A picture is worth a thousand words. So instead of trying to explain with words what my local therapeutic riding program does, I've decided to show you. So that when I ask you to help keep this program going, you'll know that it's not another plea for a charity that you never see or hear about again. Many of the parents who I know with special kids think of therapeutic riding as essential for their kids as the more traditional speech or physical therapy is. Here is the summarizing statement from our program: "Therapeutic Riding works by involving the rider's body and mind to promote increased self-esteem and confidence, as well as to improve posture, balance, hand-eye coordination and muscle tone. Horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to a human gait, so riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance, and muscular strength. For individuals with mental or emotional challenge