas and panels for two horse stalls, and provided food and medical care for Remy, the horse the Foundation helped bring to the program last year. These upgrades allowed the organization to add 10 new students to its programs.
The outcomes so far are meaningful:
Fencing installed for two full arenas, expanding safe riding space.
Panels added for two horse stalls, increasing housing capacity for therapy horses.
Food and medical care provided for Remy, supporting his long-term health and ability to serve students.
10 new students added to Ride Above Disability's programs.
One story stands out as a powerful example of what this growth makes possible. Jeremy, a student with Cerebral Palsy, has been riding with Ride Above Disability for a little over three months, working closely with Remy. When he first started, the team developed a strategic approach just to get him comfortable in the saddle. Lessons were kept to about 20 minutes while he built the strength, stamina, and core muscles needed to sit on the horse longer. He held onto the saddle horn the entire time and used one hand at a time to stop his horse. Stirrups weren't an option at first, since his legs tended to slip too far back.
Today, Jeremy rides for the full 30 minutes. He sits up tall, uses stirrups to help with his balance, and can trail walk and fast walk with confidence. His posture and strength have both improved. He no longer needs to hold onto the saddle horn, uses both hands to pull back and stop his horse, leans forward far less, and keeps his legs in a more natural position. It's a remarkable transformation in a short period of time, and a clear example of what consistent care, the right horse, and the right program can do.
At Poway Community Foundation, we are proud to support organizations like Ride Above Disability, where every fence post, stall panel, and moment of care adds up to changed lives right here in Poway.
