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Although Ridin High has had great success with its mission, it could not be possible without its dedicated and passionate volunteers.

At Ridin’ High, there is a great community of volunteers, who work as a team to keep its therapy center running smoothly.

Cindy Giardiello, a volunteer, talked about how she not only helps with the organization but how it helped her.

“I lived in New Jersey for most of my life and while I was there I worked as a first responder,” Giardiello said. “I was a first responder to the 9/11 attack. When the towers came down I was there helping get people out and treat their injuries.”

“After the attack I was diagnosed with PTSD and then later in life I had a battle with cancer and a stroke, so I had a very hard life.”

In New Jersey Giardiello was a frequent horse rider however with her conditions doctors told her she would never ride again.

However, when she moved to the Lakeway Area in 2020 that would soon change.

“After two years of living here someone came to me and told me about Ridin High and that I should try volunteering there and I told them my doctor said I could never ride again because my mental and physical ailments,” Giardiello said. “However with a little encouragement I decided to come down and visit I spoke with Linda who told me I was right where I should be.”

“I got it cleared with my doctor, he said that it wouldn’t hurt to try and I did. As I started working here my dream came true, I am now back working with horses now.”

Although her passion for working horses returned she also saw her physical strength return as well.

“When I started a year ago I had 30% strength on the left side of my body which was caused due to my stroke and now after working here for 3 years I have over 70% of my strength returned,” Giardiello said.

“When I first started volunteering here I could never talk about my life and the struggles that I went through, but now today I can tell people about my journey and encourage them. This organization helped me in so many ways and now I can help others and help the horse.”

As she has dedicated her time at the facility she has also formed bonds with the staff that will last a lifetime.

“When you come here you start as a student then a friend and then a teacher and now these people are my family. I can count on them and whenever I need them I can give them a call and they are right there,” Giardiello said.

“Before I got here I was in a dark place but with the love and support I have received from the other staff and volunteers I have grown to love myself.”

Giardiello volunteers three days a week at Ridin High by caring for the horses and helping with lessons.

“When I get here I got down the line of the horses and talk with them and say hello,” Giardiello said. “I also feed them, groom them, train them and train students with their lessons.”

“As I continue to volunteer here I continue to progress and advance in my own training and understanding of the horse. I am excited to continue to work here and learn even more so I can teach other about horses.”

Ridin’ High is always in need of volunteers to help with lessons as horse leaders and sidewalkers, there are several ways in which people can help as volunteers at Ridin’ High.

Among the way volunteers help include, assist those with disabilities during weekly lessons, prepare horses for lessons, feed, brush, and care for the horses, mow, line trim, or bushhog fields, facility maintenance or improvements, help with office work and so much more.

The organization aims to match volunteers with tasks that fit in line with their interests and in line with their skills.

The level of commitment is also up to the volunteer; they can commit to weekly lessons to assist particular riders or just jump in during fundraising events.

The organization began in 1993 after Nancy Eversole Bible, wanted to unite her love for members of the disabled community and her passion for horses together.

She began offering recreational riding at her barn, with only two horses, to a handful of challenged riders from a local group home.

Five years later, a Board of Directors was formed and Ridin’ High gained its tax-exempt status with the IRS as a non-profit organization.

Now the program includes a 5-acre facility with four main pastures, several paddocks, open land for riding, an accessible 10 stall barn arena and 10 horses.

The organization follows the best practices for its equine-based activities by using the guidance and standards established by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH).

Ridin’ High is a PATH accredited member center and has a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor on staff as well.

Linda Bird, Program and Development director, discussed the variety of volunteer the organization has.

“We have volunteers who teach our lessons and at each lesson we have a leader and then a side walker who are there to provide stability in the lessons,” Bird said. “We also have people who help in the office by filling paperwork and applications. Then we have those who come and help with maintenance of the building by fixing any leaks or broken equipment. We also have people volunteer by maintaining the facility and grounds.”

“We have a lot of different ways people can volunteer and help out here if they do not want to work directly with the horses. The people who do paperwork or help with maintenance help keep this place running and they are just as important as our teachers.”

If you are interested in volunteering with Ridin’ High visit its website to fill out the volunteer application or contact them at 423-585-0331.