New horse riding program includes wheelchair access
Austin Can Drive makes its debut at Saddles of Joy
A therapeutic riding program in Yuma has extended its reach and is now offering a horse cart that is wheelchair accessible.
On Saturday, Saddles of Joy, Inc. officially launched and demonstrated their new program called Austin Can Drive. According to Saddles of Joy Executive Director Randy Smith, the program is named after Austin Hietz, who has been a regular visitor and participant of Saddles of Joy programs for about 18 years.
Smith explained that approximately two years ago the Colorado River Riders, Inc. purchased and donated a specially built, horsedrawn cart that is wheelchair accessible.
“This cart was designed by Mike Muler from California with the express purpose of introducing equine to those who would otherwise not be able to enjoy it through the use of this very special cart,” Smith wrote in an email to the Yuma Sun.
Smith added that back in September of 2017, a woman from the Sacramento, Calif., area donated a Haflinger gelding horse that is a very well trained cart draft horse named Milo.
“I truly believe this will be a great benefit to the Yuma Community,” Smith wrote.
While the cart was donated a couple of years ago and Milo was donated back in 2017, Smith explained in a phone interview with the Yuma Sun that Saddles of Joy has just recently been “pushing the program.”
“We’ve been working with Milo since then,” Smith said following the program launch on Saturday. “The lady who donated Milo came down and gave us a four-day class on driving and I’ve been practicing ever since. Today was kind of an official start-up. I gave probably about 35 rides to people ranging in age from four to 65.”
Smith noted that he hopes to reach out to the community with this new program in order to reach more people and expose them to the joys of the cart in equine interaction. Currently, he added that he is hoping to work with Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
“When you walk across the threshold of Saddles of Joy your stress level should go down about 90 points,” Smith said. “There is no drama allowed here period. All drama is left at the gate. We are a healing place, truly.”
Saddles of Joy is entirely run by volunteers and throughout the year the non-profit serves special needs children, their families and the community.
For more information on Saddles of Joy or to donate or volunteer, visit www. saddlesofjoyinc.org or call (928) 344-3562.
Saddles of Joy is located at 2749 W. County 14th St.