September 1, 2009 – Langhorne, Pennsylvania – Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center in Warwick, New York, along with OPAF and The First Clinics will host a McKeever’s First Ride on Sunday, September 27, 2009. McKeever’s First Ride offers therapeutic horsemanship to amputees and those with physical challenges to discover the many benefits of a horse. The program will run from 1-5pm and is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, Touch Bionics, Jack Gold Surgical and Heritage Medical. There is no charge for McKeever’s First Ride, but we do ask that everyone pre-register for screening purposes.
McKeever’s First Ride will feature a special appearance by Nashville singing star, Templeton Thompson and her husband, Sam Gay. Templeton is a horsewoman who celebrates love, life and horses through her music. Additionally, she serves as the national spokesperson for EGALA (Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association). The afternoon event will also feature amputee demonstration riders including our special guest, former President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of America, Paddy Rossbach, who will be showcasing a musical dressage. The afternoon will have arts, crafts, music, refreshments, trail rides and more!
McKeever’s First Ride is the vision of Deenie McKeever, daughter of O&P pioneer Dan McKeever, to honor his legacy and to extend his efforts to champion the needs of amputees. Dan McKeever
always encouraged everyone to be the best they could be. Deenie was also instrumental in beginning the Horses for Heroes program at Chastain Horse Park in Atlanta, Georgia which provides our armed services wounded warriors the chance for therapeutic contact with horses. Deenie’s dream is to broadcast the good news that horses aid in the healing of body and soul, for young and old, for those who battle disease and chronic conditions, for veterans and civilians and for anyone desiring a deeper dimension of life. McKeever’s First Ride is the culmination of those dreams. As Deenie so eloquently put it, “You don’t have to be galloping across the plains to enjoy a horse!”
McKeever’s First Ride is one of the First Clinics sponsored by OPAF, the Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc., which serves as the Official Philanthropy of the US Orthotic & Prosthetic Community in the United States. McKeever’s First Ride joins the established First Programs including First Volley, adaptive tennis, First Swim, First Dive Intro to Scuba and First Swing, a program of the National Amputee Golf Association. More Firsts are in Development!
For more information on McKeever’s First Ride and registration materials, please contact OPAF and The First Clinics at 215/752-5756 or visit our Web site at www.opfund.org. For more information on Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit their Web site at www.winslow.org.
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