First Annual Benefit Golf Tournament

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:10:56 +0000

Attention all golfers!!

Mark your calendars: Sunday, September 19, 2010 Pioneer Valley Therapeutic Riding Association is holding their first annual Benefit Golf Tournament at the Mill Valley Golf Links in Belchertown, MA. There will be prizes and raffle items to win. The Grand Prize for the Raffle will be a set of Custom Fitted Callaway Diablo Golf Clubs. Steve Lewis Subaru of Northampton has donated a brand new Subaru to be given away for a hole in one. If you are a golfer, be sure to get your team registered as soon as possible. If you used to be a golfer, dust off your golf clubs to join us for a fun day that will benefit Pioneer Valley Therapeutic Riding Association. Registration is limited to the first 30 teams!

The tournament will start at noon with a registration fee of $85.00 per golfer. Each team will receive 18 holes of golf, the use of two golf carts, a snack after the first 9 holes, dinner and the chance to win some great prizes. We will have a money hole, and the opportunity to purchase strings, Birdies and Mulligans. Bring your non-golfing friends to enjoy dinner with us for just $35.00 per person.

For anyone who just wants to support the program, we are accepting donations of raffle prizes with a number of sponsorship packages still available. Please contact Michele Mesheau at mmesheau@aol.com for further information and registration.

Fun Day at PVTRA Second Annual Spring Benefit Horse Show

admin — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 03:09:38 +0000

The Pioneer Valley Therapeutic Riding Association held its Second Annual Spring Benefit Horse Show on Saturday, May 22, 2010. Muddy Brook Farm in Amherst, MA hosted the event. The exciting day was a huge success earning over $7,500 for the support and future of the program. Hunter / Jumper competitors had a great time and took home tons of prizes generously donated by our sponsors. While the day was filled with competition, there was also a raffle table and food booth with proceeds directly benefiting the program.

Longtime PVTRA Donor and Volunteer, Betty Innocent presents Emma Lee and Vanilla Bean the Walk/Trot Division Championship

We would like to congratulate our division champions, who walked away with a Hoof-It Technologies Grooming Box. The Adult Walk/Trot/Canter division was won by Kendra Clarke aboard Sunny B Boy, and the Children’s Walk/Trot/Canter champion was Hannah Pommerantz riding Iama Smart Freekelena. The Adult/Children’s combined Walk/Trot division champion was Emma Lee and pony, Vanilla Bean. The Leadline division was a very tight race between Grace Lee aboard Jennie and Madison Sullivan aboard Her Brave Horse Lightening, ending with a co-championship.

Leadline Co-Champion Grace Lee and Muddy Brook Farm's Jennie

Emily Woodford and Shezaperpetualsurprise took home the tri-color in the Walk/Trot Groundpoles division. The popular Walk/Trot/Canter Crossrails division concluded with two champions, Sarah Etzel riding Cloud and Nora Gallo riding Elliot. Etzel was also awarded the Massachusetts Horse Junior Horsemanship Award and prize later in the afternoon. The Adult Rider 2’divison champion was Samantha Cole and mount Bosco. Laura Perry rode Diamond to the championship in the Children’s 2’division. The Hoof-it Technologies Grooming Box is available for purchase online at Hoof-it.com, with $4 from every box going to the PVTRA through the month of June.

We would like to thank our sponsors for their overwhelming support of us and we look forward to next year’s show.

Amherst Farmers Supply
Atkins Farm Country Market
Barry and Susan Roberts
Bart’s Ice Cream
Benbow’s Coffee Roasters
Big Y World Class Market
Bill and Betty Innocent
Blair, Cutting and Smith
Bonnie Miller and CADO Farm
COSTCO
Dave’s Soda and Pet City
Dion Tack
Eastern Mountain Sports
Hadley Garden Center
Hoof-It Technologies
Ira Hare
JonTurati, Farrier
The Leo Walsh Foundation
Leora Barry, L.M.T.
The Likeover- deWolski Family
Massachusetts Horse Magazine
Michael & Diane Ellis
Mike Kirwan
Muddy Brook Farm
Northampton Cooperative Bank
Northern Creek Farm
Pepsi
South Deerfield Veterinary Clinic
Stanley Rosenberg and Brian Hefner
Starbucks Coffee
Stop & Shop of Belchertown
Stop & Shop of Hadley
Teresa Fischer
The Skin Salon
Therapeutic Systems
Trader Joe’s
Valley Vet Supply
W.F. Young, Inc
Water, Earth and Flowers
WEBS America’s Yarn Store
Whole Foods Market

-Gillian Ellis

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:22:16 +0000

Thank you to everyone who came, competed and volunteered. The show was hugely successful and we hope everyone had a great time

Photos from the show photographer can be found at http://nkgphoto.com.

The Spring Benefit Horse Show

admin — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:22:40 +0000

The Annual Spring Benefit Horse Show will be held on Saturday, May 22nd this year. It’s going to be a fun-filled day of horse showing for riders and spectators alike. The fun will continue into the afternoon with food and a raffle. For more information, including class lists, entry forms, and sponsorship opportunities, please see our Events page.

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:52:36 +0000

What is therapeutic riding?

Therapeutic riding improves the lives of individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to the human gait that challenges the rider to use his/her core muscles that helps to improve flexibility, balance and muscle strength. The unique relationship formed with the horse and the process of mastering equestrian skills lead to increased confidence, patience, self-esteem and independence.

Who can benefit from therapeutic riding?

People with the following conditions may benefit from therapeutic riding:

Muscular Dystrophy	Cerebral Palsy	Visual Impairment	Down Syndrome
Mental Retardation	Brain Injuries	Spina Bifida	Multiple Sclerosis
Spinal Cord Injuries	Amputation	Deafness	Stroke
Caridovascular Accident	Autism Spectrum Disorder	Attention Deficit Disorder

About Us:

PVTRA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been providing horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities since 1984. PVTRA offers lessons at Wild Barry Ridge Farm in Belchertown, MA.Lessons are taught by NARHA certified and Massachusetts licensed instructors who are trained to meet the special needs of the riders. Our volunteers are trained to safely assist when needed as sidewalkers or as horse leaders. PVTRA also provides guidance to those interested in becoming therapeutic riding instructors or in starting their own program.