The Gala-presenting sponsor US Bank team shows they can ‘Cowboy Down’. Photo courtesy Tara’s Chance

Any horseback rider can attest to the strong bond that exists between rider and horse. For a child with developmental disabilities, the experience of riding a horse can lead to significant therapeutic advancements. Tara’s Chance “Equine Therapy” was created to provide this valuable opportunity to children with disabilities.

Whellchair-bound Bella was one of the first Tara’s Chance riders. She’s on Maggie, one of their first horses. Photo courtesy Tara’s Chance

At the fundraising gala on October 5th, the organization successfully raised funds to support its ongoing mission. According to Operations Manager Katherine Cazares, over 400 people attended this year’s “Riding With the Stars” gala, contributing to a record-breaking year of fundraising. The Tara’s Chance team showcased their unique therapy through videos and a live demonstration during the event. This year, they highlighted a rider named Bella, who was their very first rider 12 years ago. Bella performed a demonstration on a palomino horse named Maggie, one of the first horses to be part of Tara’s Chance.

Tara’s Chance offers a unique therapy that involves a child riding a trained horse around an arena. The horse’s gentle rocking motion and various riding positions help the child improve their balance, coordination, and control. Since children view this as play, it often proves to be more effective than traditional indoor therapy. Additionally, interacting with a 1,000+ pound horse can encourage kids to open up, enhancing their cognitive skills and social well-being. Tara’s Chance serves approximately 100 riders each week, with annual expenses totaling around $700,000. These expenses cover the feeding, housing, and care of about a dozen horses, ponies, and burros. The organization employs a small full-time staff responsible for therapy duties, accounting, event organization, and horse handling. Additionally, about 45 volunteers assist as safety spotters and in various other tasks. While parents contribute a small portion of the costs, the majority of Tara’s budget relies on fundraising and grants.

One of the three fundraising events held annually by Tara’s Chance is the “Riding with the Star” event. Katherine Cazares expressed gratitude to all the sponsors, community partners, volunteers, and families who made the event possible. She noted that the occasion became even more special with a riding demonstration by Bella, Tara’ssChance’ss first-ever rider.

Information aboutTara’ss Chance can be found at taraschance.org

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