Whispering Manes hosted its inaugural horse show, Ride for the Roses, at its riding facility in Horse Country on May 19, 2013.
Whispering Manes is a therapeutic riding center focused on empowering the physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged through horseback riding.
“Our riders come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds with unique challenges to overcome,” said Erin Bauer, Whispering Manes Executive Director. “We have students of all ages, both adult and children who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome, autism, genetic disorders, and psycho emotional issues.”
Ride for the Roses was a non-competitive event that allowed 22 students display their abilities to family and friends.
“The show is not a competition,” said Bauer. “Our students compete with themselves to overcome their unique personal challenges. Ride for the Roses is about celebrating the accomplishments each one of them has made.”
Parents, family and friends of the riders cheered everyone riding while showing enthusiasm for their improvements.
“My daughter Daniella started the program a year and a half ago,” said Ayleen Pinera-Llano. “When she started coming to the program, she wouldn’t even ride on the horse. Now she loves it. She even sings and talks while riding.”
Whispering Manes is a non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers. Currently the group is fundraising by selling Miami Dolphins tickets.
“The Miami Dolphins have generously offered us the option to sell tickets for them and in return our organization will receive a portion of the profits to fund our organization,” said Bauer.
To find out more about Whispering Manes, how to buy Miami Dolphins Tickets, donate, or volunteer, please visit www.whisperingmanes.org