Dream Riders became operational in October 1998 with 2 horses and eight soon to be equestrian participants. Over the years Dream Riders has expanded to offering over 1,000 hours of equine assisted activities yearly with future Dream Riders on our waiting list. Through certified instructors, dedicated volunteers and specially trained horses Dream Riders enables riders of ages four years old and older to benefit from equine assisted activities. Offering weekly therapeutic riding lessons from September through June in small group settings. Over the summer months Dream Riders independent riders conitnue to ride when the weather permits and special groups like 10:10 Bridge, children’s homes and Circles come to experience equine assisted activities. Dream Riders is entirely operated by volunteers and one paid certified instructor, with 100% of all donations and funds received going right back into the program. Dream Riders offers the Equine Assisted Activities of Therapeutic Horsemanship and Therapeutic Riding: Equine Assisted Activities are those services provided by a trained professional that focus on recreation, leisure, sport or education. These activities are based on an educational model. The professional guiding the experience is a specially-trained, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). The professionals’ training provides them with expertise in specialized, adaptive teaching methods which allow people with a variety of disabilities to learn horsemanship skills and experience the equine environment. Therapeutic Horsemanship – equine activities organized and taught by a CTRI specifically trained to work with people with disabilities or diverse needs. The intent is for students to progress in equestrian skills while improving their cognitive, emotional, social and/or behavioral skills. Therapeutic Riding (TR) – therapeutic horsemanship that involves mounted activities including traditional riding disciplines or adaptive riding activities conducted by a CTRI.
Jennifer Stoudemire- Head Riding Instructor & Program Director I have been an avid horse person all my life. I started formal Hunt Seat lessons at age five and started competing at age six. . At age fourteen I entered the world of Dressage and competed at a state level. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Sociology, was a member of the Varsity Equestrian Team, competing in Hunt Seat, Western Pleasure and Reining divisions finishing at the Open level. It was in my senior year of college that I realized my calling was to combine my love for horses and passion for people with special needs. I am blessed with a younger brother with special needs. Over the years I witnessed first hand the impact riding had on his development. It made sense that this was what I was called to do. All of the elements fell into place in 1998 for the Dream of Dream Riders to come Alive. It was a beautiful day in October that my calling became a reality and I gave my first therapuetic riding lesson to eight excited students. I am a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor, a certified Special Olympics Equestrian Coach, a Para-Dressage coach and have my USDF Bronze medal rider award. Dream Riders is my purpose and passion. I love sharing my love and knowledge of horses with our special riders!
Corky Dyer- Assistant Riding Instructor The “Mom” of Dream Riders I have loved horses from the begining. My first word was horse. When my mother brought me home from the hospital my brother decided Cordelia was too long of a name for such a little baby. He was reading a book about a Calvary horse named “Corky” and decided that would be the perfect nickname for me. I guess it had a lasting impact on my life. I grew up riding and training Saddleseat horses in Greenville, SC. I graduated from Clemson Univiersity with a BS in Chemistry. In 1976 my husband Lewis and I started our little family, little did we know the direction we would go. Jennifer Dyer now Stoudemire was born and followed my foot steps of being a horse crazy little girl. In 1980 my son Lew was born and this was when I became the mother of a special needs child. He grew up riding our family pony which made an impact on his physical developement. When Jennifer was in her senior year in college everything came together to start a therapuetic riding program. The Dream came alive with Dream Riders. I have been right beside Jennifer from the start. I am a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor and a certified Special Olympics Equestrian Coach. Jennifer says I am the "Mom" and watchful eyes of Dream Riders. I enjoy sharing with the parents in our similarities. It is a beautiful sight to see our riders connect with the horses and beam with excitement all right in my front yard. I can’t imagine our farm being used for anything else.
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Dream Riders became operational in October 1998 with 2 horses and eight soon to be equestrian participants. Over the years Dream Riders has expanded to offering over 1,000 hours of equine assisted activities yearly with future Dream Riders on our waiting list. Through certified instructors, dedicated volunteers and specially trained horses Dream Riders enables riders of ages four years old and older to benefit from equine assisted activities. Offering weekly therapeutic riding lessons from September through June in small group settings. Over the summer months Dream Riders independent riders conitnue to ride when the weather permits and special groups like 10:10 Bridge, children’s homes and Circles come to experience equine assisted activities. Dream Riders is entirely operated by volunteers and one paid certified instructor, with 100% of all donations and funds received going right back into the program. Dream Riders offers the Equine Assisted Activities of Therapeutic Horsemanship and Therapeutic Riding: Equine Assisted Activities are those services provided by a trained professional that focus on recreation, leisure, sport or education. These activities are based on an educational model. The professional guiding the experience is a specially-trained, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI). The professionals’ training provides them with expertise in specialized, adaptive teaching methods which allow people with a variety of disabilities to learn horsemanship skills and experience the equine environment. Therapeutic Horsemanship – equine activities organized and taught by a CTRI specifically trained to work with people with disabilities or diverse needs. The intent is for students to progress in equestrian skills while improving their cognitive, emotional, social and/or behavioral skills. Therapeutic Riding (TR) – therapeutic horsemanship that involves mounted activities including traditional riding disciplines or adaptive riding activities conducted by a CTRI.
Jennifer Stoudemire- Head Riding Instructor & Program Director I have been an avid horse person all my life. I started formal Hunt Seat lessons at age five and started competing at age six. . At age fourteen I entered the world of Dressage and competed at a state level. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Sociology, was a member of the Varsity Equestrian Team, competing in Hunt Seat, Western Pleasure and Reining divisions finishing at the Open level. It was in my senior year of college that I realized my calling was to combine my love for horses and passion for people with special needs. I am blessed with a younger brother with special needs. Over the years I witnessed first hand the impact riding had on his development. It made sense that this was what I was called to do. All of the elements fell into place in 1998 for the Dream of Dream Riders to come Alive. It was a beautiful day in October that my calling became a reality and I gave my first therapuetic riding lesson to eight excited students. I am a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor, a certified Special Olympics Equestrian Coach, a Para-Dressage coach and have my USDF Bronze medal rider award. Dream Riders is my purpose and passion. I love sharing my love and knowledge of horses with our special riders!
Corky Dyer- Assistant Riding Instructor The “Mom” of Dream Riders I have loved horses from the begining. My first word was horse. When my mother brought me home from the hospital my brother decided Cordelia was too long of a name for such a little baby. He was reading a book about a Calvary horse named “Corky” and decided that would be the perfect nickname for me. I guess it had a lasting impact on my life. I grew up riding and training Saddleseat horses in Greenville, SC. I graduated from Clemson Univiersity with a BS in Chemistry. In 1976 my husband Lewis and I started our little family, little did we know the direction we would go. Jennifer Dyer now Stoudemire was born and followed my foot steps of being a horse crazy little girl. In 1980 my son Lew was born and this was when I became the mother of a special needs child. He grew up riding our family pony which made an impact on his physical developement. When Jennifer was in her senior year in college everything came together to start a therapuetic riding program. The Dream came alive with Dream Riders. I have been right beside Jennifer from the start. I am a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor and a certified Special Olympics Equestrian Coach. Jennifer says I am the "Mom" and watchful eyes of Dream Riders. I enjoy sharing with the parents in our similarities. It is a beautiful sight to see our riders connect with the horses and beam with excitement all right in my front yard. I can’t imagine our farm being used for anything else.