FEATURE
TAHOE DONNER + ACHIEVE TAHOE
ADAPTIVE EQUESTRIAN THERAPEUTIC RIDING By ALI DICKSON | Photos courtesy of ACHIEVE TAHOE
This fall, Tahoe Donner partnered with local nonprofit Achieve Tahoe to provide six adaptive equestrian sessions to children and adults with disabilities in order to build health, confidence and independence.
CREATING COMMUNITY SUPPORT Achieve Tahoe was founded in 1967 by Jim Winthers, a disabled World War II veteran. He and a group of Vietnam veterans with disabilities banded together, inventing the adaptive equipment they needed to teach themselves to ski. Their determination and success inspired them to start the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School, which became the founding chapter of Disabled Sports USA. Over half a century later, the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School has evolved into Achieve Tahoe, which now provides affordable, inclusive adaptive recreation yearround, from snow sports in winter to water skiing, hiking, archery, climbing, paddle sports, sailing and, now with the help of Tahoe Donner, equestrian skills in summer. Mari Parino, the equestrian instructor with Achieve Tahoe, shares, “I’ve been involved in the therapeutic riding industry for over 20 years in Thailand, Singapore and California. A board member at the riding center in Orinda where I was the executive director was also
a board member for Achieve Tahoe. They had talked about wanting to offer an equestrian program in the Tahoe area, and that mutual board member put them in contact with me. “The challenges of trying to start a therapeutic riding program are tremendous – you need horses and a facility out of which to operate. The fact that Tahoe Donner already had all that and a mounting ramp for folks with disabilities was incredible. We couldn’t have operated out of a better, safer facility than Tahoe Donner.” Krystal-Rae Mecham, Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center Manager, was just as eager to partner with Achieve Tahoe. “I was really excited to be able to provide this opportunity for our community. Being able to partner with Achieve Tahoe was incredible. Their love for all outdoor recreation, knowledge of participants, ability to gather volunteers and supportive community made for a great partnership. I was very happy to provide the therapy horses and the space.”