1) Program Giving
Program Giving supports the program as a whole. The day to day operations of WHOA, such as facilities, insurance, general administration, all the way down to postage stamps. These basic needs of the program are necessary for the successful running of the program. Continuing education and training new PATH Certified Instructors will also be included within this donation category. This training allows our instructors to stay current within the field and learn new things pertaining to therapeutic riding.
2) Scholarships
Scholarship giving will go toward students being given the opportunity to ride regardless of economic status. Any amount can be given towards the scholarship fund. Our students rely on scholarships because they will not be turned away due to economic hardship. Classes are held in the Spring, Summer, & Fall. Each class costs $40 & lasts approximately an hour. The Spring session is 4 weeks & costs $160.00, Summer & Fall sessions are 6 weeks & costs $240, therefore, all three sessions costs $640.00. Private 1/2 hour mounted lessons are also available, which cost $30 per lesson & private 1/2 hour unmounted lessons which cost $20 per lesson.
Scholarships Eligibility
With our commitment to accepting participants into our program based on therapeutic need, regardless of financial means, we offer scholarship assistance to those unable to pay the established fees. Scholarships (in full or in the form of adjusted fees) are rewarded through a simple application process. Scholarship eligibility is based on the most current Federal Poverty Guidelines. An application must be completed one month before the beginning of each riding session. This ensures the scholarship committee to have enough time to evaluate each request. Scholarships are awarded at the beginning of each riding session on a first come, first serve basis. Funding will be provided as long as there are adequate funds available and that scholarship qualifications are met. All information accompanying this request is confidential.
3) Bucket Fund: Horse care & adoption
Horse care and adoption donations will go towards giving quality care to the Whoa horses. Any fund amounts will go towards feed, bedding, veterinarian care, other health care necessities, farrier, and board.
Wish List / In-kind contributions
- Projector & Screen (laptop compatible)
- hay, grain, bedding
- tack
- veterinarian care, farrier, chiropractic care
- gift cards to Walmart, Farm and Fleet, lumber companies, tack stores, Staples (office supplies)
- fly spray, salt & mineral blocks, bottled water
- Stall mats for the horse barn
The following is a letter from one of our student’s parents explaining what WHOA means to her child & her family-
To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to tell you about the WHOA Program and the impact it has on the students it serves.
I have two children who have participated in the program. One of my children has participated
in WHOA since she was 4 years old she will be 11 this spring and my other child participated in the
program for several years.
Our daughter began in the WHOA program in 2010 when she was 4 years old. Madi was born
with a congenital anomaly, missing her fibula and missing most of her femoral shaft. She has worn a
prosthetic leg since she was 9 months old. Madalynn had major surgery on her right leg in May of 2010.
The surgery resulted in several complications which required her to be in a body cast from May to June
and then Aug. to Dec. Madalynn’s Orthopedic Itinerant told us about the WHOA Program.
Madalynn had started to lose her spark, she was becoming frustrated and we believe depressed
from all the complications and time in the body cast without being able to get around. Madalynn is a
child with two speeds dead stop asleep and full tilt. Her doctor gave the okay and Madalynn began
riding in Nov. of 2010 in a full body cast on her right side. While Madalynn was nervous for about the
first 5 minutes after that she didn’t want to leave the horse’s back. She had her mobility back and she
got her spark back. As a parent I cannot put into words what it means to see your child put through so
many tough situations and then watch that child lose their spark. Watching her on those horses
changed everything and gave her so much joy and confidence. Madalynn has continued in the program
riding with and without her prosthetic leg. She is a very outgoing child and riding at WHOA allows her to
be confident, builds muscle strength that she needs to have being in a prosthesis and provides a
camaraderie with other children who have physical differences like she does. (I say differences rather
than limitations because she doesn’t let anything limit her, she finds ways to do things everyone else do,
she just does it differently). She has also learned important life skills like how to communicate well with
others and communicate her needs to other people.
Our son Dylan was diagnosed with Autism and has underlying diagnoses of ADHD, OCD, Anxiety
and Depression. Dylan participated in WHOA for about 3 years. Dylan needed extra time to become
comfortable on the horse. The staff at WHOA knew exactly how to ease him into the program. They
knew exactly how to work with his needs and communicated with him gaining his trust. Dylan learned
how to socialize with other peers his age; he learned to communicate his needs to others using
appropriate tone and words. Most importantly Dylan gained confidence and he bonded with the horses
which in turn was very therapeutic for him.
Throughout our experience with WHOA it is very clear that the staff is dedicated to the needs of
their students. Safety of the students, staff, and horses is something that is ever evident. The
partnership with parents is crucial to the physical, psychological, and cognitive needs of students being
met and parents/ guardian input is always welcome. You may look at the brochure or program
description and think “ Sounds like a nice program”, it is much more than a program to the students and
families it serves. It quite literally is a life changing program for many students and their families.
Caregivers meet other caregivers and have opportunities to collaborate, students get to be around
others like them, and form friendships with others who understand their struggles and situations.
Supporting this program financially is an opportunity for you to invest in the lives of many students who
otherwise would not be able to have these experiences. WHOA does not turn anyone away because
they cannot pay. WHOA provides scholarships for students and as a parent who has and continues to
apply for the scholarship, I can tell you that without it our daughter and son would not have these
amazing experiences that WHOA provides.
The staff of WHOA are dedicated to the students and horses. The teachers are qualified, and
the volunteers are required to take trainings to ensure that the safety of the students, staff, and horses
is always of utmost importance. Supporting this program financially is undoubtedly one of the most
meaningful things you could do with your funds. WHOA experiences last a lifetime for the students and
families they serve.
Respectfully yours,
Meg Penaflor
