The NSBA World Championship Show held in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August each year draws a diverse group of top riders and talented horses throughout the United States and Canada as well as Australia and several European countries.
One noteworthy feature of the NSBA World Championship Show is that it offers five World Championship classes for riders with disabilities (RWD). These include RWD Western Pleasure – Supported Rider, RWD Trail – Supported Rider, RWD Hunter Under Saddle – Independent Rider, RWD Western Pleasure – Independent Rider, and RWD Trail-Independent Rider. All RWD classes are Walk-Trot and all supported riders require a leader for the horse and may need one or two side-walkers.
RWD Classes were first offered during the 2009 NSBA World Championship Show and had 19 entries during its inaugural year. Participation in the RWD classes has continued to grow and in 2011–the RWD classes boasted 49 entries. The courage and pure joy of the RWD exhibitors as they compete is inspirational. There are many special moments during the RWD classes when there are few dry eyes among the spectators.
Some of the participants in the RWD classes own their own horses and simply need accommodations to compete. Others compete on the horses owned and provided by the facility where they participate in therapeutic riding programs to meet their therapy needs. Competition is motivating for these riders but many of the riders need financial support in order to participate.
In order to share the dream of competition, and to help these riders who face so many challenges have the opportunity to compete to become a World Champion, the NSBA Foundation has developed the Sponsor A Rider program that provides grants for riders who need help paying for their stalls and RWD entrance fees.
The NSBA Foundation has created a PayPal account to which secure tax deductible donations may be made to the Sponsor A Rider program using credit or debit cards or through a PayPal account. To donate today, CLICK HERE.
For more information about how to help NSBA Riders With Disabilities Share The Dream, contact Rebecca Volkert, NSBA Foundation Director at 224-277-4265 or e-mail [email protected].
