Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center

09/05/2026

🍂 Just a reminder about the dangers of grass during the season of pumpkin spice, fall like temperatures (still waiting on that crisp fall weather) and changing/falling leaves. Just because it is fall does not mean that your horse isn’t at risk for developing laminitis triggered by insulin dysregulation due to metabolic issues and seasonal hormonal imbalances. The grass may appear less lush and green; however, the grass is in a stressed state. And due to this stressed state, the grass is high in sugars. We recommend still leaving the grazing muzzle on your horse for their safety and your peace of mind.

🩸 What can lead to insulin dysregulation? 🩸
Equine Metabolic Syndrome is a disorder associated with the inability to regulate blood insulin levels resulting in hyperinsulinemia. PPID (Pituitary para intermedia dysfunction) is the development of benign tumors of the pituitary gland which is responsible for regulating the body’s hormones including ACTH (adrencorticotropic). Both disorders can lead to insulin dysregulation, which can cause laminitis particularly when exposed to a diet high in non-structutal carbohydrates. ACTH and insulin levels can be tested to determine if your horse may need medication.

🐴 Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae between the hoof and the underlying coffin bone. The inflammation weakens the laminae attachments. Depending on severity, this may lead to founder. Founder is when the hoof and coffin bone can separate and the coffin bone can rotate.

Clinical signs of laminitis include:
🍂 Unwillingness to walk and notable lameness at the walk
🍂 Weight shifting
🍂 Heat in the feet
🍂 Increased digital pulses
🍂Wanting to stand with their weight rocked back on their hind feet
🍂 Increased heart rate and respiratory rate due to pain

🩺 If you suspect your horse may be experiencing laminitis, be sure to call your veterinarian for an exam and to formulate a plan that may include medications, management changes, and dietary restrictions.

09/02/2026

Rising Hope is looking for Part-Time Therapeutic Riding Instructors!

Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center is looking for knowledgeable, dependable individuals to join our team as part-time instructors, teaching approximately 5–10 lessons per month.

We are a therapeutic riding program — not a traditional lesson barn.

Our riders come to us with a wide range of abilities, disabilities, needs, and goals. While strong horsemanship and teaching skills are important, our lessons are designed around the individual rider and the therapeutic benefits of working with horses. Success may look very different from one rider to the next.

Above all, safety is our top priority. Our instructors are responsible not only for teaching, but for making sound decisions about horse selection, equipment, volunteer support, lesson activities, and when an activity needs to be modified or stopped. Good judgment and attention to safety always come before completing a lesson plan or advancing a riding skill.

Because we operate as a therapeutic riding program with established safety standards and procedures, instructors must also be able to consistently follow program policies, procedures, and guidelines established by Rising Hope’s Board of Directors and program leadership. We value the knowledge and experience our instructors bring to the program, while also recognizing that consistency across instructors is essential to the safety of our riders, volunteers, horses, and staff.

Ideal candidates will have:

• A strong foundation in horsemanship and barn safety
• Experience teaching or working with riders of varying abilities
• The ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively with volunteers and staff
• Patience, flexibility, creativity, and good judgment
• The ability and willingness to follow established program policies, safety procedures, and direction from program leadership
• Reliability and a genuine commitment to creating a safe, positive environment for our participants, horses, and volunteers

Experience working with individuals with disabilities and/or therapeutic/adaptive riding experience is wonderful, but we are also interested in those who are eager to learn.

This is a part-time position of approximately 5–10 lessons per month, making it a great opportunity for an experienced instructor or horse professional looking to add a small number of meaningful teaching hours to their schedule.

If you believe horses can help people achieve goals far beyond simply becoming better riders — and you take equine and participant safety seriously — we’d love to hear from you.

Interested? Send us an email at [email protected] to learn more or apply.

Please share with anyone who might be a great fit for the Rising Hope team!

09/02/2026

Hey friends—we could really use a few more volunteers in the barn right now. 🐴

With the fall session starting up soon, things are getting busy and we’re a little short on coverage for feeding shifts and lessons.

If you’ve ever thought about helping out, this is a great time to jump in. Morning, evening, or weekend shifts all make a difference.

No horse experience needed—we’ll show you what to do. We just need people who are willing to show up and be part of the team.

It’s simple work, but it matters a lot—to the horses and to the whole program.

Email [email protected] or call/text 213.393.7202 if you’re interested 💙

09/02/2026

08/27/2026

🐴 Support Rising Hope while supporting animals across Pennsylvania! 🐾

We’re excited to share that Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center is one of the beneficiaries of United 4 Animals’ 2026 fundraising events! United 4 Animals raises funds through these events and distributes the proceeds among animal-focused nonprofits — including Rising Hope this year.

🎟️ 2026 All-Cash Raffle

Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100, with cash prizes of:

• $15,000 — 1st Prize
• $3,000 — 2nd Prize
• $2,000 — 3rd Prize

There’s also a $1,000 Early Bird cash prize for tickets purchased by September 20!

The drawing will be held October 25, and you do not need to be present to win. Check out the flyer for ticket locations and additional details.

NEW this year: Team Pull Tab Tournament!

If you enjoy pull tabs, grab some friends and put together a team! The tournament will be held Sunday, October 25 from 2–5 PM at The Mechanicsburg Club.

Teams can include 2–6 people, no experience is necessary, and there will be cash prizes. Space is limited to 24 teams, so anyone interested in participating is encouraged to reserve a spot. Details are on the attached flyer.

We’re grateful to United 4 Animals for including Rising Hope among the many organizations they are supporting this year. 🐴❤️

Please share and help us spread the word — supporting these events helps United 4 Animals continue supporting organizations like ours!

07/17/2026

Due to the wildfires in Canada, our area is experiencing a high level of smoke leading to decreased air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) provides information on how the air may effect us and our horses.

Smoke can cause eye irritation, respiratory irritation, exacerbate pre-existing respiratory conditions, and reduce lung function. Horses with *pre-exiting respiratory conditions* are at increased risk and should be kept in a cool area where they can be closely observed. Currently we are recommending avoiding forced exercise for all horses until the AQI improves.

If you have any questions or concerns, please be sure to contact your veterinarian.

07/04/2026

Keep Equines Safe During Fireworks this Holiday Weekend

For many, fireworks are a cherished Fourth of July tradition. For equines and other animals, they can be one of the most stressful nights of the year. As prey animals, horses instinctively react to loud, unpredictable noises by trying to flee. That panic can lead to injuries, escapes, and even life-threatening emergencies.

Here are a few ways you can help your barn stay as safe as possible:

- Inspect your fencing.
Walk your pasture before celebrations begin and repair any loose boards, broken wire, or weak spots that could fail if a horse panics.

- Make sure your horse has identification.
Use a breakaway halter with an ID tag only if it's safe to do so, or braid an ID tag into the mane. Ensure your horse's microchip registration and photos are current in case they get loose.

- Remove hazards.
Clear buckets, trailers, equipment, or anything a frightened horse could run into.

- Keep their routine as normal as possible.
Feed and check your horses on their regular schedule. Familiar routines can help reduce stress.

- If possible, don't leave them alone.
Being nearby allows you to monitor them, but avoid putting yourself in danger if a horse begins to panic.

- Turn on barn or paddock lights.
A well-lit environment can reduce the startling effect of sudden flashes from fireworks.

- Play calming background noise.
A fan, radio, or quiet music may help mask some of the noise from distant fireworks.

- Choose the safest environment for your horse.
Some horses are calmer in a secure stall, while others do better in a familiar pasture with safe fencing. Choose what has worked best for your individual horse.

- Talk to your veterinarian in advance.
If your horse has a history of severe anxiety during fireworks, your veterinarian can discuss appropriate options before the holiday.

- Check in with neighbors.
If you own horses, don't hesitate to ask your neighbors if they plan to use fireworks so you can prepare accordingly. A simple conversation ahead of time can make all the difference and help keep both people and animals safe this Fourth of July.

A few minutes of celebration should never come at the expense of an animal's safety.

Help us spread the word by sharing these tips.
Together, we can help keep more animals safe this Fourth of July.

Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July! 🇺🇸❤️

FleetOfAngels.org
We Help Horses.

07/02/2026

Today marks the start of Disability Pride Month! It commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, and also highlights disability culture, history, and community pride. The 2026 theme is “The World Works Better With Us.”

To learn more about the disability pride flag and how you can support disability pride month, visit: https://loom.ly/RCHUE1c.

07/01/2026

🌾 Pasture-Associated Laminitis: How to Keep your Horse Safe

🌱 Lush pasture can increase laminitis risk. Spring and fall grasses often contain higher levels of sugar, starch, and fructans, which can trigger elevated insulin levels in susceptible horses.

⚠️ Metabolic horses are especially vulnerable. Horses with insulin resistance, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), or PPID (Cushing's disease) have a greater risk of developing pasture-associated laminitis.

🐴 Prevention starts with management. Monitoring body condition, limiting pasture intake when needed, choosing turnout times carefully, and providing a balanced diet can help reduce the risk of laminitis.