Jamestown New Horizons,
a not-for-profit organization founded in 1985, provides therapeutic/recreational horseback riding experiences for people with disabilities in the St. Louis metropolitan area. JNH has been accredited by NARHA (the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) and is a member of NAHA (the North American Horsemens' Association).
Our mission:
The mission of Jamestown New Horizons is to promote the health and quality of life for people with disabilities through therapeutic riding.
What are the benefits?
Jamestown New Horizons' program of therapeutic riding takes disabled riders through a complex series of movements which consciously and unconsciously use all of the body's muscles. It is a program that exercises and strengthens weak muscles, relaxes and stretches spastic ones, assists in the development of coordination and balance, calms emotions and tremendously boosts the morale of children and adults.
What is "therapeutic riding"?
Therapeutic riding has been around for centuries - since the time of the Greeks and Romans. During the 1st century A.D., Xenophon (who wrote a treatise on horsemanship which after more than twenty centuries is still a very sound and excellent guide) stated that "The outside of a horse is the best thing for the inside of man." Hippocrates mentioned "riding's healing rhythm".
The JNH horses serve as the core to our therapeutic riding program and they are indeed a priceless breed, everyone of them worth its weight in gold. Although they vary in age, size, color and conformation, they all possess certain similar characteristics which enable them to participate in this unique program. They are well trained, gentle in nature, and tolerant to a fault.
Jamestown New Horizons provides therapeutic riding to students with autism, mental retardation, learning disabilities, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. The JNH students are taught to work as partners with their mounts. They are instructed in all aspects of horsemanship, from proper care and grooming, to understanding the nature of the horse, as well as learning to be a considerate rider. Through this understanding and caring, the JNH students build a positive self-image, sense of responsibility and develop self-confidence - qualities that serve them well as they meet their challenges in life.
JNH instructors are all highly accomplished horsemen and educators. Physical therapy evaluations are used to provide a basis for structuring a program tailored to the abilities of the individual student. Achievable goals are established for each rider and, to the maximum extent possible, classes are composed of students with similar abilities to enhance the group learning experience and the recreational benefits.
JNH volunteers - many of whom are therapists, nurses, school teachers, college students, some retirees and others who are employed full time - serve as leaders and sidewalkers to keep riders safe and communicate the riding instructor's directions. Considerable effort is made to combine compatible volunteers, instructors and horses in order to work with the riders in the most pleasurable and productive ways available through sensitivity, caring and carefully designed lessons.
JNH Board Members/Staff
Officers:
Board:
Staff:
2003 Revenue/Expenses
JNH is located at 15350 Old Jamestown Road, Florissant, MO 63034
Click here for location detail map.
Click here for printable map.
How? The horse rhythmically and naturally moves the rider's body in a manner similar to the human gait, improving posture, balance and muscle control. To a person who can't walk, riding feels like walking. Joints are exercised, stiffness is decreased and coordination improves gradually as the rider progresses in skill.
Exercising the spirit is as important as exercising the body, and riding provides an enormous boost for people with physical and/or mental disabilities. Riding enables students to improve their self-esteem and motivation as they experience a sense of independence and freedom in the fresh air and sunshine.
The actual organization of riding centers for people with disabilities started in Europe and Great Britain after World War II. Victims of the war were helped greatly by the horses - physically, mentally and emotionally.
In 1965, a program was developed in Canada, and then in 1968 Maudie Warfel founded the National Foundation for Happy Horsemanship for the Handicapped in the U.S. Shortly thereafter the Cheff Center for the Handicapped was opened in Michigan. In 1969, NARHA (the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) was founded. By 1990 there were more than 400 riding centers in North America. In Great Britain, there are more than 600. Today, Germany is the leader in developing medical treatment methods utilizing the horse's movements.
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JNH Horses
At Jamestown New Horizons every effort is made to keep the horses happy and comfortable. They receive careful handling - none of the horses work with bits in their mouths, the reins are attached to side rings of leather halters - as well as appropriate fitting, well-made tack, clean saddle pads, girth covers and foam pads to protect their backs.
JNH horses go out on pasture every day of the year (except in icy weather). They come in at night to clean, well bedded, well ventilated stalls, and they are fed good quality hay and grain.
The horses at JNH are treated with the sensitivity and grace they so richly deserve. Their role is simply to teach the JNH riders the many joys and pleasures that come from forming a friendship with the horse.
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JNH Students
The JNH students reside throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.
To learn more about the Riding Sessions, check out Join The Fun!
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JNH Instructors
The JNH curriculum committee continues to develop improved teaching methods, evaluate the students' progress and revise goals. The committee is co-chaired by the Project Director, who has a Master's degree in Special Education, and the Program Director, who has a Bachelor's degree in Education. School teachers, both active and retired, as well as physical therapists and occupational therapists also serve on the committee.
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This year, JNH volunteers worked 3,678 hours directly with the riders with disabilities. This figure does not include the countless hours volunteers spend working on fund raising events to help cover the expense of this specialized riding program. Volunteers attended five training sessions to improve their skills in working with riders. More than half of the volunteers have been with the program since its inception in 1985. These years of experience and dedication provided by the volunteers give great depth to the quality of the program.
To learn how you can volunteer, check out Join The Fun!
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President - Robert Jasper, Marketing Horizons
Vice-President - Donna Gonzalez, NAEDA
Secreatry - Terry Anazlone, Paulo Products Co.
Treasurer - Lynn Werner, La Mear and Rapert, L.L.C.
David Jones, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Jody Mullen, Pinnacle Petroleum
Steve Perrine, Glazer's Midwest
Christine Taylor, Vatterott College
Dorothy Walker, Midwest Library Services
Lynn Werner - Executive Director
Bonnie Grueninger - Program Director
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Click here to download the 2006 JNH Annual Report.
Click here to download the 2004 JNH Form 990.
NOTE: The forms are in PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing and printing. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you may download it FREE by clicking on the following link:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.
Once there, follow the instructions.
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