RIDE TO FLY
Offers Adaptive Riding Program on the Peninsula
Written by Cindy Donnelly
One of the most cherished and unique aspects to life in Palos Verdes is the equestrian presence. Tucked away in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood is a special equestrian program, one that brings horses and people with special needs together for therapeutic riding, also known as adaptive riding. Ride To Fly offers adaptive riding lessons to students with physical, intellectual and/or psychological diagnoses and gives them the opportunity to learn horseback riding skills with the use of adaptive equipment and support, based on each individual’s needs.
Because horses have been working with humans for over 6000 years, they have learned to adapt to the people around them and can both reflect and respond to human emotions. At Ride To Fly, the therapy horses are part of the team along with staff and volunteers. To find out more about the program, we reached out to Katie Warschefsky, who has been director of operations since 2021, and Clarissa Donnelly, program manager.
Katie, who holds a Master of Science in social work specializing in health, mental health and disabilities from Columbia University in New York said, “We are so excited to be leading Ride To Fly into its next chapter. Bringing people, animals, movement, and the outdoors together in a therapeutic way has always been a dream of mine, and it is a privilege to witness the joy and growth that takes place here.”
“It is a privilege to witness the joy and growth that takes place here."
- Katie Warschefsky
They explained that Ride To Fly is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding and the associated learning experiences to children and adults with disabilities in a safe, nurturing environment. “We love Ride to Fly. It has been the best experience for our daughter. She absolutely loves it. She smiles after every lesson. I love how therapeutic riding is both therapy and riding together,” said TaShanna LaBorde, parent. Ride to Fly is a PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) member operating center that has been serving the South Bay area since 1994. Katie and Clarissa are both PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors, and they take great pride in sharing the gift of riding and horsemanship to participants of all ability levels.
Theresa LaVerne’s daughter, Lexi, has been riding at RTF for several years. “Watching Lexi’s transformation with the Ride to Fly program has been magical! Lexi’s self-confidence has soared by doing things that seemed challenging at first. I’ve also seen Lexi make huge shifts with more conversational exchanges and being less reserved socially. The horses and instructors are amazing! Having a chance to not only ride but pet a horse is so therapeutic. This program is such a blessing for our family!” Lexi said, “I really like riding horses because it helps me relax. Katie is funny, nice and easy to talk to.”
During its 28 years on the Peninsula, Ride To Fly has undergone many changes. At its inception, therapeutic riding was a relatively new and little-known opportunity for individuals with disabilities, but participants and volunteers quickly realized how effective and rewarding it was for the riders. Today, the field of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) is growing rapidly, with many exciting studies affirming the healing nature of horses and new research driving more evidence-based practices. “We hope to preserve the wonderful history of this organization while also keeping up with the ever evolving and growing field of EAAT,” Katie said.
As passionate members of the Palos Verdes horse community, Katie and Clarissa are working to bring new opportunities to Ride To Fly students. Last year, RTF students participated in the Peninsula Equestrian Circuit horse shows held at Ernie Howlett Park. “Sharing the horse show experience with our students was definitely a highlight of the last year! Seeing the excitement and pride on their faces at the shows, and the boost of confidence that stayed with them long after, made it such a rewarding experience” Clarissa said. Nine-year-old RTF student Elicia LaBorde said, “Riding in the Ernie Howlett horse show was the best!”
Ride To Fly plans to participate in more local horse shows in 2022. For more information on lessons, volunteer opportunities and ways to donate to student programs and care of the horses at Ride To Fly, visit the website at ridetofly.org. The organization plans to host some community events and fundraisers this year, so follow them on Instagram @RideToFly50 or Facebook to keep up with the latest news!
