Therapeutic Riding of Tryon (TROT), the seven-year-old horseback riding program at FENCE for special needs adults and children, is already preparing for cooler weather with the start of fall classes scheduled for Saturday, September 11. The 10-week session will continue until November 20, and will be followed by a TROT Horse Show at FENCEs covered arena on Saturday, December 4.

Were looking forward to getting all our riders back in the saddle come September, but are very glad were taking time off during the summer heat wave, said program coordinator Norm Powers, who pointed out that TROT still lacks a covered riding arena at Rosemarys Barn, its headquarters on the FENCE property.

As part of the preparation for the fall, TROT is accepting new applicants through late July, adding to the 18 riders it now serves from Polk, Spartanburg, Rutherford and Hendersonville counties. The youngest rider is five years old; the oldest is 64. Applicants must be at least four years of age; they or their parents or guardians must complete an application packet which can be downloaded from the FENCE website, fence.org, or requested by calling 828-859-9021.

TROT is also calling for volunteers to assist riders during their lesson times. Volunteers are crucial to our program and the need for adequate numbers of volunteers to staff the program three days a week is constant, Powers said.

Potential volunteers must attend a training session scheduled for Tuesday evening, August 24, at 6 p.m. Powers said that further information about the training can be obtained by emailing therapeuticriding@fence.org.