CONOVER, NC – Shining Hope Farms is pleased to announce that it is opening a new location for its therapeutic riding programs in Conover, NC. Community members are invited to attend an open house on Saturday, March 25 to get information about the programs being offered and how they can get involved.
A most generous, anonymous, individual has made the expansion to the Greater Hickory area possible by providing a facility for Shining Hope Farms to operate out of. “We are deeply appreciative for this wonderful opportunity to serve the families in this area that are in need of our services,” states Milinda Kirkpatrick, the Executive Director and co-founder (with her husband) of the organization.
The nonprofit facility will operate both a Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding program for children and adults with disabilities. Their Hippotherapy Program is primarily a pediatric rehabilitative medical service that utilizes equine movement as part of a treatment strategy in physical, occupation, and speech therapy sessions. Conversely, while also therapeutic and goal-oriented in nature, their Therapeutic Riding Program is recreational, rather than a medical service, and is open to both children and adults.
This will be the third Shining Hope Farms’ farm and will join the family of facilities that currently operate in the Charlotte Metro region. The original facility and administrative office opened its doors in Mt. Holly in 2003, and was followed in 2010, by the first satellite location in Charlotte. Together, the two farms currently serve 140+ participants a week in their programs.
As the only accredited organization offering Hippotherapy in the Western Piedmont region of North Carolina, there has always been great demand, with some families traveling over an hour one-way for their weekly session at one of Shining Hope Farms’ locations. The Conover location will open up the opportunity for individuals with special needs and their families in the Hickory-Lenoir-Statesville, Morganton Metro Area to obtain Hippotherapy services in their own backyard.
The facility will also bring a large number of volunteer and learning opportunities to the area. Volunteers with any skill level are welcome, as are students looking for shadowing and intern experiences. Interested individuals can contact Susan Pearce at susanpearce.shf@gmail.com.
Shining Hope Farms will be hosting an open house at their new Conover farm located at 6347 St Peters Church Rd, Conover, NC 28613 on March 25 from 1 PM – 5 PM for all interested members of the community and their families. Interested volunteers, prospective board members, local businesses, prospective clients, and any other community members are welcome to come get information about the programs being offered, meet the staff, take a tour, and learn about how to get involved.
About Shining Hope Farms
Shining Hope Farms is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enable children and adults with disabilities to achieve functional goals through the use of equine assisted activities and Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes. They are a Premier Accredited member of PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) as well as the American Hippotherapy Association, and currently operate sites in Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Catawba Counties. There are 24 horses, 4 miniature ponies, and 29 staff members consisting of occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, PATH certified riding instructors, and administrative staff, plus many wonderful volunteers which make a well-rounded program. For more information call 704-827-3788 or look on the website at www.shininghopefarms.org