Milestones
12372 Riggs Road
Independence, KY 41051
Therapeutic Riding Program/Horse Care and Take the Reins
Milestones is a therapeutic horsemanship program that presents opportunities for individuals with challenges to enhance their quality of life.Therapeutic Riding Program - Our signature program, the Therapeutic Horseback Riding is for riders with differing needs ages 3 and up. Lessons take place weekly in 10-week sessions for a total of 40 weeks of lessons each year.Take the Reins (previous called "A Day of Healing" - In collaboration with St. Elizabeth Healthcare Milestones developed a program for frontline healthcare workers to address issues of stress and trauma related to the pandemic. We are experiencing great success in the growth of this program -- so far in 2023 we have four series (three lessons) completely filled. We will be scheduling more throughout the year!
Program Goals:
Milestones is a therapeutic horsemanship program that presents opportunities for individuals with challenges to enhance their quality of life. Milestones is a nonprofit organization that strives to assist each program participant to become an innovative and productive member of the community by building independence, self-confidence, and social skills in a safe, fun, loving environment. We do this through the following programs:
Therapeutic Riding - Teaching horsemanship skills and basic grooming to individuals with diagnoses such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury, Spina Bifida, Down syndrome, as well as emotional and behavioral issues.
Horse Tales - Many children struggle with reading aloud at school and often feel reluctant to practice at home with a parent. An animal is a completely non-judgmental listener.
A Day of Healing (renamed Take the Reins) - A structured program based on participant’s needs and developed to address feelings of stress and trauma. Milestones’ Emotional Support Staff, Instructors and therapy horses encourage participants to address issues through equine education, mindfulness techniques, connection activities and processing of trauma and stress.
Program Results:
In 2023 the Therapeutic Riding Program provided over 2,500 hours of services in the following sessions:
-Winter - 47 riders
-Spring - 47 riders
-Summer - 45 riders
-Fall - 47 riders
Horse Tales
In partnership with the Kenton County Public Library children in grades 1-8 who are able to
read at any level are invited to read to therapy horses at Milestones during the summer months. Horse Tales offers children the opportunity to improve their reading skills while also assisting our horses through socialization and human interaction. Animals find the rhythmic sound of a voice very comforting and soothing. In 2023 Milestones welcomed 307 readers for Horse Tales.
Day of Healing (Take the Reins)
We continue the process of expanding this program to serve those most in need of our services. 6 sessions of Take the Reins have been offered (8 individuals). All six sessions served children ages 7 to 15 focusing on empowerment and self-confidence.
Website:
http://www.milestonesinc.org Amount: $30,000
Date: March 2023
