| Dear Friends,
Let me tell you about an organization that I am very excited about and thought you should know it, too!
As we all know, something truly magic happens when human and horse connect. This is particularly true when either the human or the horse is challenged in some way.
Equestrian Connection is a not-for-profit organization located just a few miles from your doorstep in unincorporated Lake Forest. It is dedicated to riders with special needs by providing individualized therapy programs designed to help increase mobility, strength, balance and flexibility and to improve sensory processing, focus and concentration, as well as to develop horsemanship skills. Equestrian Connection riders face challenges including physical and cognitive disabilities, behavioral and emotional impediments, attention and sensory disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Autism Spectrum Disorders among others. Their challenges range from moderate to profound.
Many Equestrian Connection riders are otherwise wheelchair bound and, at one time, couldn’t even dream of riding horses. But rather than sitting on the sidelines watching siblings, classmates and the rest of the world live life fully, these brave riders come to the Equestrian Connection and join in. With every ride, they experience victory by confronting their varied disabilities and by defying expectations not to mention improving their well-being both physically and mentally.To view a video of the their center and therapy visit their website at www.equestrianconnection.org.
Equestrian Connection doesn’t only use horses to help humans, it also helps give old forgotten horses a purpose and a new life. One of its horses, Cooper, was a retired racehorse who would have gone on to pastures beyond, but the Equestrian Connection has literally given him a new lease on life. Now, Cooper senses the needs of his riders and gives them a patient, gentle back to ride.
With an exceptional staff of nine therapists and six riding instructors certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), Equestrian Connection currently serves over 200 riders from Chicago to Kenosha. The cost of this unique therapy is $3600 per rider per year; it is rarely
covered by insurance and when it is, only a fraction is reimbursed. In addition to a nominal fee per rider, Equestrian Connection relies upon private donations, grants and gifts to assist riders and their families whose finances are already heavily burdened. Won’t you help? This year funds are needed to sponsor special needs children to Equestrian Connection whose families have been hit particularly hard by the current economic situation. Rather than giving gifts to your family, friends and business associates, consider giving a gift in their honor to a child with special needs! You can make your holiday gift giving easier, avoid gifts that are frequently tossed out shortly after the wrapping paper, and help provide riding therapy and a lifetime of feeling victorious and proud to a child who will always cherish it! Please adopt an Equestrian Connection rider!
This holiday season, please don’t deny these riders the opportunity to prove they can do what most people would never expect them to be able to do. Help them triumph! Help them get out of their wheelchairs and onto their horses!
Wishing you a very happy holiday season and sincerely hope that you will help make this a memorable one for a special Equestrian Connection rider and horse. | 
