Therapeutic riding centers are few and far between, and without community support and appreciation, often have a very limited life span. With all the people who’ve banded together over the years, Centaur Stride is a truly special place where healing, purpose, and connection flourish.

We continue to expand programs. The Volunteer Transitions Program provides a hands-on learning and enrichment opportunity. Mrs. Harris of Westfield Academy & Central School recently brought her class to the barn. They helped clean cobwebs, fill water buckets, sweep floors, clean brushes, groom horses and had fun feeding the horses. The program is designed to build volunteer readiness skills, work ethics, following directions, time management, as well as horse care, and communicating with the horse. The time went much too fast!

We are presently working with Chautauqua Tapestry to design programs that address the effects of mental health stressors, not only for youth but also for caregivers. Isolation, disconnection, the strain of daily life, and the pressures of a technology-driven world are impacting individuals and families across every generation.

At Centaur Stride, we believe deeply in the transformative power of horses. These gentle, intelligent creatures open hearts, build confidence, and create lasting emotional breakthroughs, while taking root in connection, collaboration, and back to the basics of the need for an integrated close community. And most importantly — hope for a better future, a light in the darkness.

Members of Susan Harris’s class at Westfield Academy & Central School help during Volunteer Transitions Program

We are also hosting paint and craft nights and a Girls’ Night Out. Please follow our Facebook page to let us know if you are interested (Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding Facility).

We need more help please. Horses are expensive. And while the return on that investment is immeasurable in terms of human transformation, the financial burden is very real.

For 2025, our hay bill alone is $7,600. Add to that veterinary care, adaptive equipment, training, facility maintenance, insurance, and staffing — and you begin to see the scope of what it takes to keep our programs running.

We work so hard to keep our services accessible — offering low fees, fundraising unceasingly, and applying for competitive grants — but costs continue to rise, grants are too frequently denied, and fundraisers have lots of competition for attendance and support.

Despite all that we do, many in our region still don’t know who we are or what happens here — unless they’ve personally experienced the life-changing impact of Centaur Stride.

Members of Susan Harris’s class at Westfield Academy & Central School help during Volunteer Transitions Program

Wellness programs are gaining ground, and Centaur Stride is adapting too. We now accept the Independent Health Wellness Card, and are working toward being recognized by more insurance-based wellness programs. While we are not clinical therapy providers, we serve as a powerful complement to traditional therapy — a meaningful, experiential approach.

Programs like our Volunteer Recruitment, Training, and Retention Initiatives have provided enrichment beyond the obvious help we need for manpower. When a grant comes through to support these efforts, the results extend deep beneath the surface. Volunteering doesn’t just fill a need — it becomes part of the journey.

Join us for our Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, October 4 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Centaur Stride – 8488 Jones Road, Sherman. Call us at (716) 326-4318 to register or learn more.

On Sept. 6, we wrapped up our Annual 5K Fun Run. The energy, smiles, and community spirit were truly inspiring. Thanks to our generous sponsors — Thomas Appelbe, Miraclean, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union, Refresco, and CRS — as well as our 27 runners and dedicated volunteers, it was beautiful.

We fell short of our hay bill goal. But we’re not giving up. Onto our next fundraiser!

Members of Susan Harris’s class at Westfield Academy & Central School help during Volunteer Transitions Program

We’re now collecting gift certificates, basket items, and donations for our Annual Christmas Basket Raffle. Your contribution of donations or buying tickets brings us one step closer to keeping our horses healthy and happy for the very important role they play as healer, teacher, and friend to everyone who comes through our doors.

Here’s How You Can Help Right Now: Make a donation (tax-deductible!) Mail: Centaur Stride, Inc., PO Box 174, Westfield, NY 14787; Volunteer your time or talent — there’s a role for everyone; Share our mission — tell a friend, follow us on Facebook, and help us grow our network. Linktr.ee/centaurstride.

Centaur Stride is different things to different people. For some, it’s an opportunity for movement and exercise, stretching and strengthening muscles, increasing blood flow and system function, for improved quality of life. For others, it may be a lifeline when they didn’t even realize they needed one. For our volunteers, it’s a chance to connect with something greater than themselves, and the benefits rebound.

We’re asking you — as a neighbor, business owner, friend, or community member — to stand with us. Together, we can ensure Centaur Stride remains a sanctuary of connection, compassion, and transformation for years to come.

With deepest gratitude,

The Centaur Stride Team

Claudia Monroe is founder and president of Centaur Stride. She wishes to thank John D’Agostino, editor of the Dunkirk OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and Westfield Republican, for helping us bridge the awareness gap through our weekly column. Your support is helping shine a much-needed light on this mission.