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Successful Seasons
New Kingdom Trailriders, a NARHA accredited riding program near Sherrard
has been quietly offering an array of riding programs to people with
disabilities ages 3 to adult for the past 21 years. The organization
began in 1984, in the days when therapeutic riding was in its infancy.
NKT had several strikes against them in the beginning. No one had ever
seen or even heard of therapeutic riding in the Quad Cities, leadership
and expertise was limited amongst the NKT members and everything had to
be borrowed including horses, equipment and facilities. The only thing
that the organization had going for it was a dream, the desire to be of
service and a faith that God would supply sometime, in His own time.
Throughout the years, NKT has kept the dream and the faith that God
would provide. Today, NKT consistently has enough volunteers to help run
the program; there are more than enough riders to fill the classes; the
horses are just the number and type for the riders; and there is just
enough money to pay the bills
Because NKT is a seasonal program with no regular indoor arena, the
threat of foul weather could be a concern. Amazingly, there have been
very few rides that have been canceled because of weather reasons. Last
summer’s extreme heat being the exception.
Now we will fast forward beyond the opportunities of the past:
1.We have had the privilege to participate in the first Special
Olympics Equestrian competitions in IL;
2. We helped host NARHA’s 25th anniversary birthday
celebration at the national conference in Chicago;
3. NKT, on two occasions, sent 3 riders to the Special Olympic World
games, one returning home with 2 gold medals;
4. The organization has expanded its riding program from one to 5 days
per week and from 1 to 60 regular riders and 100 part time riders.
Nearly 100 volunteers help make the organization operate smoothly.
5. Annually, grant awards have gone from a few $1,000 gifts to one or
more $10,000 grants per year, although the majority of the support
remains with the individual donor. The annual banquet remains as NKT’s
only major fund raising attempt although donations are received through
United Way’s Special Care Program, Combined Federal Campaign, Knights of
Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive and John Deere Classic’s Birdies for Charity
. The annual budget has now climbed past the $100,000 mark.
The turn of the century was the beginning of a turn of events for NKT.
The event that has impacted the organization the most is the selling of
the farm that has been NKT’s home for the past 21 years. In the search
for a permanent home, several possibilities have been investigated, but
nothing has panned out.
The faith that God is still in control still exists. Still there is no
facility to call home.
In preparation for the sale of the house and a move from the farm, last
fall, the NKT office moved out of the farm house to SouthPark Mall in
Moline. We are grateful for the new location as it has provided NKT
with the visibility it has sought for many years. Along with housing
NKT’s records and office equipment, the mall office has been set up as a
resource center for researching disabilities and therapeutic riding.
NKT’s office is also a center for promoting North American Riding for
the Handicapped Association, Special Olympics and 4-H as NKT is
affiliated with all three.
A remarkable, unsolicited opportunity has sprung from the new
visibility. NKT is now being promoted almost daily in conjunction with
the Mallards Hockey team and the Steam Wheelers arena football team. NKT
and Gilda’s Club will be sharing the proceeds of an auction of Mallard’s
jerseys at the home games.
Next to NKT’s budget on a shoestring, anything over $1,000 is a lot of
money. Next to the impending bills associated with moving the program
and buying a facility, $1,000 won’t buy much.
NKT, through the years has weathered many seasons of change. You see,
life goes on. One could go crazy worrying about the future. The most
important thing that we can do is follow our heart, provide the best
therapeutic, recreational and competition program to the best of our
knowledge and abilities and then watch God provide - in His own time.
The future looks bright as we anticipate many more Successful Seasons of
Change.
Epilogue:
Currently, May 20 has been set as NKT’s moving date. NKT will be moving
permanently away from Fireside Farm and going to Schone’s Friendship
Farm which is a farm that has been used in the past for special events.
This farm has an indoor arena which will eliminate some of the weather
related questions and potentially allow NKT to have a longer riding
season.
Thank you to Deb and Roger Schone for welcoming NKT to their facility.
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