One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding recently received a $2,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill to purchase a portable round pen. The 60-foot diameter round pen will be used to teach horsemanship skills to U.S. military veterans, and to train and exercise program horses.
“We are so thankful to the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill for this grant,” said OSC founder Landa Keirstead. “Adding this round pen gives us more tools for the equine assisted therapy program for our veterans.”
The new addition—which was installed Feb. 25 and used by veterans the next day—provides more opportunities for veterans to engage with a horse, learn valuable communication skills, learn tools for building trust and confidence, release anxiety and more, Keirstead added.
One Step Closer provides equine assisted therapy to approximately 20 veterans per week in partnership with the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. The horsemanship curriculum is designed to improve the participants’ emotional, cognitive and physical well-being through purposeful participation in therapeutic equestrian activities, according to OSC staff.
The Rotary Club has generously supported OSC over the years. OSC Executive Director Mark Keirstead noted: “Our wheelchair ramp, bleachers and viewing deck were all funded by Rotary Club grants. Now this round pen is installed, and we are deeply grateful for their support.”
