Denver -- November 6, 2001-- At its annual national conference held last week in Seattle, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) presented its top awards to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to the therapeutic horseback riding industry.

The James Brady Professional Achievement Award was established in honor of the former press secretary to President Ronald Reagan, who suffered a brain injury in an assassination attempt on the President and participated in therapeutic riding as part of his rehabilitation. This top NARHA award, designed to recognize significant contributions by professionals to the therapeutic riding industry in the form research, publication, public relations and program development, was awarded to Sandy Rafferty of Troy, Missouri.

“Sandy Rafferty was selected for the James Brady Professional Achievement Award because of her unique qualifications and significant professional and personal contributions to the therapeutic riding industry,” said Bill Scebbi, NARHA’s executive director. “During the past 25 years, Sandy Rafferty has been an outstanding ambassador for therapeutic riding and in so doing, positively impacted the lives of numerous individuals with disabilities who have enjoyed a wonderful quality of life.”

Among her many accomplishments, Rafferty is an occupational therapist in private practice since 1979. She holds a master’s degree in special education and is the executive director of Therapeutic Horsemanship, a therapeutic riding center in St. Charles, Missouri. Her extensive list of credentials includes significant contribution to many professional organizations and national associations. In addition to leading riding teams to multiple national and international competitions during the past two decades, Rafferty is an accomplished author and respected conference presenter.

The Sis Gould Driving Recognition Award named after longtime NARHA riding and driving promoter, is designed to recognize those NARHA members who exemplify outstanding dedication to the development and promotion of carriage driving for individuals with disabilities. This year’s Sis Gould Award went to Gloria Austin, of Lady Lake, Florida.

As a long time member and supporter of the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association in Ocala, Florida, Austin has provided the encouragement and vision, as well as funding to expand and enrich the center’s therapeutic riding and driving program. In addition to funding a beautiful wheelchair accessible four-wheel carriage and harness system, Austin also provided money for a Clydesdale driving horse.

“It was not only the money that counted the most; it was the wholehearted and enthusiastic emotional and inspirational support she gave us as we were developing our program,” said William Parkhurst, president of the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association.

In an effort to expand the therapeutic benefits of carriage driving throughout the country, Austin opened a NARHA driver’s certification program. For the past three years, she has hosted the program on her land while serving as a program instructor. In addition, she made available her Friesian horses and carriages as well as her staff of trainers, groomers and farriers, equipment maintenance personnel and equine dentist for the certification program. She also provided housing and food services for both clinicians and the candidates and arranged for the development of dressage, marathon and cone courses.

The National Independent Equestrian Award that recognizes adults with disabilities who participate in equine activities independently without the assistance of others, was given to Deb Lewin of Richardson, Texas, for her exemplary achievement in equine activities.

Lewin was selected for NARHA’s national honor because she demonstrates how equestrian activity can be beneficial for people with physical disabilities. Her love of horseback riding, despite having been paralyzed on one side of her body due to a head injury caused by a car accident five years ago, is an example of how staying active with horses is a realistic option for people with disabilities. Individuals such as Lewin, who have never considered riding a horse before, can come to a NARHA center and participate in equine assisted activities in a safe and supportive environment.

Even though Lewin was a world-class squash and field hockey athlete prior to the accident, she had never mounted a horse in her life. She began riding at Equest, a NARHA riding center in Wylie, Texas, and quickly developed a passion for horses and riding. According to her Equest coach, Gail Pace, Lewin’s focus and drive to attend clinics and continually find opportunities to gain more experience, have resulted in her participation in many equestrian competitions and the capturing of numerous awards.

Describing Lewin as a “coaches dream”, Pace said, “Deb is a delightful and superb team player with a great sense of humor. She is a focused, determined self-starter who demonstrates poise and presence in the arena.”

The National Volunteer of the Year Award honoring an outstanding regional volunteer who makes a lasting impact on a therapeutic riding center, went to Helen Clark, a volunteer at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center in Longmont, Colorado.

Clark, who has worked at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center for more than seven years, volunteers many hours, sometimes up to 50, each week to the program. She was selected from among some 32,000 individuals who volunteer at NARHA member riding centers nationwide.

Since becoming a Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center volunteer in 1994, Clark has held many positions of increasing responsibility. She has done everything from working directly with center participants to help make their equine experience the best it can be, to cleaning horses and stalls, to heading committees, coordinating special events, leading capital campaigns and numerous other tasks.

Perhaps the most vivid example of Clark’s contributions to improving the center is the success of the capital campaign she led. The center, thanks to Clark’s tireless efforts, was able to move into a beautiful new, paid-in-full facility with construction of a new horse arena set to begin in spring of 2002.

The National Therapy Horse of the Year Award which goes to an extraordinary therapy horse that makes lasting impressions on the participants at its therapeutic riding center, went to “Murphy” an 11-year-old brown dun Norwegian Fjord gelding. Murphy is a favorite at the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, Washington, where he has for the past eight years, exhibited character and sensitivity beyond what is normally expected of a therapy horse.

The Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center works with participants who are dealing with a variety of physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities. According to his handlers and riders, Murphy seems to have an innate, intuitive way of knowing what his riders need, and he responds by sending love and support their way.

“Murphy always comes out of his stall ready to go to work whether it is working with the instructors and physical therapists in a long lining session or for an independent walk, trot or canter lesson,” said Rebecca Ortega, one of Murphy’s handlers. “I love the way he says hello to everyone working with him and how he gently nuzzles the rider’s feet before they dismount. He was put on this earth to warm the hearts of our riders, volunteers and staff everyday.”