Patty Carton started a therapeutic horseback-riding initiative––Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center––for children and adults with physical, emotional, and/or learning disabilities in southern Maine. The program now serves clients from over 45 towns. When Patty began the program, she had only a handful of clients. Now over ten years old, her homegrown initiative has become one of the largest therapeutic riding programs in the state of Maine, serving nearly 250 clients and involving over 5000 hours of volunteer time donated per year.

For the past ten years, Patty has given of herself, her time, and her financial resources to create and sustain Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center. Patty has never drawn a salary or earned an honorarium for her work. She presents a stunning example of a volunteer and a community leader who has brought a terrific idea to fruition and inspired many people to join in and help out.

Patty has dedicated a good part of her life to bringing this program to people with disabilities and their families. She has created a nurturing farm environment where they can come and heal with horses, caring instructors, and volunteers in the invigorating landscape of Maine’s countryside.

Patty Carton has played every role in the development and growth of Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center, from founder, to unpaid executive director, instructor, volunteer coordinator, board member––and often chief donor. Patty laid the groundwork for a stunning program. While Patty can now step aside from the leadership role, she remains dedicated as a lesson volunteer with clients each week. Hers is a remarkable story of a woman with a vision, a leader who inspires by example, and one who knew how to let a program grow and flourish.

To learn more about Patty and her cause, and how you can make a difference, please visit:
www.ridingtothetop.org .

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