A Visit to Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding & Respite
March 9, 2020
Going west on 380 you are sure to pass a number of towns each with the same small-town essentials, from the local gas stations, to the town halls and the two or three churches that dot the landscape, it almost all seems the same. But tucked a few miles north of 380 is the small town of Krugerville, Texas that is home to a special community of passionate and caring individuals. I drove out to Krugerville to go check out Blue Sky Therapeutic Riding & Respite which strives to empower those living with disabilities through horseback riding and by providing them with an environment of support and security for the future.
Blue Sky began in 2010 and continues to live true to their mission of helping those reach their true potential through growing both confidence and motor skills through horseback riding and other activities on the farm. It is also emphasized how Blue Sky not only supports those with disabilities, but also their family members as well. When I visited Blue Sky I was able to attend their annual Christmas party and hang out with some of the lovely people there. What I found so incredible about the Blue Sky program, is that there were visitors who did not have a family member who regularly attended the Blue Sky riding program, but still showed up to their events and parties to help volunteer and hang out because of the kind of community that is centered around Blue Sky.
I walked around with Blue Sky’s creative director, Amy Gayhart, and she told me about all of the ins and outs on the farm. There are seven horses that live on the Blue Sky property and each one of them is rode daily in different horseback riding lessons given by the Horse Program Director, Jennifer Mathis. Mathis explained how horseback riding helps not only improve the motor skills of those with disabilities, but also provides a healthy activity in which riders can get out and be active and make connections with their horse.
Blue Sky serves as more than just a therapeutic riding center, as they also have a weekly program where members can come to be apart of their day program where they can improve life skills and create crafts and goods to be sold at their very own store, the Purpose Mercantile. The mercantile has a variety of hand made goods that change every season including, holiday signs, cards, and soaps made by members of the day program. The Purpose Mercantile helps to teach life skills including interactions with customers and how to package and make goods to be sold. Gayhart explained how the Purpose Mercantile is planning to expand their store into an updated silo that will also include a coffee bar with a walk-up window where customers can order coffee. This expansion will give members a better opportunity to have face-to-face interactions with customers and learn how to clean and take care of their own store.
Blue Sky also features a garden located right outside of the barn for members to learn how to garden and grow different fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Blue Sky received a grant from the Seed Project Foundation which allowed them to purchase a tractor for the farm and better beds to garden in. With these purchases, Blue Sky has been able to move hay and materials easier and grow their gardening program to include more areas to grow produce. This helps enrich the lives of the members of Blue Sky as they are able to learn more about gardening and the importance of healthy eating habits. The different fruits and vegetables grown will also be sold at the mercantile while they are in season for customers to stop by and purchase. Blue Sky provides an area all around that promotes the development of fine motor skills in an encouraging environment as seen in the riding arena, the purpose Mercantile and the community of supporters that invest their time into the members there.
As I got to decorate cookies with new friends, take a look through the Purpose Mercantile goods, and watch different riders trot around the arena, I was encouraged by the kind of community that surrounds Blue Sky Riding and Respite and how they display their core values of service and empowerment. I had a great time celebrating with all of the riders and volunteers, and I am looking forward to the next time I get to go back!