This weekend, Helen Woodward Animal Center is pleased to honor some extraordinary students at the 2026 Therapeutic Riding Show. The annual event invites parents, friends and family members of therapeutic riding clients to gather for a performance of newly developed equine skills. A presentation of awards follows the inspirational event.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program was established in 1983. The program was developed to assist children and adults living with a variety of special needs from cerebral palsy, to Down syndrome and Autism, to stroke recovery and learning disabilities. Therapeutic riding can benefit individuals living with a range of personal challenges from cognitive to physical, emotional, or social.
Therapeutic Riding aims to make learning fun for both human students and the Center’s therapy horses. During weekly sessions, students ride specially-trained horses with credentialed instructors. Riding instruction incorporates obstacle courses which allow riders to control their horses through cones and mazes, and over poles. These basic riding skills integrate all parts of the body (hands, legs, and eyes) and aid in developing core strength.
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Annual Therapeutic Riding Show provides riders the opportunity to show off their equine skills and receive trophies for their accomplishments.
For the eleventh year in a row, Magic 92.5 morning personalities, Jagger and Kristi, will host the Therapeutic Riding Show. The dedicated animal-lovers are long-time supporters of rescue and Helen Woodward Animal Center. Every Monday morning, the duo promotes orphan pets on the feature segment “Kristi’s Kritters”, and they participate annually in the Center’s annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon as surf dog teachers, participants, hosts, and judges for the costume-contests. Jagger and Kristi are also passionate horse lovers with two of their own.
The Center’s Therapeutic Riding Program is made possible thanks to the generosity of Barbara Menard, the Charity Fair Horse Show, the Confidence Foundation, the Halicioglu Foundation, the Hariet E. Pfleger Foundation, the John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation, the Meyers Foundation, the S. Mark Taper Foundation, and Wayne Woodman. Their kindness allows the service to be provided weekly to clients-in-need, utilizing specially selected horses to do this extremely detailed work. Those interested in taking part in keeping this wonderful program going may choose to contribute at www. animalcenter.org/therapeuticriding.
If you would like more information on how to donate to the therapeutic riding program, or get involved in other ways, please contact Therapeutic Riding Program Administrative Coordinator Gretchen Davis: (858)756-4117 x381, or visit www.animalcenter.org. Helen Woodward Animal Center is located at 6523 Helen Woodward Way in Rancho Santa Fe.
