Healing Strides of Virginia welcomes home donated horse

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ROANOKE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - After months of online voting to win a horse, Healing Strides of Virginia wants to say thank you to its supporters.

Healing Strides of Virginia is a non-profit organization originally established in 1991 as The Roanoke Valley Therapeutic Riding Program. The non-profit finished in the top 10 of an online competition to win a gypsy horse and recently brought home its newest addition, Lyric.

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The executive director says Healing Strides is the only winner to drive to the Tennessee farm to pick out its horse in person.

"I had said I can't pick a horse from the picture that I need to know what the brain is like. I didn't care the color, I didn't care the markings, I really didn't care the size," explained Carol Young, Executive Director.

Young says the goal is to train Lyric to be the non-profit's "mascot."

Trainers are working to prepare Lyric for therapy classes. They hope to have her working by spring.

To say thank you Healing Strides is hosting an open house Friday, October 16You can stop by anytime from 5 - 7 p.m.


About the Author:

After working and going to school in Central Virginia for over five years, Lindsey’s made her way back home to the mountains.