Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Schonfeld.
Hi Wendy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
The therapeutic riding center in Clover celebrates its first decade by expanding. Before I could talk, I loved horses,” says Clover resident Wendy Schonfeld. And for the last ten years, Wendy has been able to use her equine passion to help hundreds of York County families. In 2012, she and her husband, Michael, founded RideAbility, a therapeutic riding and assisted equine services and learning center for children and young adults with special needs and veterans. A decade later, the center has expanded to help even more students. A city girl with a horse-loving heart in her teens, Wendy fed her horse fervor by traveling on 3 city buses from her Bronx, NY, home to a horse barn to volunteer to clean stalls. Decades later, Wendy and Michael’s daughter had physical special needs. Wendy’s love for horses spilled over to her daughter, and they discovered mobility and freedom with horses. They found the ability to be like everyone else by riding horses.
One day, while riding, Wendy experienced watching a child riding and laughing from his toes through his nose. When they took him off of the horse, they put him into his wheelchair. At that moment, Wendy knew this was her calling, and the power of horses was far beyond anything she knew. She observed other children finding joy and gaining skills in the saddle. Her epiphany: horses are the perfect facilitation for people with special abilities. Armed with that vision, Wendy became a certified Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) certified instructor and, later on, an Advanced Certified Equestrian Coach for the Special Olympics. The Schonfelds moved to Clover, where Michael opened his chiropractic practice. Wendy founded Rideability Therapeutic Riding Center with just two horses and a handful of students.
“There are very few places and services in York County for special needs children and adults,” says Wendy. We knew the need was there to help so many families. Therapeutic Riding and Equine equine-assisted services and learning develop core strength, muscle strength, fine and gross motor skills, executive function skills, critical thinking, and more for those with special needs – and peace and well-being for veterans who have PTSD. Equine-assisted learning brings academic skills into riding lessons. Most students come to RideAbility once or twice a week for private or group lessons. They are referred by physicians, physical therapists, schools, counselors, veterans’ groups, families, and friends. A year after opening its barn doors in 2013, RideAbility became the training center for Mecklenburg County’s Special Olympics Equestrian Team. Four years ago, Wendy and the South Carolina Special Olympics Organization (re-launched after a decade), the South Carolina Equestrian Program. Wendy is now the Sports Director for the South Carolina Equestrian Special Olympics and a Clinician for both South and North Carolina Equestrian Special Olympics. RideAbility is a training center for Area 11 Special Olympics and Mecklenburg County. Today, 26 Special Olympics athletes are coached by 28 Special Olympics certified coaches at RideAbility. The center also celebrates 10 years with the Clover High School Occupational Education Program for special needs students. They are excited to have the York School district involved in this excellent work-study program.
For our program to grow, we needed more land and more horses. The 20-acre center includes a barn, 15 horses, several pastures, a large arena, and a unique sensory trail area: new digs 100 students. While half of RideAbility’s 90 families cannot afford regular services, they get help from its tuition assistance program funded by grants and local partners (see sidebar). And Wendy credits the incredible fifty volunteers with keeping the center succeeding and growing. Volunteers range from 14-year-olds to retirees who care for the horses, help during lessons, assist students, and clean stalls. What started as a one-woman show has now become a community effort. We could only do this with our excellent teams. “I may have had the vision. However, they are the reason we have succeeded. Our teams dedicate their time and love to our students, which is incredible. Our students learn they can, and they will succeed. Our students reach their goals, and we set new ones,” says Wendy. “All while having fun on our amazing therapeutic horses.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We are always in need of new volunteers to join our team. To serve more families, we need more dedicated teams. Another area for improvement is having a covered arena. We are beginning to raise money for this project (approx $400,000). A covered arena will allow us to continue to serve our families during rain and extreme temperatures. We need this covered area to allow us to serve our families during this challenging time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Certified Equine Assisted Learning, Advanced Special Olympics Certified Head Coach, Sports Director of the South Carolina Equestrian Special Olympics, Team Clinician for South and North Carolina Equestrian Special Olympics.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in the city of Bronx, NY. My mom was a single mom raising two girls in a 1 bedroom apartment. Our father was not around. Our mom raised us as two strong, independent women. I taught us to make a difference in the world and love animals. My love for horses started at a very young age. No one knew why. I just needed to be with them. In high school, I loved helping with Special Olympics. Our daughter was born with physical disabilities, and that led our family to a world of horses even more. Horses have changed our lives and the lives of thousands. They help improve strength, balance, coordination, social skills, executive function, critical thinking, and more.
Pricing:
- $45 a session
Contact Info:
- Website: rideabilitysc.com
- Facebook: rideabilitysc
