SIRE

Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers

SIRECrier

So what is a Round-up and why is it important to SIRE’s development

efforts? Round-ups are the best way to introduce people to the magic

of SIRE and its mission. Just by listening to our one-hour presentation,

a person can understand the freedom from disabilities that therapeutic

riding brings to our clients. Not talking about it, not watching a video,

not handing out a brochure, but sitting in the bleachers as a part of a

therapeutic riding lesson is more powerful than any other message we

can bring to the community about the benefits of SIRE. It captured me!

Round-ups are usually scheduled monthly at each of our three

locations, conveniently on Saturday mornings. While clients are

participating in their regular classes, we describe what is happening

in the arena. Round-Up attendees see first-hand the client-specific

therapeutic session planned by the instructor, understand the role and

interaction of the volunteers, and appreciate the special bond that

forms between horse and rider.

Round-ups are informational only… we never, ever ask our guests

for money. When they ask how they can help, we tell them the best

way to help SIRE is by spreading the word about what we do—and by

inviting their friends and business associates to our next Round-up. You

can do the same!

—Richard “Whitey” White, President

See the Magic at a Round-up

SIRE, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization providing Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy (EAAT) programs to people with disabilities. SIRE operates three locations in the Greater Houston area and is a NARHA Premium Accredited Center.

JOIN US FOR A

RoundHup Leave your checkbook at home and

come learn more about our amazing equine-assisted therapy for people

with disabilities.

2009 ROUND-UP DATES

SIRE Hockley5/16, 7/18, 10/3 and 11/14

SIRE Spring4/18, 6/13, 9/12, 10/17 and 12/5

SIRE Ft. Bend5/2, 6/27, 9/19, 11/7

ReflectionsAs I enter my fifth year

at SIRE as executive

director, and amidst the

discouraging economic

news in today’s world, I

thought it would be nice

to reflect on something

positive—the growth in our

ridership. We set a record in

the fall of 2008 of 260 riding

sessions per week. During all

these years, I have had one

driving consideration in every

decision I make, and that is

SIRE riders.

I wrote a couple of years

ago, “If you build it, they

CAN come”—and it has

proven to be the truth. It

was never more obvious

at the Top Hands Show at

the Houston Livestock Show and

Rodeo. Over 200 riders participated

in this special event for children

and adults with disabilities; SIRE

was represented by 43 riders, the

largest group of riders! Not only did

our riders take home buckles, trophies

and ribbons, but more importantly, a

sense of pride and accomplishment for

meeting personal goals. One of our riders, Nicole Larson, won her 13th belt buckle. She represents the

core of everything we do at SIRE.

The downturn in the economy has hit everyone, and SIRE is no exception.

Even during these severe economic times, it is our donors that have been

faithful to and focused on our mission. I want to extend my personal gratitude to

everyone for your continued support. I know 2009 will continue to be another

record-setting year for SIRE.

—Jimm Williams, Executive Director

Learning MoreThis semester, SIRE Ft. Bend

continues to provide a dual

riding and educational program

for ten autistic students from

Avondale House. Autism is a

brain development disorder;

autistic children have difficulties

with social interaction, problems

with verbal and nonverbal

communication, and repetitive

behaviors or narrow, obsessive

interests.

Vivien Savage, one of our

NARHA Certified Instructor, is

heading up the program at SIRE,

assisted by

Amy Casper,

a volunteer

with a Masters

degree in

Education.

While half of

the group of

ten students

is riding,

the other

half works

in our “barn

classroom.”

For the

classroom,

SIRE volunteer Amy Lundblad has

created an entire barn backdrop

to assist the students in learning

what is involved

in the care of a

horse—from feeding

and bathing to the

equipment needed

to keep their favorite

mount healthy and

happy. You really

should come see

their classroom! It’s

exciting to watch the

students grow in their

understanding and

relationship with their

horse.

—Joelle Devlin

SIRE is about success and

we have as many stories of

achievement as we have

clients. Recently, several

clients have demonstrated

huge improvements in their

skills—let us tell you about a

few of them.

SIRE Hockley

Ignacio Murguia had surgery

to straighten his legs, and

he grew several inches.

When he came back to ride, he had a “new body”

that was difficult to manage. By working hard

every week, Ignacio could sit up longer—back

in September we were counting in minutes, and

now he can sit up the entire session.

Choosing the right horse has helped Erin

Brown, a longtime SIRE client, succeed after a

setback. Erin fractured her pelvis in a fall at home,

and had difficulties when she returned to riding.

With lots of hard work, Erin has graduated

to a horse with more movement.

It’s easier with a little help from your

friends. Two girls, Yessenia Luna and

Elizabeth Williams, encourage each other.

Being a team has helped each girl learn

new skills and share their friendship.

Another team, Karen Abbott’s riders

called the “Sensational Six”, has practically

grown up at SIRE on horseback—they

help each other and even have a group

cheer at the end of class.

SIRE Spring

Progress can be measured in many

ways—how well you hold the reins

for steering, how many directions you

can follow, recognizing yourself as a

successful person.

Whitney Faerber’s family has watched

her grow and improve while riding at SIRE

Spring. She has been learning to ride without

sidewalkers or leaders, and very recently she rode

completely independent. The smile on her face lit

up the arena.

Being able to sit upright on a horse is a

huge accomplishment for some of our riders,

especially for those in wheelchairs like Megan Fry.

Recently, she participated in the Top Hands

Horse Show, and demonstrated

her abilities at the Horses

& Humans Research

Foundation’s

Open House

Presentation.

SIRE Ft. Bend

Several

Fort Bend

riders have

made great

strides—some at Houston

Livestock Show and

Rodeo’s Top Hands

Horse Show, and

some right here in the

arena at SIRE.

Five of seven

SIRE Fort Bend riders

had never competed

before at the show:

Sebastian Arizpe, Alyse

Delph, Erica Haase,

Lance Nicholson and

Derrick Perkins. Together with our show veterans

Allison Meyer and Cade Zimmerman, these

riders performed beautifully in their classes and

accomplished individual personal goals.

Our 2008 Child Rider of the Year, Alejandro

Araque, is one of the hardest working riders at

SIRE. His strength and ability to use his body

effectively to communicate with his horse

continue to amaze us all.

Brittany Ricco is having an amazing

semester, as she is taking control of her

movements as well as her horse. Brittany can

now stop those spasms and work through them.

So many wonderful riders, we can’t mention

them all, but they all deserve applause. It’s our

pleasure and privilege to work with them every

week. They truly are our inspiration.

Dust Off Your DiamondsTime to kick up your heels at our 2009 Sensational Shindig! The

annual black-tie extravaganza will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel

Downtown on Saturday, May 9th—you don't want to miss it! Our

Shindig will feature fine dining with a seated dinner, great music,

dancing, and an incredible auction. Please contact us at 281-356-7588

to purchase tickets or donate auction items.

SIRE Goes GreenLike so many of us today, SIRE

too would like to do our part for

the environment. To accomplish

this, SIRE has decided to Go

Green in several ways.

Donation receipts and thank-

you letters will be sent via email

whenever possible. Help us by

writing

your email

address on

the bottom

of your

check.

To save

on paper,

printing and

postage,

we are

no longer

producing

this

newsletter

in color

and have

decreased the

number of

pages—to do so, we are unable

to list all our donors as we have

done in the past. This does not

in any way diminish our sincere

gratitude for your generosity.

Tid-BitsSign up now for our

monthly Tid-Bits E-

Newsletter! Go to

www.SIRE-HTEC.

and follow the

instructions to “Join

Our Mailing List.”

With our Safe

Subscribe sign-up

feature, you will

receive SIRE e-news.

Say YesDid you know that you can sponsor a rider at SIRE? A donation of $585 can sponsor tuition for a deserving rider. Go to www.SIRE-HTEC.org, click on the drop-down menu titled “You Can Help” to sponsor a rider. We take Pay-Pal!

Let Our Riders Inspire You

With the help of SIRE Hockley volunteers PJ Murray & Sabrina Shawn, Ignacio Murguia demonstrates his most recent accomplishment—being able to sit up for an entire session.

org

Houston’s Therapeutic Riding CenterSIRE CrierSpring 2009 Newsletter

Congratulations, Award Winners!

SIRE Hockley • 281-356-7588Program Administration

24161 Spring Dr.Hockley, TX 77447

SIRE Spring • 281-353-61604610 Sloangate

Spring, TX 77373

SIRE Ft. Bend • 281-778-02028255 Camp Sienna TrailMissouri City, TX 77459

www.SIRE-HTEC.orgSIRE’s calendar, upcoming events, Board of Directors and staff can be found on our website©2009 SIRE, Inc. – All Rights Reserved

Design ©2009 Computer Graphic Design Services & Printing Co.

SIRE, Inc.24161 Spring DriveHockley, TX 77447281-356-7588

TO: A Friend of SIRE

NON PROFIT ORG

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 600

Spring, TX

An amazing statistic is the incredible number of hours that our volunteers devote to the SIRE clients. In 2008, at all three locations, volunteers logged an incredible 31,374 hours! At the average wage of $19.89 per hour for semi-skilled labor, that translates to about $624,029 worth of donated time!

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Pat Roddy

WARREN REININGER MEMoRIAl AWARD: Peggy & Roger Wagner

oUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIvE STAFF: Susan Sanders

oUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBER: Hockley–Karen Gardner; Spring–Truman Alexander; Ft. Bend–Maryann Gerity

SIRE SUPER SUPPoRTER: Hockley–Gina Mosley, Nicole larson, Shelby Day, & Nathaniel Hunter; Spring–Shawn Honerkamp; Ft. Bend–larke Dampeer

ClIENT ACHIEvEMENT AWARD: Hockley–Chris Tagge, Erin Brown, Derek Blackburn, Carolyn Howell, & Ignacio Murguia; Spring–William Keener; Ft. Bend–Alejandro Araque & Derrick Perkins

BIll RYAN MEMoRIAl AWARD: Hockley–Teena Edmondson

HoRSE ANGEl: Hockley–Diane Becker, luis Cardenas, Heather Cusick, Phyllis Feeney, & Karen Perry; Spring–Blaney Guillory; Ft. Bend–Amy Casper

HoRSE oF THE YEAR: Hockley–Bubba; Spring–Rudy; Ft. Bend–Smokey

JR. volUNTEER oF THE YEAR: Hockley–Daniel Abbott & Alyssa voznak; Spring– Chris Schultz; Ft. Bend–Jacob Pierce

volUNTEER oF THE YEAR: Hockley–Kitty Darlow; Spring–Caterina Sullivan; Ft. Bend–Bill Cunningham

North American Riding for theHandicapped Association, Inc.

PREMIER ACCREDITED CENTER

On Our Websiteour volunteer Program

SIRE would not be possible without our amazing volunteers—come join us!

Trot Down Memory laneFor all those who were hooked by Part One,

you can read the finale on our web site

Team SIRE See the photos of our riders at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’s Top Hands Show

Barn NewsOnce again we have been blessed with some

new equine faces at SIRE

Every little Bit HelpsDid you know that it is the many small

donations we receive throughout the course of the year that keeps us up and running?

www.SIRE-HTEC.org