We’re Grateful to The Rex Foundation
Bits & Pieces is deeply grateful to the Rex Foundation for its generous grant, which helped fund our 2025 Special Olympic Illinois athletes and support Bits & Pieces’ therapeutic riding programs for individuals of all ages and abilities. This gift helps us continue creating a space where riders can grow in confidence, connection, and joy alongside our incredible horses.
Jack’s Jottings
There aren’t enough people who appreciate horses. That’s why I am in the Special Olympics. I am doing it to give the horse recognition. I am doing it for the barn. I am doing it for us. I have gone from barn to barn over the years until I found New Beginnings. It was perfect. New Beginnings' mentors were patient, but they also pushed me to my limits.
Five Unexpected Benefits of Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic riding is often recognized for its obvious advantages—improved balance, stronger muscles, and better coordination—but the true scope of its impact goes far beyond the physical. Working with horses provides a unique combination of movement, connection, and challenge that touches nearly every aspect of a rider’s life. Whether someone is coping with a physical disability, recovering from trauma, or simply looking for personal growth, the saddle can offer surprising rewards.
The Healing Power of Horses
Equine-assisted therapy—sometimes called equine-assisted services or therapeutic horsemanship—brings people and horses together in carefully guided sessions that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Whether someone is managing anxiety, recovering from trauma, or working to overcome physical challenges, the connection with a horse can open doors that traditional therapies sometimes cannot.