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Help Bring Big Bird (the horse) To Ride To Fly

Tax deductible
We Need Your Help!
Ride To Fly, a therapeutic riding program located in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA is looking for the newest member of our equine team!  We have found an amazing, calm, big buddy who currently lives in Montana, and we would love to bring him to our barn.  Please read more below about this gentle boy and our program, and how you can help make this happen.

Who is Big Bird?
While we believe that ALL horses are “therapy horses” in their own, unique ways, it takes a very special horse to do this as their full-time job.  They must have a patient, calm, and quiet mind, and be willing to not only tolerate but enjoy all of the hugs, kisses, and physical cues from their riders, sidewalkers, and handlers.  Big Bird is a five-year-old Palomino Gelding Quarter Horse and he stands 16 hands tall.  His current owner describes him as an extremely gentle and kind horse who loves people and “wouldn’t hurt a flea.”  He has a calm demeanor and is not easily bothered by noises or props.  Big Bird currently lives in Montana and we think he would love to call Rancho Palos Verdes, CA his new home! 

About Ride To Fly
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding and the associated learning experiences to children and adults with disabilities in a safe, nurturing environment. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people and wish to share the special gift of horsemanship with those with special needs. Ride to Fly is a PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) member operating center that has been serving the South Bay area since 1994.

​We are a volunteer organization, which means we receive no government funding and rely solely on grant, fundraising events, individual and corporate donations, and minimal lesson fees to meet our operating costs.

​Our instructors are PATH certified and have been specially trained in therapeutic riding techniques. Our volunteers are trained under the direct guidance of the instructors. They are taught to sidewalk, lead, tack and groom the horses. Our horses are carefully selected for their calm, and gentle natures and are highly trained.

For more information about Ride To Fly, please visit our website www.ridetofly.com 

If you would like more information on PATH International please visit pathintl.org 

What We Need From YOU!
Big Bird will be at the WYO Horse Sale auction on Saturday, May 18!  The auction is the only way to purchase the quality horses from the WYO Quarter Horse Ranch, and Ride To Fly needs to come in with a strong bid in order to bring Big Bird to our program.  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Ride To Fly for Big Bird!  No amount is too small, and any unused funds will be specifically earmarked for the future purchase of another horse for our therapeutic program.  We have a reservation on a trailer for Big Bird, and we hope that with your help, he will be on it!

*If you prefer to make a donation by paper check or cash, please contact our Executive Director, Gail Grove, at [email redacted]  All cash or check donations must be received by Friday, May 17th.

 Costs
Winning Bid:  While there is no way to know for certain how much a horse will bring at auction, we do know that the average cost for WYO horses at their last auction was $15,000.

 Transport:  The cost to transport Big Bird from the auction to our barn in Rancho Palos Verdes will be $850.


 Thank you so much for your consideration and support of our therapeutic horseback riding program!  We cannot do what we do without YOU!

Donations 

  • Kiho Kojima
    • $100
    • 5 yrs

Organizer

Gail Grove
Organizer
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Ride To Fly
Beneficiary

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