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Friday, November 06, 2009 |
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Francisco Wright "Fran" has been riding with Heart's Desire TRC since it’s first year serving children in 2001. Fran started with therapeutic riding thru Special Olympics Equestrian events sponsored by Heart’s Desire. This was the first equestrian event in Tate County for children and adults with disabilities. Fran rode his first horse on a lead with spotters.
Through the years, Fran’s dedication and commitment to success has brought him to a new level of participation. Fran has become captain of the Heart's Desire Hoofbeats Drill Team and also of our competition team. Fran competes in American Quarter Horse Association Equestrians With Disabilities Classes at the Dixie National in Jackson, MS as well as several other AQHA Shows throughout the state during the year. Fran has won AQHA EWD highpoint in Western Horsemanship for two years.
Fran has now advanced once more. Through working for Heart’s Desire as an equine assistant and stable assistant, in January 2007, Fran purchased a Registered Quarter Horse gelding. "Doc" was 5 and still pretty green with only 90 days of riding on him. Fran, with the help of Heart's Desire Director, Karen Cates and his Instructor/coach, Susan Dent took on the task of finishing his horse with plans of competing in the AQHA EWD Western Horsemanship and Western Trail on Doc. He did and won high point for the year again! Doc always receives admiration from the judges and spectators and everyone is shocked to know that Fran has done the training. He looks forward to taking himself and Doc even farther as he learns to fine tune his skills even more as he has now begun to show in the EWD English Equitation Classes.
This young man epitomizes the benefits of therapeutic riding and how to overcome the "disabilities" and emphasize the "abilities".
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phillipians 4:13
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