The mission of local non-profit Tara’s Chance is to offer hope though horses for the  special-needs community. During these uncertain times and until kids can safely get back in the saddle again, volunteers at Tara’s Chance have been hitting the road, trailering the horses to the kids.

Located in Fullerton, Tara’s Chance seeks to promote the physical, cognitive, and social well-being of those with special needs through equine-assisted activities and therapies. This therapy is unique in that it stimulates three-dimensional movement, which is the same as someone walking. When a horse walks, it rotates the riders’ hip and spine. Riders learn how to balance, shift their weight, and learn basic equilibrium responses, which all transfer to added mobility on the ground.

“Our son Jean-Luc has a rare genetic condition called Prader-Willi syndrome marked in part by low muscle tone and speech delay. We had heard of equine therapy before but had no idea what a difference it would make in our family’s lives,” Sarah Eakins said. “Jean-Luc started with Tara’s Chance in 2019. After just two months, we saw dramatic improvements in strength and balance, and his speech began growing steadily. Talking about his horse, Riley, became his new favorite subject. During the shutdown, while we found ourselves missing the pool, parks, and favorite restaurants, it was JL’s weekly rides and seeing our friends at Tara’s that we have missed most. Thankfully Cindy and her team surprised us by bringing a wagon of happy horses and friends to us. Twice! Our little street in Fullerton was quite the hubbub of activity and fun. Petting and feeding our favorite horses at home on our very own street was pure joy.”

For more information, please visit www.taraschance.org.