MUSCATINE, Iowa–As elementary school teachers and lovers of horses, Jenny Paetz and Christel Fowler wanted to put their passions to work in retirement. In 2016, they founded Riding for Success to provide therapeutic riding opportunities for children and adults with special physical, mental, or emotional needs. “When we retired, it was a perfect fit,” Paetz shared.

Currently, Riding for Success offers half-hour sessions for riders of all ages, with elementary students riding on Monday mornings, junior high school students riding on Tuesday mornings, high schoolers riding on Wednesday mornings, and adults and children riding outside of school participating on Tuesday evenings. This season, Riding for Success has 34 riders in their program.

Regardless of their age, riders start out each of their half-hour riding sessions with exercises designed to improve their strength and balance. Then, the volunteers working with them tailor their experience to meet their specific needs. Riders with physical needs may focus on developing core strength. For those who use wheelchairs, Riding for Success even has a special ramp they can use to get on and off their horse safely. Those with mental or emotional needs may spend time getting used to working with a horse, new volunteers, and following directions. All riders also participate in fun weekly activities to keep them engaged and excited to come to lessons.

To ensure that riders have the best experience possible, both of Riding for Success’ current instructors, Paetz and Cindy Dierckx, have completed certification through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. All volunteers have participated in training sessions led by Paetz and Dierckx that teach them how to support young riders as needed, assist with an emergency dismount, and other important safety information for either assisting riders or leading the horses.

Riding for success works closely with local horse owners to find gentle animals that will do well with young and inexperienced riders. From September through May, Riding for Success holds sessions inside the Muscatine Ag Learning Center with the horses loaned to them. In the warmer months when the ag center grows too hot to use and owners want their horses back for their own riding, Riding for Success takes a well earned summer vacation.

Over the past five years, Paetz has valued the opportunity to watch Riding for Success grow and help many people with special needs throughout the community. She said she has most enjoyed, “seeing the ones that have grown–some of them have been with us since the beginning.”

In order for Riding for Success to continue to flourish and provide much needed therapy to people of all ages, the program needs volunteers to help guide the horses and complete chores after lessons as well as side walkers to assist riders as they complete their weekly activities. Anyone wanting to volunteer may email Paetz or send her a Facebook message through the Riding for Success page. Those wishing to make a monetary donation to support the program may do so through the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine’s website.

Volunteers have found great meaning in their work, and Paetz believes new volunteers will as well. As current side walker Brian Proffitt explained, “it’s rewarding to see them enjoy themselves so much,” and to watch riders who start out, “shy and timid because they’ve never been around horses grow in confidence.”