Student helps kids through horse program
Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: News
ow has been a symbol used to explain various propositions thought up by humankind. Pots of gold and promises among them, the rainbow is also an emblem of beauty and hope - meanings not lost on Western Illinois University student Becky Hoelscher.
A senior majoring in social work, Hoelscher volunteers at the Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Monmouth, Ill., so she knows firsthand how the center provides hope and is a place of beauty for those it serves.
"Rainbow Riders' official mission statement is 'to provide safe, professional and affordable therapeutic horseback riding opportunities that contribute positively to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social well-being of children with special needs,'" Hoelscher explained. "But to really understand what Rainbow Riders does for children and their families, people have to experience it for themselves."
Hoelscher began volunteering at Rainbow Riders about three years ago, first as an arena assistant, helping instructors with riding lessons, then as a side walker, which involves assisting riders. Helping others comes naturally to Hoelscher, who noted her social work major as a direct result of her frequently finding herself helping family or neighbors. With her love of animals, of horses in particular, for Hoelscher, Rainbow Riders provides a perfect fit for her social activism and humane interests.
"I try to help out the center any way I can," she said. "It's an amazing place that does amazing things for people."
Hoelscher's help at Rainbow Riders has also resulted in an $8,000 grant, which was recently awarded to Rainbow Riders through the Illinois Equine Industry Research and Promotion Board. As part of her degree coursework, Hoelscher enrolled in a social work policy course in fall 2008 taught by Michael Fimmen, chairperson of Western Illinois' social work department. The "Barn and Paddock Restoration in Support of Rainbow Riders" grant proposal was the result of what she learned in Fimmen's class, a grant-proposal writing assignment in a general practice class taught by Rebekah Clark, social work instructor, and her volunteer efforts at Rainbow Riders.
A senior majoring in social work, Hoelscher volunteers at the Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center in Monmouth, Ill., so she knows firsthand how the center provides hope and is a place of beauty for those it serves.
"Rainbow Riders' official mission statement is 'to provide safe, professional and affordable therapeutic horseback riding opportunities that contribute positively to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social well-being of children with special needs,'" Hoelscher explained. "But to really understand what Rainbow Riders does for children and their families, people have to experience it for themselves."
Hoelscher began volunteering at Rainbow Riders about three years ago, first as an arena assistant, helping instructors with riding lessons, then as a side walker, which involves assisting riders. Helping others comes naturally to Hoelscher, who noted her social work major as a direct result of her frequently finding herself helping family or neighbors. With her love of animals, of horses in particular, for Hoelscher, Rainbow Riders provides a perfect fit for her social activism and humane interests.
"I try to help out the center any way I can," she said. "It's an amazing place that does amazing things for people."
Hoelscher's help at Rainbow Riders has also resulted in an $8,000 grant, which was recently awarded to Rainbow Riders through the Illinois Equine Industry Research and Promotion Board. As part of her degree coursework, Hoelscher enrolled in a social work policy course in fall 2008 taught by Michael Fimmen, chairperson of Western Illinois' social work department. The "Barn and Paddock Restoration in Support of Rainbow Riders" grant proposal was the result of what she learned in Fimmen's class, a grant-proposal writing assignment in a general practice class taught by Rebekah Clark, social work instructor, and her volunteer efforts at Rainbow Riders.
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