Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Wappelhorst, John Beck, Molley Sweeney, Chuck Scianna, Mary Elizabeth Wise Sand.
Joe, John, Molley, Chuck, Mary, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Cindy Lindh, a special education teacher and SIRE’s founder, fully understood how horses contribute to improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. Ms. Lindh started the SIRE program in Connecticut in 1974. The program moved with her to Texas in 1983 and served 5 clients with 2 ponies. SIRE incorporated in 1985 and has continued growing since. SIRE now provides equine-assisted activities and therapies to over 285 clients weekly with over 25 horses at 3 sites across the greater Houston area.
For many years, SIRE operated in donated barns and arenas in the northwest Houston area with a second location in Montgomery, Texas. A generous donation by Pat and Bob Toppenberg in 1995 of a 7‐acre site in Hockley gave SIRE a permanent home with a covered arena. In 2000, SIRE and Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Center, located in spring, Texas, merged. Thanks to the generosity of the Humana Foundation and the O’Neill Foundation, a large covered arena was erected in 2007 on the 37-acre spring site. SIRE opened its third site at Sienna Stables in Fort Bend County in 2006. Through a partnership with the State of Texas, this site moved in 2012 to the campus of the Richmond State Supported Living Center (RSSLC). SIRE continued to grow and added 16 acres to the Hockley site in 2013. These three sites enable SIRE to serve more people and in locations convenient to their lives.
SIRE offered its first PATH instructor training class in 2010, using the barn aisle at Hockley as the classroom. SIRE now offers a variety of training and education programs to increase the abilities of instructors locally, and across the globe.
Living with disabilities is often a long, arduous journey. Through SIRE’s programming, thousands of people have experienced increased independence, mobility, confidence, stability, strength, and self-esteem, allowing them to thrive in their daily lives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any non-profit organization there are always ups and downs. SIRE has grown over the years and with growth there are challenges or rather opportunities that one must embrace. With growth comes the need for more horses, maintaining riders, enhancing the budget, increasing volunteers, and adding staff.
For SIRE, we have been blessed with horses throughout the years that have been donated to the program. Our herd consists of 32 horses and is aging. The need for horses is constant. SIRE has very specific criteria and check points for any horse being considered into the program. Once on property, they are placed into a training program that lasts 90 days. During this probation period, the horse(s) is slowly immersed into therapeutic riding activities so that close observation of the their interaction with the herd, reaction to sights, sounds, touches, commands, etc. can be closely monitored. Less than a handful of horses will be accepted.
Other challenges include growing a budget that will maintain scholarships for riders, maintenance and care of the herd, and support SIRE operations. To do this we rely on the generosity of donors. The individuals, corporations, and foundations that have supported SIRE over the years we are forever grateful. As SIRE increases its ridership and reaches further into the greater Houston Community, we look to meet new friends who will support the mission of helping those with special needs.
Finally, SIRE volunteers and staff are the core of what makes SIRE so successful. The man hours and energy devoted to the riders on a daily basis are countless and selfless. Every volunteer is trained and participates in continuing education throughout the year through sessions provided at SIRE. The staff are certified trainers and attend conferences annually to keep up on the latest techniques and applications for serving those with special needs. SIRE is blessed to have the hearts and dedication of so many. Without them we would not be successful.
Please tell us about SIRE- Therapeutic Horsemanship.
SIRE is known throughout the greater Houston community for equine assisted therapy. The mission of SIRE is to improve the quality of life for people with special needs through therapeutic horsemanship activities and therapies, and educational outreach. At SIRE we provide a unique and effective form of therapy that partner’s horse and human. The relationship established between the horse and rider is special and specific to each rider. Each session is strategically designed to meet the needs of the rider. Individuals who participate at SIRE range between 3 years and 55+.
The rationale for equine assisted therapies is that the motion of a horse can provide sensory stimulus and movement patterns that mimic those of natural human activities such as walking. It is this movement that provides the life changing activity for so many of the riders. The positive effects of this therapy is successful for individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities and more. Effects of the therapy are lasting and 99% of the riders say that this level of activity has improved their psychological, physical, cognitive, social or communication abilities.
Contact Info:
- Address: 11211 Katy Freeway, Ste 660
Houston, Texas 77079 - Website: www.sirehouston.org
- Phone: 281-356-7588
- Email: beth@sire-htec.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SIRE.htec/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/22337601/admin/updates/
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