Multigenerational Volunteers at KART

The Kent Association of Riding Therapy (KART) was founded in 1984 to help children and adults with disabilities enhance their social and developmental growth.  KART uses a multi-faceted program involving therapeutic horseback riding and equine related activities. 

It takes an army of volunteers to successfully carry out this mission.  Currently, KART has over 50 volunteers helping with the program: grooming horses, tacking them up, and leading and side walking with the riders in each session from the Kent County schools, Horizons, Camp Fairlee, Kent Center, and Heron Point.  Volunteers are the backbone of the program and KART is always looking for more. Kentridingtherapy.org.

To that point, KART is fortunate to have several volunteers who are legacies.  Brigitte Stenger volunteered with KART for over 34 years.  Now, her daughter, Tina Stenger, is an instrumental part of the program.  Brigitte grew up around horses and brought her expertise to KART grooming and tacking up the therapeutic horses before each session. She spent hours getting 7-8 horses ready for the therapeutic riding lessons. Brigitte once said, “I like volunteering with KART and you can see the benefits for the riders.” 

Brigitte’s daughter, Tina, joined KART in 2021. Like her mother, Tina is an accomplished horse person and helps groom the horses and get them ready for the riding sessions. It is no easy task grooming and tacking up 7-8 horses every week.  Tina also helps in the ring, leading horses or side walking with the students to ensure their safety while riding.

Another mother/daughter duo is Carole Merkel and Melanie Sieber.  Carole was also active with the barn crew, getting the special therapeutic horses ready for the lessons. KART holds sessions throughout the year, so even in the summer months, Carole would arrive with a smile, getting  covered in dirt and horse hair making sure the horses were ready for the students. In addition, she was a very generous donor making sure KART had the financial support to carry out its mission. 

Carole’s daughter, Melanie, came to KART in 2023 volunteering every week, just like her mother did.  Melanie knows her way around horses, as she grew up with them on her mother’s farm.  After grooming and tacking up the horses, Melanie stays for the sessions, assisting with leading the horses and/or side walking.

Not enough can be said about how important it is for the generations of volunteers to help with KART.  The family traditions and passion for an organization and their good work are remarkable. These values passed down through time are making a positive impact and a tremendous difference for KART to succeed into the future.

As the backbone of KART’s programs, our volunteers’ groom and tack the horses, lead the horses in the lessons, sidewalk next to the riders for safety and encouragement, fit riders with helmets, and assist with other activities that support horseback riding lessons.

Not a horse person, but want to volunteer? Away from the barn, KART needs assistance with recruiting volunteers, managing fundraising events, and participating in community outreach to assist in financially supporting programs.