NARHA
CERTIFIED SINCE 1980
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A Brief History of Sunrise, Inc.
In January 1980, Sunrise, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit charitable corporation. In preparation for this event, Carol Inglis with the help of her mother, Margaret, and their friend, Janice Edelman, helped put Carol on the road to obtain qualifications as a NARHA instructor, and to obtain program certification for Sunrise. Carol attended the Cheff Center for the Handicapped in August, Georgia, and successfully completed their course of instruction.
Janice Edelman, and Carol and Margaret Inglis became the original board members. Sunrise, Inc. was located on the Kircher farm in Richmond, Indiana. The first clients were individuals who were brought by friends and family members. It was the parents who encouraged participation in The Rose Parade in Richmond, Indiana, and therapeutic riding demonstrations at local horse shows. In 1983, Jerry Kircher sold his farm. With a grant from Maurice and Janice Edelman, a stable and a small indoor riding arena were built on the Edelman property on Minneman Road. Sunrise, Inc. moved to its new home. The Edelman facility was to be a "temporary" until a new location and the means to purchase it could be found.
Carol Inglis and Janice Edelman supplied their own horses and acquired several additional ones suitable for the program. NARHA sent representatives to inspect and the approve of the Edelman location and agreed to continue to certify the program. Volunteer training was started in March and classes began in April 1983. Clients began to arrive as small groups from Wayne County (Indiana) and Preble County (Ohio), Green Acres (Achieva), the Wernle Home, the Richmond State Hospital, and the Boys & Girls Club.
In the mid-1980's Carol Inglis decided to move to Colorado. First, Ed Bell himself a quadriplegic, and then, Leigh Anne Hahn, became successive Executive Directors. After Carol's move, Sunrise, Inc. engaged several interim instructors.
In 1989, Traci Fletcher, who had served as an assistant instructor with Carol, agreed to attend the Cheff Center course and become certified as the NARHA Instructor. Traci handled the Sunrise, Inc. program for fourteen years until November 2003. During this time the lean-to stalls were re-done, a tack room was build and a classroom was added. Also, a lard trailer was set on the Edelman site to serve as hay storage. This was a major help as the hay was removed from taking up riding space from one end of the arena. Also, NARHA changed its method of inspection and certification, specifying that the instructor had to be certified, and could renew his or her qualification by the annual payment of a renewal fee after the initial certification. With a NARHA qualified instructor in charge, then the program would be automatically approved.
In January 2004, Joan A. Clark, a recognized international equestrian coach, who happened to live in Richmond, was approached to become a certified NARHA instructor and jump-start the Sunrise Inc. program. Joan was impressed by two factors. She was impress with the dedication of Janice Edelman and Margaret Inglis, and the other members of the Board, who kept Sunrise, Inc. from becoming a footnote in history. Joan was impressed by the attitude and cleverness of several old, retired horses. Joan is a strong advocate for the fundamental concept that therapeutic riding is much more than just a pony ride. Joan was hooked on using her equestrian skills and knowledge to bring incremental measures of happiness, excitement, and new possibilities to handicapped riders. Joan became a NARHA licensed instructor. Sunrise, Inc. was once again awarded a certificate as an NARHA affiliate member. Weeks turned into months, and individuals and groups filled the Sunrise, Inc. lesson schedule.
Miracles happened. Audrey, four years old, learned to walk on Ed, an aged Appaloosa. Becca, in her early teens, discovered inner courage and learned to ride without the support of side walkers on Porte, a gentle Arabian. Daryl, an adult, developed sufficient balance and reining skills, to overcome neurological damage to his legs and legal blindness to ride Prince, a Morgan in a basic dressage test with his helpers watching in admiration.