Bridge View School has established a new partnership with “WALK ON” a therapeutic horseback-riding program, located in River falls, Wisconsin.

This new partnership will provide a Life Skills Experience for Bridge View Students. Therapeutic horseback riding is an activity that students, families, caregivers and friends will be able to participate in long after the student graduates from Bridge View School. Therapeutic riding is horse-assisted therapy for physically and mentally handicapped children and adults. Benefits include improvement in strength, balance, and posture and horseback riding is known to improve social, verbal, physical, and sensory skills even after as few as 2 - 3 rides. While BVS will never be in the position to offer this “therapy” as part of the school program, we do have the possibility to begin introducing this activity through this emerging partnership with WALK ON’S therapeutic horseback riding program. Therapeutic Riding will be offered on a limited basis two times on May 15 and May 29 this spring. At that time a decision will be made whether or not to offer therapeutic riding as a regular (weekly) activity open to all Bridge View students for the 2009-2010 school year. The program will be open to all Bridge View Students. A group of up to 8 students will be transported by school bus to the WALK ON riding facility in River Falls, Wisconsin. An indoor arena at the facility will allow the riding activity to be scheduled on a weekly basis year round. Bridge View students participating in the riding program will depart Bridge View School at 9:45 AM and return to BVS by 1:45 PM. Students will assist with grooming, saddling, and riding. Students will be assisted by two trained volunteers and accompanied by BVS staff. Students will enjoy a sack lunch before they return to BVS. All costs of the program will be funded by Bridge View School for this year and the 2009 - 2010 school year. The response has been fantastic. 51 students returned their permission forms. A lottery drawing will be held to determine the students who will be able to participate yet this spring. If you would like to find out more about the BVS Riding Program with WALK ON, please contact Joan Duncanson at 651-293-8640 or email joan.duncanson@spps.org.

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