History

Founded in 1997, Challenged Champions Equestrian Center is a therapeutic horseback riding program serving the local community. Using the horse and its environment we provide equine assisted activities. Our mission is to support people with special needs from early childhood through adulthood.

 

In the first year we held classes at the Putnam County Fairgrounds serving 16 total clients. 8 of these riders were from Hancock County and 8 from Putnam County.

 

Our 1998 sessions were expanded to included a session being held at the University of Findlay western farm located in Findlay. This expansion allowed us to serve 12 clients from the Findlay area and 10 clients from Putnam County.

 

Because of the addition of riders and need for funding we found Challenged Champions needed a home. We started at our current location in 1999 and from 1999 through 2003 we service 40 clients from Putnam County and 29 from Hancock County each year. We provided classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for two 10-week session each year. This was also the time we added several camps through the summer including Good Grief camp through the Putnam County Hospice and a Special Needs Children's camp through the Hancock County Educational Service Center.

 

In 2001, Challenged Champions became a Premier Accredited Center with the North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA). Just as other professions use accreditation and licensing systems to improve the well-being of their industries, therapeutic equine professionals hae a distinction of their own.

 

In 2004, we added another night of classes to included Wednesdays. We had a significant increase in participation. With the extra night we were able to serve 36 clienst from Hancock County and 70 from Putnam County. Please keep in mind that our facility was severaly devastated by the August 2007 flood. With the help of the community and our many volunteers we were able to rebuild the facility to accomodate classes and clients year-round. The addition of a lift chair for non-ambulatory riders and a handicapped restroom has allowed us to add theses types of riders. With this addition the heated indoor arena and educational classroom/viewing room has allowed us to go into cold months.

 

Upon completion of the flood remediation work classes continued on the three evenings and added Monday evenings for more independent riders. These riders do much if not all the work themselves with the help and supervision of volunteers. They are very happy to garduate and challenge themselves to new levels. During 2008 and 2009 we have and are serving 40 clients from Hancock County and 90 clients from Putnam County.

 

Since our beginning, we have gone from a very small program at the fairgrounds to four evenings per week, private Hippotherapy, and private EFL sessions. And also providing camps throughout the summer for Hospice, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, At-Risk Youth, service group meetings and a satellite program located in Findlay.

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