MANSFIELD, Ohio – Two different groups of riders came together for a good cause on Monday afternoon: the American Legion Riders of Post 88 in Ashland and the student riders at the Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Mansfield.
Allen Wright and Barry Foster of the American Legion Riders traded their “iron ponies” for real ponies on Monday when they presented a check for $1,150 to Tara Corrigan, Director of Operations at Raemelton. The proceeds come from the Legion’s annual spaghetti dinner and charity auction fundraiser, with the goal of raising proceeds to charities focused on veterans’ services.
“Since we’re a veterans’ organization we like to gear things towards veterans,” explained Foster. “This year because Allen’s granddaughter is involved in Raemelton we decided to split the proceeds between Raemelton and the Veteran’s Service Administration in Ashland County.”
Wright has a special connection to Raemelton in the form of his 14-year-old granddaughter Samantha, who has been riding at the equestrian center for the past seven years. Wright said Samantha has even competed on behalf of Raemelton in Special Olympics equestrian events in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
“It’s really helped her to give her an activity that she can look forward to,” said Wright.
A total of $2,300 was raised at the spaghetti dinner and charity auction; Foster explained the Veteran’s Service Administration would distribute their proceeds in the form of gift cards for gasoline or groceries as needed. At Raemelton, the proceeds will go towards a special veterans program called “Hooves for Heroes.”
The Hooves for Heroes program has been in existence since 2012 and serves veterans and their families through therapeutic riding and groundwork programs. Corrigan stated the program provides therapeutic riding, therapeutic carriage riding, equine-facilitated learning and equine psychotherapy.
“It’s for active, inactive and retired veterans and their families,” she said. “When we started it our research showed that if you can serve the whole family it’s more beneficial, so if the parents aren’t really interested in riding a lot of times they’re interested in having their children ride, or one spouse or the other will participate.”
Corrigan also highlighted Raemelton’s new Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, an equine-assisted psychotherapy program in partnership with the Veterans Administration in Mansfield that serves as an expansion of the Hooves for Heroes program.
“This donation will sponsor three new riders,” said Corrigan. “We’re so very appreciative.”
