SPECIAL PEOPLE UNITED TO RIDE INC

Working in conjunction with the Monmouth County Park System, Special People United to Ride (SPUR) is a non-profit 501(3)(c) organization that provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to achieve personal goals through therapeutic horseback riding. The park system’s Sunnyside Equestrian Center provides a safe haven where personal strengths are accentuated by the freedom of riding and handling a horse. Students work to improve self-esteem, social skills, balance, muscle tone and posture, as well as to process sensory messages sent to the brain.

A dedicated group of individuals works together to staff the equestrian center year-round. Instructors are employed by the park system and are certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, the governing body of therapeutic horseback riding. In addition to the staff, over 100 volunteers help with the SPUR programs every year allowing over 200 students with disabilities to be served.

Beginning in the late 1970s, with a modest but energetic combination of borrowed horses and enthusiastic volunteers, SPUR found its first “permanent” home at the park system’s Thompson Park in Lincroft, New Jersey. In 1981, SPUR became a not-for-profit organization and has been actively partnering with the park system to further develop a comprehensive therapeutic riding program. In 1985, their range of services were expanded to include a limited number of lessons for non-disabled riders, and the program moved to larger quarters at Huber Woods Park in Locust, New Jersey. The SPUR Board initiated efforts to promote an indoor arena and teaching facility where therapeutic riding could be offered 12 months a year. Eventually, the Park System and SPUR decided to relocate the program to the Sunnyside Recreation Area in Middletown, New Jersey. Extensive fundraising efforts blossomed, and construction began. In 2002, SPUR was delighted to celebrate its 21st year with the grand opening of the Sunnyside Equestrian Center. In 2008 expansion continued with the official opening of Sunnyside Equestrian Center’s Phase II that included a classroom and therapy room, a waiting area with large observation windows looking into the indoor arena for participants and their families, and offices for the administrative staff and instructors.

SPUR’s Current Programs include: the Horses for Heroes program which offers veterans and active duty military personnel specially tailored workshops. Through learning about horse behavior and utilizing non-mounted interactive activities, veterans develop a bond with their equine partner.

Therapeutic Horsemanship for Children and Adults is a program for students from the age of four throughout adulthood who come to SPUR to enjoy the many benefits of therapeutic horsemanship. Instructors and students work together in SPUR lessons to attain desired physical, cognitive, and/or emotional goals via a variety of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT). Children and adults with disabilities begin with a leader and side walker in addition to the instructor. Each SPUR lesson is tailored to the individual's own physical and emotional needs. All sessions are 8 weeks long.
Equine Environment for Learning (EEL) is a custom eight-week program developed for school groups with up to ten participants. The program curriculum consists of classroom activities and both mounted and un-mounted activities with horses. Goals such as team building, respect, responsibility, safety, and kindness and building self-esteem are crafted within the program. Participants will explore horse behavior and care, along with basic beginner riding skills.