trail ride ride-a-thon, therapy riding, handicapped riding, physically handicapped riding programs, mentally handicapped riding programs, emotionally handicapped riding programs, riding programs for the impairedtrail ride ride-a-thon, therapy riding, handicapped riding, physically handicapped riding programs, mentally handicapped riding programs, emotionally handicapped riding programs, riding programs for the impaired

 

 

14th ANNUAL RIDE-A-THON AND CAMP-OUT

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY August 19-21, 2005


The Location: 10 scenic miles of trails at 8808 136th Ave., West Olive, MI (just north of Holland off US31). See below for more details of the event!
 
** click here to get location/driving instructions **

 

 

The Plan: lots of fun, riding (ooh, those saddle-sore bodies!), food, prizes - and much, much more!

 

  

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14th Annual Ride-a-Thon

Our fourteenth annual trail ride Ride-A-Thon will be held FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY August 19-21, 2005, at our scenic location on the DeWitt property in West Olive (betw. Holland and Grand Haven near US 31). This event includes overnight camping both Friday and Saturday nights and a number of fun, family-oriented activities throughout the weekend. Our 2005 Chairperson is Katheryn Goll. She is looking for people to serve on the event committee, so e-mail or call her at (616) 837 6112 ASAP.

Pledge forms are available at tack stores and feed mills, or Download a Pledge Form - Word doc or PDF format.. Corporate and business sponsors are already being sought; contact Patti Emmerson by e-mail or at (616) 457-8378 if your company would like to participate.

Money raised by the event will go to the scholarship fund for nearly 100 adults and children with physical, mental, learning or emotional special needs in Ottawa, Kent and Muskegon Counties. The nationally recognized, non-profit program also offers classes for at risk teens in the area.

Funds will be used also to care for the nearly 30 highly trained horses and ponies used for therapeutic and recreational riding. The program offers a safe haven for several unwanted and donated, retired horses that thrive on the love and attention from the students.

Following the free lunch, Therapeutic Horsemanship will name its Rachael Sugarbaker Memorial Rider of the Year, Joan Clark Memorial Therapy Horse of the Year, Fred E. Wilks Memorial Volunteer of the Year, and the Jessica Stalzer-Tripp Memorial Therapy Horse Service Tribute awards. Plus, adult and child trail riders will compete, through their pledges, for grand prizes on Saturday.

Come join us for a fantastic weekend, at our ride-a-thon/campout Friday, Saturday and Sunday, on the DeWitt property in West Olive. You need not be a rider to experience a fabulous time at this year's event. Camping will be available Friday and Saturday nights, and musical entertainment and dancing will be a part of our festivities on Saturday night. For those non-riders wanting to venture out on the trails, hay wagon rides will be provided through Coach Stop Farm of Zeeland.

Lunch will be provided for participants and volunteers on Saturday, while we celebrate the announcement of our 2004-2005 Therapy Horse, Rider, and Volunteer of the Year. There will be a potluck dinner at 7:00 pm on Saturday, with THWM providing the main course. Breakfast items and COFFEE will be available each morning, while folks should plan to supply their own meals on Friday evening and Sunday noon.

Sound great? Want to know more? Contact Katheryn at (616) 837-6112 to request further information and registration forms. We look forward to a funfilled weekend.

SPONSORS: You can sponsor tables for our euchre tournament, horseshoe stakes and pits, our entertainment stage, or stations on our Trail Buddies course for nominal fees. Event sponsors help us provide t-shirts and prizes to our ride-a-thon riders. Opportunities range from $25 to $500, and your company or group will receive publicity and acknowledgement for every level. Call (616)837-6112 to request price structures and sponsorship availability.

VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS
We need you. Contact us as soon as possible to get in on the ground floor of our plans.

Here's a look at the weekend's plans:

Camping will be available Friday and Saturday nights.
Gates will be secured at night for horse and human safety

Free trail riding will be available on Friday and Sunday afternoons for those camping and participating in the Ride-A-Thon.

Ride-A-Thon registration begins at 9:00 am Saturday.
Guided rides are available at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Open rides all day!

Hay Wagon rides through the trails Saturday provided by Coach Stop Farm.

Lunch and awards presented at noon. (Lunch provided by THWM)

Grand prizes awarded to top money earners in both Adult and Children categories.

Other entertainments including horseshoe pits available!

Pot-luck dinner at 7:00 pm Saturday/
Please bring a dish to pass, THWM will provide the main course.

Musical entertainment Saturday night starting at 8:00 pm.
$5 for those not participating in the Ride-A-Thon.


For more information about the riding program, volunteering, student sponsorships or the Ride-a-Thon, contact (616) 837-6112.