The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center and its program, Therapeutic Riding of Tryon, have announced that TROT will hold its first Veterans’ Family Fun Day on Saturday at the covered arena at FENCE.

There will be two sessions of this program, which introduces veterans and their families to the value of the horse/human connection and to basic horsemanship.  The morning session will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the afternoon session will begin at 1:15 p.m. A picnic-style lunch will be served at noon between the sessions.

Registrants and volunteers from both sessions are invited to the picnic.

The session begins with a clinic, featuring trainer Lydia Juenger, on the fundamentals of establishing a relationship with horses and will include a round pen demonstration.  It will be followed by an opportunity to interact with TROT horses. There will be miniature horses and donkeys for interaction with children as well as kids’ craft table.

To register, veterans can call FENCE at 828-859-9012 or email therapeuticriding@fence.org. Specify the morning or afternoon session and include the number of attendees in your family.

To volunteer, email TROTvolunteer@fence.org.

The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) corporation located at 3381 Hunting Country Road in Tryon.

This program is supported in part by a grant from Heart of Horse Sense, www.heartofhorsesense.org, and is provided free of charge to veterans and their families.

– Submitted by Tracie Hanson