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WASHINGTON - It's no secret that animals hold a special power to heal and to calm. From PTSD affected veterans to people who suffer from debilitating conditions, therapeutic animals can yield remarkable results and one Virginia riding program is seeing those results firsthand.
Loudoun Therapeutic Riding at Morven Park is working to Pay It Forward for veterans and people with disabilities.
"It was the first time I'd ever been on a horse or even near a horse except when I was little, except for pony rides," Judy, a program participant said about her sessions. "It was very scary for me until I got on the horse. I felt right at home. It does a lot of good for people like me. I have cerebral palsy and I lose my balance a lot and this riding has helped me with my balance."
Susan Koehler the executive director says Loudoun Therapeutic Riding is making a tremendous impact for its participant.
"For 44 years Loudoun Therapeutic Riding has been working with individuals who live with physical challenges, cognitive challenges and emotional challenges by pairing them with a horse," Koehler explained. "We have a wonderful herd of 14 horses that work with more than 100 people each week who are ages 4 to our oldest rider who is 88."
FOX 5 and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up to help Loudoun Therapeutic Riding continue to Pay It Forward to the community.
Joel Bassam from Easterns Automotive Group presented Loudoun Therapeutic Riding with a $2,000 check to help fund their 2018 Ride-A-Thon event.
To learn more about Loudoun Therapeutic Riding, click here.
If you know someone who should be featured on Pay It Forward, you can nominate them here. In your email, be sure to include who they are and why they deserve to be recognized.