Turning Point Ranch Sets Sunday Dinner for Horses
Sit down to Sunday dinner with some special horses on April 29th and you can support Payne County’s only therapeutic riding center. Turning Point Ranch Therapeutic Riding is celebrating its second annual fundraiser with a chicken dinner, auction and riding demonstrations at the Wes Watkins Center on the OSU campus. The event will feature an array of LIVE and silent auction items plus opportunities for pictures with OSU’s Bullet.
Turning Point puts proceeds from the fundraiser to work serving children and adults facing physical, mental and emotional challenges in Payne County through therapeutic horsemanship. Riders from ages 3 to 25, assisted by volunteer leaders and sidewalkers, participate in weekly sessions at Turning Point to gain riding skills, improve balance and muscle control, broaden social and verbal skills and challenge themselves to meet higher and higher goals.
Last year’s fundraiser enabled the program to purchase a mobile mounting ramp that helps riders get on their horses in a way that’s safer and easier on the horses backs. Turning Point also purchased a set of folding bleachers so parents and other observers can cheer on rider accomplishments and the riders have a safe place to wait before mounting. The program has added a wireless sound system to help students hear and focus on directions. And board members have participated in several workdays to renovate the Turning Point tack and game rooms. An ADA compliant toilet has been added to the activity area and the program has supported six individuals in training to become certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship.
“We have waiting lists for all our sessions and we were able to take 18 riders to Oklahoma Equestrian Special Olympics for the first time,” says Board President Dee Miller. “Our riders blew everyone away! They performed horsemanship skills from trail to showmanship that no one expected and came away with nearly 30 medals.”
Another big benefit of last year’s fundraiser was the “auction” for the care Bucky, Chiquita, Snick and Tolly. This year, Bucky, Chiquita and Snick will return to demonstrate elements of therapeutic riding and they will be joined by Buck and George.
“With hay prices this year, and the fact that our horses are getting older, the support from last year’s fundraiser made a HUGE difference in our ability to operate and keep our herd healthy. We’ve been able to add a few horses on long term loan that let us rotate horses for sessions now,” says Miller
“Without the community support of time from our volunteers and donations from those who attend our fundraiser, we wouldn’t be able to provide this amazing service,” says Miller. “We say we see miracles every session when a rider remembers a challenging reining move or correctly names a part of a horse or giggles at making a basket. Our parents and teachers see amazing progress and believe our horses are difference makers.”
Auction items for this year’s fundraiser include a Spa Weekend at the Canebrake, a Wyoming Lodge Vacation, a Weeden-Blackmon signed football, hand-crafted furniture and many more unique listings. Guests will be treated to demonstrations by the Turning Point horses and riders and OSU’s Spirit Horse, Bullet will be on hand for pictures.
Tickets to the fundraiser are $15 per person in advance for the Chicken Dinner catered by Freddie Pauls. They will be $20 at the door. The event runs from noon to 2:00 at the Wes Watkins Center on Sunday, April 29. Tickets can be purchased at any BancFirst location, Stillwater National Bank downtown, Stillwater Milling, Alan’s Pharmacy or The Territory or by e-mailing volunteer@turningpointriding.com.
This spotlight is sponsored by Trails End
Stillwater’s new rental community designed for horse owners.
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