FENCE will host an evening of music, dancing and equestrian entertainment this Saturday evening during the fifth annual Dancing Under the Stars.
The fundraising event for T.R.O.T. (Therapeutic Riding of Tryon), the therapeutic riding program at FENCE, will take place on the equestrian side, under the covered arena starting at 6 p.m.
The theme for this year’s performance is: An Evening of American Mountain Music. The event will feature an arrray of equestrian demonstrations in the covered arena at the equestrian center, followed by dancing.
In addition to watching some of the TROT riders show their skills, the program includes exhibitions of stadium jumping, dressage, barrel racing, and a Parade of Breeds with some rarely seen examples. And there’s clogging, too.
Entertainment will be provided by the Green Grass Cloggers, singer Mary Myers, and Paul’s Creek Band. Horse trainer Caroline Whittle and equestrian performer Martha Hall are also part of the entertainment lineup.
All proceeds benefit TROT’s community service for physically and developmentally challenged adults and children.
T.R.O.T., for children and adults with disabilities, was created in 2003. T.R.O.T. held its first class on June 1, 2004. Therapeutic equestrian programs have provided both challenges and rewards to people with physical, mental, emotional and social disabilities.
These disabilities may include multiple sclerosis, autism, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, Parkinsons Disease and Down Syndrome. Victims of strokes and depression as well as physical, mental or emotional abuse have benefited from this unique therapy.
The benefits of horseback riding are threefold:
1. Physical – The three-dimensional motion of the horse provides the rider hip and back actions that simulates natural walking. Riding relaxes and strengthens muscles and improves body tone, posture, balance, joint mobility, and coordination.
2. Emotional – Contact with horses and horsemanship training provides a non-competitive setting for learning new abilities, self-discipline, and improved concentration building self-confidence.
3. Social – Horseback riding nurtures a positive self-image. Riders may, for the first time in their lives, experience some independence and sense of being part of the team.
Tickets are on sale now. Bleacher seats and dinner tickets will be sold.
Dinner tickets consist of dinner from Stone Soup of Landrum, S.C., under the covered arena and the show. Bleacher seat ticketholders are invited to bring a picnic, no food will be sold.
There will be beer and wine for sale for those in bleacher seats.
For additional information or tickets call FENCE at 828-859-9021 or visit www.fence.org.
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