Walkabout Tour Feature Sponsor Ritchie Industries Matches Fundraiser Dollar for Dollar to Benefit Hope Rides
Stephenville, Texas – Hope Rides raised $8,500 to benefit their equine assisted therapy program thanks to the generosity of Clinton Anderson and Ritchie Industries at the St. Paul, Minnesota Walkabout Tour stop.
Each Walkabout Tour hosts a Ritchie Ball Charity Toss – an event presented by tour feature sponsor Ritchie Industries to help raise funds for a nonprofit organization. On the weekend of June 4-5, spectators purchased tennis balls from Hope Rides for $5, and on Sunday afternoon, tossed them into the arena for a chance to win Downunder Horsemanship product. First place received Clinton’s entire instructional DVD collection valued at over $3,800 while second place won a mecate set that retails for $252, and third place was given the uniquely designed Downunder Horsemanship halter and lead rope marketed at $90.
At the beginning of the weekend, Leon Yantis, Ritchie Industries CEO, announced he’d match the funds Hope Rides raised dollar for dollar and would throw in an extra $500 if the organization could sell all 800 tennis balls. Hope Rides rose to the challenge and by the end of the weekend earned $8,500 for their organization.
Hope Rides provides a safe environment for children and their families to find personal growth by connecting to horses. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2006, and its passion for helping others was evident throughout the weekend to Ritchie Industries and Clinton, which is why Leon decided to help the organization raise as much money as possible for its cause.
“Leon’s generosity this weekend is a prime example of why Downunder Horsemanship is proud of its partnership with Ritchie Industries; we’re both committed to bettering the horse and human relationship. Tours are an inspiring weekend full of education and entertainment and the Ritchie Ball Charity Toss brings the entire audience together to raise funds for a great cause,” Clinton explained.
The next Clinton Anderson Walkabout Tour will be held July 16-17 at the ShoWare Center in Seattle, Washington.
For more information about Clinton Anderson and Downunder Horsemanship, visit www.downunderhorsemanship.com. To learn more about Four Seasons Therapeutic Riding Academy, visit http://www.fstra.com/index.php.
The ebay auction to raise money for NARHA is going strong. However as of today, Vetericyn has generously added to the auction to help raise more money. Included in each auction is a year’s supply of Wound & Infection Treatment, valued at $200. 
Fourteen-year-old Zoey has been participating in therapeutic riding for the past twelve years. Born without 50% of her brain stem and 95% of her cerebellum; Zoey’s prognosis was that she would never walk, talk or feed herself. Zoey’s mother enrolled her at age two in a local therapeutic riding program. Zoey, who couldn’t even hold up her head, progressed spectacularly, and has gone from riding with a horse leader and side-walker to riding completely independently at the walk and trot. Zoey now asks boundless questions about riding and stays late after class to groom and feed her horse. She has made unimaginable progress.
