Programs

Equine Assisted Activities Program

A NARHA certified riding instructor conducts these group lessons where the individuals participate in games and activites while riding their horses. The lessons are recreational in nature and the riders are assisted by a horseleader and sidewalkers which provide an enjoyable social environment.

Basic riding and horsemanship skills are taught throughout the sessions. This program was created to offer pleasure riding for adults and children with disabilities.

Therapy Services Program

The Federal Government has approved our organization to be a Health Care Provider Center where we will provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy services at our facility.

It is our intent to help simplify families' lives by offering therapy services and horseback riding lessons in one inclusive visit. Providing these services at Shining Hope Farms will eliminate the need for multiple appointments during the week as well as driving to several different facility sites by consolidating the sessions. Shining Hope Farms is pleased to be able to offer 'Hippotherapy' to its participants.

Warlick School

Warlick School has partnered with Shining Hope Farm to teach students about giving back to society. The students come to Shining Hope Farm to groom the horses and various other chores. This semester, Ms. Kirkpatrick has offered to teach the students how to ride a horse. After the students learn how to ride the horses, they will begin to help Ms. Kirkpatrick train the horses for the specific clients of Shining Hope Farm who are disabled. This is part of a schoolwide effort to involve every student at Warlick in a service learning project in the Gaston County Community.

Community Service Program

Youth can earn community service awards given by Shining Hope Farms to help them qualify for scholarships that assist with their college tuition.

North Carolina Lions Club Foundation Camp Dogwood

Shining Hope Farms will provide recreational horseback riding to summer campers who attend Camp Dogwood. These campers, who are visually impaired, can visit the farm each of the 12 weeks that camp is in session to paricipate in equestrian activities.

Special Olympics

Competitors who want to represent their counties at the state level in Raleigh come to Shining Hope Farms for training. This past summer 2006, we took 10 equestrians representing Gaston county and won 10 Gold Medals, 5 Sliver Medals, 4 Bronze Medals, and an assorted color of ribbons.