NORWICH – After a nearly two-year hiatus, the non-profit group Stride has returned to Norwich, with a new board of directors. The organization, which offers therapeutic horseback riding to people with disabilities, hopes to pick up right where it left off.

In January of 2007, Stride stopped operating as a not-for-profit organization; however the Anam Cara Stables, which Stride had contracted with, continued to offer therapeutic riding. Anam Cara tried to continue the program, but according to Program Director and President of the Board Nadine Joy, without the non-profit designation, the stable was unable to secure grants to help fund the costs. “After a year and a half, we needed that non-profit designation,” Joy said. “We’re grateful and thankful that Stride is back.”

Currently, Stride has 17 therapeutic riding students, and now that they are once again designated as a non-profit organization, they are able to offer scholarships to students for riding. Before the Stride program closed in 2007, there were nearly 40 students in the program. “We have about 20 now and we’ll build from there,” said past President of the Board and current Board Member Betty Bytheway.

Word of mouth, referrals and advertising bring students to the program, and many funding sources are available to help cover costs, including one grant that offers funding to any child of a military service member. “We’ll do our best to make sure the funding is there or to find someone who can,” Joy said.