Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc.
Mother-Daughter Team Up to Serve Sweets at the 34th Annual Dressage at Devon Horse Show The Emmels look forward to dishing up the home-baked brownies and shortbread that earn bucks for Devon , PA --- Sarah Emmel won’t commit to a favorite. “I love the cookies. And the brownies. Well, all of it really!” she responds when asked to name her number one pick at the Dressage at Devon Sweet Shop. This year the eighteen-year old will be in prime position to stake out the goodies. She and her mother, Kathy Emmel, have volunteered to open the Sweet Shop every day of the show, from September 23rd through September 28th, at 8 a.m. “We’ll be there with hot coffee and donuts and bagels for the breakfast crowd,” says Kathy. They’ll then receive and organize the dozens and dozens of cookies, brownies, shortbreads, sweetbreads and cakes that are brought in by volunteers. After 14 years, the Sweet Shop has become an institution at the equestrian event, satisfying many a sweet tooth. The booth earns thousands of dollars for Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc., in Malvern with home-baked goodies and donations from Green Mt. Coffee, Whole Foods and several local bakeries. It is Sarah’s love of horses—greater even than her love of brownies—which brought the Chester girl to the Sweet Shop. It is a way for her to help support Thorncroft, where she has been riding and working for the past two years. “Thorncroft has given me an opportunity to reconnect with my love of horses,” she explains. She takes two lessons a week at the Malvern equestrian center, and works six hours a week with the therapeutic program to earn a free lesson. On the weekends she is part of the Thorncroft Mainstreamers Drill Team, a group of handicapped and non-handicapped young people whose choreographed routine has been performed throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. Thorncroft has been a leader in proving the many benefits of therapeutic horseback riding since 1971, helping hundreds of individuals with physical and emotional disabilities to improve balance, circulation, muscle tone, concentration, and self-esteem. Assisting with the therapeutic riding program has taught Sarah a great deal. “I’ve learned about how people with disabilities can change through riding. But I have also changed my feelings about people. Helping someone learn to ride while I am learning myself has been great.” Sarah’s mother agrees that the experience has been very valuable for Sarah, and that is motivation enough for her to join her daughter in the Sweet Shop. “She is learning about horse care and stable management, but, more important, she is working with all different kinds of people. This is hands-on learning in a way that can’t be taught in a school situation.” When she goes to college, a couple of years down the road, Sarah hopes to pursue a career that has something to do with horses. “If she really wants to pursue a career in horses,” says her mother, “she couldn’t be in a better place.” “Thorncroft has become like home to me,” says Sarah. “”Working at the Sweet Shop is a great way to connect with other volunteers, and to show people how sweet we are!” The Sweet Shop at Dressage at Devon opens at 8 a.m. and remains open until the close of the show each day.
For information, call 610-358-5785 or go to www.dressageatdevon.org. |
