Therapeutic Horseback Riding Grant

Kent County 4-H is now accepting applications for the Bill and Lynn Schumaker Therapeutic Horseback Riding Grant. This grant will provide up to $20,000 to fund the development of a Michigan 4-H Proud Equestrian Program (PEP) to provide therapeutic horseback riding to youth with disabilities in Kent County through annual 6 to 8-week sessions. This historic funding was graciously donated by the Kent Special Riding Program Board of Directors in 2018 through the Michigan 4-H Foundation. Proposals are due by November 1, 2024, by 5:00 PM ET to the Kent County 4-H office.

Purpose: Kent County 4-H Youth Development is accepting proposals to develop a Kent County 4-H Proud Equestrian Program (PEP). This grant is named in honor of Bill and Lynn Schumacher who supported the original Kent County 4-H Special Riding Program for many years by sharing their farm, horses, and leadership with the program. This grant will provide low-cost therapeutic horseback riding, driving, and horsemanship to individuals with disabilities, as KSRP did in years past.

History of Funds: In June of 1976, a therapeutic horseback riding program pilot was launched and by 1977, the Kent Special Riding Program was developed through 4-H by Bill and Lynn Schumacher. Over 42 years, this program was developed in Kent County, Michigan and utilized by over 9,000 riders. After the program closed in 2018, the KSRP established a fund to further the original goal of the program to deliver low-cost therapeutic riding to people with disabilities in Kent County, Michigan.

Request for Proposals - PDF File

Application - Word File

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