Denver, CO - All participants at North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA) centers are unique and deserve recognition, but as we all know, some just shine. Each year NARHA celebrates its especially outstanding equestrians, equines, instructors and volunteers, and this year's NARHA region recognition award winners have been posted on the NARHA conference website along with the 2010 national adult equestrian, adult independent equestrian, child equestrian and youth equestrian winners.
All region award winners will be recognized and the 2010 National Equine, Instructor and Volunteer of the Year will be announced at the 2010 NARHA National Conference and Annual Meeting Awards Banquet in Denver, CO, Saturday, November 6.
2010 NARHA National Winners
Adult Equestrian of the Year: Reino Taveras, Region 1, Horse Power, Inc., Temple, NH
Independent Adult Equestrian of the Year: Sean McGinnis, Region 3, Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, Clifton, VA
Horses for Heroes of the Year: Gregory Rodriguez, Region 7, BraveHearts at the Bergmann Centre, Poplar Grove, IL
Youth Equestrian of the Year: Sam Bemis, Region 11, Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Petaluma, CA
Child Equestrian of the Year: Evan Dustan, Region 6, Midwest Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc., Racine, WI
Sis Gould Driving Award: Eileen Leek, Region 8, Riding Unlimited, Ponder, TX
2010 NARHA Regional Winners
Equine, Instructor and Volunteer of the Year
Region 1
Equine of the Year: Duncan, Flying High Farm, Lunenburg, MA
Volunteer of the Year: Colleen Dichard, UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc., Goffstown, NH
Instructor of the Year: Susan Lutz, Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc., Boxford, MA
Region 1 includes the following states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and the Canadian provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec
Region 2
Equine of the Year: Bandito's Toy Boy "Toy," Heritage Christian Stables, Webster, NY
Volunteer of the Year: Michelle Baranowske, STAR Equestrian Center, Hagerstown, MD
Instructor of the Year: Nicole Whilden, Heritage Christian Stables, Webster, NY
Region 2 includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York Pennsylvania and Washington, DC
Region 3
Equine of the Year: Hawk, Heroes on Horseback, Bluffton, SC
Volunteer of the Year: Carol Ten Broek, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, Inc., Tryon, NC
Instructor of the Year: Tracy Vyrnes, Misty Meadows Mitey Riders, Inc., Waxhaw, NC
Region 3 includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia
Region 4
Equine of the Year: Jacquie O, Achievement Centers for Children - Camp Cheerful, Strongsville, OH
Volunteer of the Year: Beverly Thompson, The Equestrian Therapy Program, Cridersville, OH
Instructor of the Year: Amy Newman, Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center, Augusta, MI
Region 4 includes Indiana, Kentucky Michigan, Ohio and the Canadian Province of Ontario
Region 5
Equine of the Year: Magic, Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Bradenton, FL
Volunteer of the Year: Twilla Stringer, Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrians, Pike Road, AL
Instructor of the Year: N/A
Region 5 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and the also Puerto Rico
Region 6
Equine of the Year: Amlet, Midwest Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc., Racine, WI
Volunteer of the Year: Robert (Bob) Nielsen, We Can Ride, Inc., Minnetonka, MN
Instructor of the Year: Katherine Kneesel, Midwest Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc., Racine, WI
Region 6 includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Canadian Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Region 7
Equine of the Year: Taco, Walk On, Barrington, IL
Volunteer of the Year: Nate Harms, Therapeutic Horsemanship, Wentzville, MO
Instructor of the Year: Roxanne C. Elliott-Crandall, Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program, Richmond, IL
Region 7 includes Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska
Region 8
Equine of the Year: Mr. Big, Riding Unlimited, Ponder, TX
Volunteer of the Year: Ken Seggerman, EQUEST, Wylie, TX
Instructor of the Year: Jen Donahue, EQUEST, Wylie, TX
Region 8 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas
Region 9
Equine of the Year: Striker, Palouse Area Therapeutic Horsemanship, Pullman, WA
Volunteer of the Year: Phil Simmons, Northwest Therapeutic Riding Center, Bellingham, WA
Instructor of the Year: N/A
Region 9 includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington State in addition to the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia
Region 10
Equine of the Year: Canyon, Horse Warriors/CIREQUUS, Jackson, WY
Volunteer of the Year: Kari Dean, Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding, Rio Rancho, NM
Instructor of the Year: Michelle Weed, Horses Help, Phoenix, AZ
Region 10 includes Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming
Region 11
Equine of the Year: Katydid, Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Petaluma, CA
Volunteer of the Year: Nance Limbacher, Over The Reinbow, Inc., Martinez, CA
Instructor of the Year: Sandy Webster, Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Petaluma, CA
Region 11 includes California, Hawaii and Nevada
Early registration is currently offered online on the conference page at www.narha.org, as well as more information about conference sessions, the conference hotel, the conference travel deals and fun things to do in Denver.
ENDS