Shannon Personeni rescues the horses and they rescue us. Photo courtesy of Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation, one of Northern California’s leading adaptive riding programs for people with developmental disabilities, has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to sustain its operations.  

The program draws students from throughout Northern California, especially Sacramento County, Yolo County and surrounding counties.

According to Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation (T.R.O.T.R.) board President Shannon Johnson Personeni, the Woodland-based nonprofit organization is facing unprecedented financial strain, due to rising costs for insurance, staffing, facility upkeep and animal care.

India and Mr. B share a moment. Two hearts. One healing moment. Photo courtesy of Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation

“Despite cutting non-essential expenses and stretching every dollar, we have been forced to release over 60% of our instructors, eliminate more than half of our weekly program hours and turn away nearly 75% of our riding students,” Personeni said. “Just to stabilize our core operations and prevent further losses, we must raise at least $45,000 by Dec. 1.” 

Personeni, who founded Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation in 2005, is a certified therapeutic riding instructor and an equine specialist in mental health and learning, accredited through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.

“Demand for our services has been growing at an astonishing rate,” Personeni said. “We typically have several hundred people on our waiting list.  The lives of these children and adults could be transformed by the therapeutic power of horses if we can remain open to serve them.” 

Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation combines recreational riding instruction with principles of physical, occupational and social-emotional therapy. It serves students with conditions such as autism, attention-deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), brain and spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and learning challenges, as well as mental, emotional, visual and hearing impairments. 

Instructor Debbie and Leo tack up Cindy Lu for a lesson. Photo courtesy of Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation

“A horse’s stride mimics the human gait, which stimulates the rider’s physical and cognitive development,” Personeni said. “This gentle, rhythmic motion enhances balance, muscle control, coordination, posture and body awareness. By interacting with their horses, riders also learn trust, patience and self-control while developing communication and social skills.” 

In addition to serving riders with disabilities, Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation operates a rehabilitation program for horses off the racetrack. Many of these horses arrive after neglect, abandonment or career- ending injuries. “With training, care and compassion, they become part of our adaptive riding program or are placed in loving permanent homes,” Personeni said.  

Community members, businesses and foundations are encouraged to contribute to this urgent effort by donating at https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-trotr-alive or contacting Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation at [email protected].