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OUR WISH LIST

 

We are always in need of items for the horses, barn and our therapeutic riding programs. Please click on the button to access our Amazon Wish List.  Please note that you need to use our address for shipping:  Please send to Karen Boebinger at Freedom Ride, 3919 Bay Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32808 and don’t forget your return address.  We thank you for your support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Freedom Ride, established in 1998, as a non-profit 501(c)3 volunteer-based organization built on the conviction that we are not bound by our physical limitations. Freedom Ride is dedicated to enriching the lives and experiences of children and adults with disabilities in the Central Florida area through therapeutic horseback riding and related activities.

As the first Premier Accredited PATH facility in Central Florida in the heart of Orlando, Freedom Ride reaches out to individuals with disabilities and makes a dramatic impact on their lives and their families.

With a team of loyal horses, PATH International Certified Instructors, Equine Specialists and trained volunteers, Freedom Ride provides therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities … cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, autism, developmental delay, attention deficit disorder, deafness and many emotional and learning disabilities.

OUR PROGRAMS

THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING

Riders participate in tasks and games that encourage physical strengthening and cognitive improvement, while learning basic riding skills. The emphasis is on developing riding skills in a safe environment that is both therapeutic and fun.

MENTAL WELLNESS

Equine therapy breaks through resistance, increases motivation, and offers a “fun-factor” rarely present in traditional talk therapy. Equine therapy empowers people to find hope in healing and solutions for life’s challenges.

VETERANS

U.S. Veterans are offered the opportunity to interact with horses in a way that allows for increasing self-awareness, enhancing coping skills and learning more effective ways to interact and move forward within the community and with friends and loved ones.

Become a
volunteer!

Why Give To Freedom Ride?

Horseback riding is a great form of therapy for any individual because it removes the “office/classroom” aspect of therapy sessions from the picture and allows the individual to receive therapy without even realizing it. Therapeutic riding gives each individual a sense of empowerment and interacting with our horses doesn’t just strengthen muscles and improve balance and coordination— the generous nature of our horses strengthens emotional bonds, building trust and confidence with each session.

From the Horse’s Mouth

Freedom Ride’s mission is being fulfilled.

Riders are improving their quality of life here and in day to day living.

Every horse gets lovingly groomed daily.

Every volunteer is a valuable piece of our team!

Dreams come true at Freedom Ride.

Our therapists are the best in town.

Meaning is what we give to many lives.

 

Riders always have a smile on their faces.

Inseparable are our horses and riders.

Daily happiness is what we strive to achieve!

Each day we know we are making a difference.

Freedom Ride Videos

Memberships

What can you do to help?

I’d like to learn more about the capital campaign

    Pat Michaels

    Media and Public Relations, OneBlood

    pat.michaels@oneblood.org

    Pat Michaels is a past Board President, and he has headed up media and public relations since 2004, first at Florida’s Blood Centers, now OneBlood, the nation’s second largest blood center in the country. In addition to directing media messages, stories, and media events, Pat oversees a department of journalists who produce stories about blood donation, donors and patients. His 25 years as a TV journalist gives him a story-telling perspective, providing stories for the OneBlood website and all social media. Pat holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Valdosta State University. He continued his education in meteorology at Mississippi State University, using those credentials as an on-air meteorologist in several TV markets. He is a children’s book author, writing “W is for Wind” published in 2005.

    Joanne Grant

    Mills 50 District

    Joanne has a Master of Arts in Speech & Journalism from Marshall University in Huntington, WV.
    She has experience in venue management, at Orange County Convention Center, Ocean Center in Daytona Beach and Orlando Centroplex and in entertainment management as Director of Entertainment for Universal CityWalk and Director of Entertainment Production for Universal Orlando.
    Currently, she is Executive Director of Mills 50, one of the City of Orlando’s ten Main Street Districts, and has overseen its growth since 2010. Mills 50 is known as the “foodie” district due to its abundance of locally owned restaurants and the “artsy” district because of its focus on public art including murals, painted utility cabinets, storm drains and dumpsters.
    Joanne is Secretary of the Board of Directors of The Center Orlando, Secretary of the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation Board of Directors, past President of the Board of Directors of Freedom Ride and a former member of the Board of Directors of Harbor House.
    In 2017, Joanne was a recipient of the Summit Award, presented by the Women’s Resource Center of Central Florida. She has won two Telly Awards for the videos she produced for Primrose Center and Harbor House.

    Jan Coudriet

    Jan is working at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Results Realty. She has specialized in the Orlando vicinity helping buyers and sellers for over 30 years. Jan has vounteered at the National MS Society, Girl Scouts of America, and Canine Companions For Independence. She is a proud Mom and Grandmother. As a lifetime equestrian herself, Jan believes in the bond between horses and humans that is healing in so many ways. In Jan's words, 'it is an honor to be on the board and give back to this community'.

    Amy Daly

    Secretary

    Amy Daly is Vice President, Principle Scientist and Director of Environmental Services for CPH, Inc., a full service A&E firm. She assists clients with navigating the regulatory world to obtain approvals for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, water & wastewater treatment plant projects with state, federal and local governments. Mrs. Daly develops and implements permitting strategies to address wetlands, threatened and endangered species, water quality and industrial discharges. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Business Administration. Amy is always interested in volunteering her time to worthwhile non-profit endeavors and Freedom Ride has provided an excellent opportunity to give back to others. When not working and volunteering, Amy enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends.

    “I believe that Freedom Ride provides a wonderful opportunity to help someone improve their physical and mental well-being and provide them with a sense of accomplishment. I take great pride in knowing I can be a part of that experience.”

    TJ Houmes

    Treasurer

    TJ Houmes, CPA is an audit manager for Withum, Smith and Brown, PC, an accounting firm located in Orlando, FL. He manages financial statement audits for clients in the not-for-profit, government, hospitality, and agriculture industries. He attended the University of Central Florida and holds Bachelors of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance, and a Master of Business Administration. He has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Florida since 2014, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Florida Institute of CPAs. He believes in the importance of helping those in need, and is proud to be a part of an organization that the provides services to individuals with disabilities in our community and help enrich their lives. When he is not working and volunteering his time to Freedom Ride, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing softball with his firm’s softball team, and attending UCF football games.

    Chris Nemethy

    Vice President

    Christopher Nemethy is a Project Manager – Senior Architect II for HuntonBrady Architects. He has been with the firm for over 28 years with a total of 33 years in the practice. He holds a Bachelor of Design from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Architecture from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He leads his team of architects, designers, project coordinators and consultants for various types of projects from design all the way through construction. His specialty is Medical Office Buildings, Outpatient Surgical Centers and Physician Interiors although he has experience in working on Commercial Buildings, Commercial Interiors and Convention Centers. He is currently a member of the American Institute of Architects and a past member of the Executive Committee for the local AIA chapter.

    As a professional and long-time resident in the local community he feels it is our obligation to give back to the community as much as possible. By engaging in Freedom Ride, Inc. and reaching out to local organizations as volunteers, we can help shape the community and help out those in need so that they can all feel like they are a part of the community.