About Us
Our Name: All Riders Up
Our name implies that which we state indirectly in
our mission. We will make every effort to see that
all riders are welcomed and treated equally, no
matter what special needs they may have.
Our Mission:
We provide equine assisted activities to encourage
individuals with special needs in reaching their
potential for physical, behavioral, and social
development in an atmosphere of recreation and fun.
Our Tag Line and its Emphasis: “Take the Reins”
In adopting this as our tag line, we hope that
prospective participants recognize that engaging in
equine assisted activities requires active
participation on their part. “Take the reins” is an
invitation to accept the challenge to accomplish as
much as you can and to agree to work toward that
goal with the assistance of our instructors,
volunteers, and our horses.
In addition, we want those who come to All Riders Up
for riding lessons to know that they will be
expected to view the horse they ride as a partner in
the achievement of their individual goals and as
such, deserves to be treated with respect and
kindness.
For 25 years, my husband and I have been horse
owners. We have been involved in breeding, training,
showing, racing, carriage driving, and more recently
therapeutic activities using horses. Our horses have
been such an integral part of our family and a
source of pleasure in our lives that we are firmly
committed to continuing our relationship with them
as we retire from our “off the farm” careers as a
nurse and physician. Our years of passion for
helping others and working with horses at home have
led to our not-for-profit business interest which we
feel combines the two beautifully.
The most critical component of a successful
therapeutic riding program is safety for the riders,
volunteers, instructors and the horses. The
partnering of the “right” horse with the “right”
student and the provision of trained volunteer
assistance is more easily achieved when each horse
is well understood and the surroundings are familiar
to them. Our herd of horses and ponies (14 total)
have been observed and handled by us personally
every day. We know their behaviors and capabilities
well, having raised most of them from birth and
ridden them all ourselves.
In 2007 I joined the professional trade association
(NARHA -North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association, Inc.) and was certified as a registered
instructor with them. This was accomplished in part
by completion of Thorncroft’s instructor program and
certification by them as a level II instructor. Our
program has been enrolled as a NARHA Center Member.
Aligning our program with this organization not only
offers the prospective participant an assurance of
quality and safety standards but it gives our
program credibility, direction, and
educational/networking opportunities.
We were established as a Pennsylvania corporation in
June 2008. We received IRS approval of our
non-profit charitable application in October of
2009.
Please “Take the Reins” and join our effort.
Your interest and support is greatly appreciated.
Marcia & Arthur Laver
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