How BTRC Began
Our program has been in existence since 1979. It was founded by a former principal of the Marvin E.Beekman Center, John Breaugh, who saw a need for specialized horseback riding therapy for Beekman Center students as well as adults with disabilities and other community members.

When the program first began, 4-H members would transport their horses to the Beekman campus and volunteer their time to give lessons to a small group of people with disabilities. Lessons took place only one day a week and only during the warmer months, since all classes were held in an outdoor arena. As time went on, the program grew in popularity and size. Eventually, horses and tack were donated directly to the Lansing School District, which gained ownership of the program.

In 1982 the red barn was erected to house the animals and fences were put in place to stable them on the property. Employees were hired to run the operation as the demand for the riding services continued to grow. In 1989, Mr. Breaugh collected funding to erect a 60?120 indoor riding arena, which was soon equipped with a heating system, making it possible to offering riding services year round.

Today, we all thank Mr. Breaugh, the generous donors, and our many volunteers for the dedication and hard work that created this beneficial program and continue to make it a reality for those who love it.


We Need Your Support Now
Today, our program continues under the ownership of the Lansing School District (LSD) and remains a nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 status. However, as of February 2005, budget cuts forced the LSD to eliminate this non-mandated program. Alarming as that may sound, the good news is that immediate and aggressive action has been taken by the staff, parents, and volunteers. This dedicated group of people pulled together, forming a BTRC Support Group and a Board of Advisors. Together, they wrote a proposal to the LSD requesting the opportunity to carry on this milestone community program. The proposal was presented to the LSD cabinet in early April and accepted as a recommendation to allow the program to continue, provided that adequate funding is collected in a timely manner.

In the mean time, our program is still going strong. We are optimistic that we will continue to gain support and be able to continue this very beneficial program. Our support group members are currently seeking donations and actively promoting our "BTRC Sponsorship Programs" in an effort to raise needed funds.

Please read the documents at the foot of this page for information and updates.

If you would like to contribute, please contact our offices at 517-325-7510 or 517-325-6751.


Our Operation and Who We Serve
Our program currently operates year round, five days a week (Monday through Friday), for six sessions per year. See Classes/Clinics on our menu. Classes are scheduled from mid- morning into the evening hours. During Beekman Center school months (September through June), Beekman students have priority for our riding services during the school day. From mid- afternoon through evening, we open our schedule to outside students who pay for lessons. By creating a schedule to accommodate a wide range of abilities and levels of experience, we are able to place all students in classes that best suits their needs.

BTRC currently owns 13 program horses, all of which have been donated. The horses are stabled on site.  An appropriate mount is selected for the student by the instructor during an initial assessment. All of our horses are very safe and friendly, making riding an enjoyable learning experience for the students.
 
Our riding and driving classes are taught by our experienced instructors, who are certified by NARHA (the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) and facilitated by our assisting staff and volunteers. All assisting staff and volunteers are required to attend class training before they are allowed to assist in classes. Our program functions under NARHA guidelines, providing an enjoyable and safe environment for all participants.

Serving All Abilities
We are proud to offer riding and driving lessons to people of all ages, with and without disabilities. We accept students 3 years of age and older. A Rider Registration Form, which requires a physician's signature, must be completed for all students before they can be scheduled to ride. We accept students with all disabilities, provided that the activity is authorized by the student's physician.

We want to remind you that we also offer riding and driving classes for children and adults who do not have a disability. Our experienced staff can teach skills in both riding and driving to students in beginner through advanced levels and would be happy to help you get started now!