T.E.A.D. is a therapeutic riding program. Therapeutic riding is where you put a child or an adult on a horse and you use that horse to help that rider learn something. So whether it's to help with a physical improvement or to help with an emotional change and riding is just a different type of therapy where, especially with children, they don't realize that they're in a therapy session.

Every rider changes differently. Watching them go in a matter of two or three lessons from just sitting on a horse to sitting up tall or trotting. They're getting that independence and they're feeling the control. They're empowered when they're on the horse. It's just little things that sometimes are the greatest accomplishments for them.

My name is Liz and this is my daughter Giselle and we have been coming to T.E.A.D. for the last two years. We came here for the reason that she has spinal muscular atrophy. We really feel that the riding has helped her tremendously in the physical aspects. Giselle, what's your favorite part about being here? Having fun and doing fun things.

Yeah. I'm riding the horses. If there's anything I'd like people to take from what we do here at T.E.A.D., it's that we are here to inspire people. These riders, they don't have disabilities. They have varied abilities. They inspire you every day to be happy and to relish the things that you do have in your life. If I had one wish for T.E.A.D., it would be that we could secure permanent funding.

T.E.A.D. runs on donations. Our biggest expense is our horses, but they're the most important part of our program, apart from our volunteers. Our goal is to keep this program available to as many people in Hamilton and the surrounding areas as could benefit from it. There's something here at T.E.A.D. for everyone. Whether you want to ride, donate, sponsor, or become a volunteer, we'd love to hear from you.