October
11-13, 2024.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS RIDING THERAPY
Show to be held in Coliseum of Champions

The beneficiary of the annual Youth Charity Horse Show is Central Illinois Riding Therapy of Peoria Illinois. CIRT is a non profit organization, which offers horseback riding lessons to people with physical, emotional, mental and/or social difficulties. Countless volunteers have donated their time and talents since CIRT’S inception in 1983. CIRT gives lessons four days a week year round to 60 children and adults with varying levels of disabilities. Lessons consist of grooming the horse, mounting and following specific directions to learn how to guide and control the horse. Many academic and physical skills are incorporated into the lesson such as eye-hand coordination, left-right coordination, stretching and warm up exercises.

CIRT, a NARHA affiliated program, began in 1983 with money from a 4-H grant, borrowed horses and six riders. Today, CIRT is a not for profit organization staffed by a director, certified instructors and assistants, numerous volunteers and 10 horses. Costs for the participants are kept as low as possible and scholarships are readily available for those in need, It is the sincere wish of CIRT, that eventually this type of therapy will be available to all of those whom it may benefit.

Riders, volunteers and staff members from CIRT will be on hand at this year’s show. We hope you get to meet them. It should make you feel good about your participation and support of the Youth Charity Horse Show.