For some time the BMW CCA Suncoast Chapter has been considering finding a charity to support. This summer we decided on one, SMART, the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy. This group works with the physically and mentally handicapped using horses for therapy. The group is accredited and a member of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and partially funded by the United Way. Remaining funds are generated through donations, funding raising events and program fees. Their mission statement is as follows: "SMART is dedicated to enhancing the physical, emotional and cognitive growth of individuals with special needs through a quality therapeutic and recreational horseback riding program".

So how did we find out about SMART and decide to support their program? First we wanted a charity within of chapter and we wanted our donations to be helpful from the moment of providing a donation. We had considered another charity that was only in the inception stage, but felt we wanted to go with something established, or forgive the pun, with a "track record". I have a personal friend, Nancy Kost, who has been a volunteer with SMART for ten years. Her dedication and enthusiasm gave me the idea that this was the organization for the chapter to support. I then contacted Linda Clark, the program director, to arrange for her to address our group at a monthly meeting. She did so this summer when we met in Bradenton. Linda was the perfect emissary for SMART, giving a heartfelt overview of the organization and its accomplishments. She gave us various options for making charitable donations. A quorum of board members was there to endorse the adoption of a horse for one year ($1,000.00 for care and feed) and the gift of about two dozen orange traffic cones. The orange traffic cones help delineates patterns for the students to follow in the riding arena. We are hopeful that BMW CCA will be able to match our adoption fee and allow us to adopt another horse.

My husband Phil and I then made a trip to SMART in early September to pick out our adoptive horse, and to deliver the cones and $1,000 donation check. The property is actually owned by the Hunsader farming family of Manatee County. Hunsader's are famous for their annual pumpkin festival each October and are known for their generosity. The SMART facilities were immaculate with a pristine tack room an office housed in a donated semi-trailer. The stalls all looked brand new as did a special concrete horse washing station. Linda took us around and introduced us to each of about ten horses, all but one needing a sponsor. We selected "Bob", a thoroughbred and an ex-polo pony with a winning personality. I don't know the language for a horse's coat color, but Bob is white covered with reddish brown freckles. Our adoption qualifies BMW CCA Suncoast Chapter as Blue Ribbon Donor and our chapter's name will appear on the stall door and Bob's saddle pad. We will receive a plaque of appreciation, a Rosette Blue Ribbon and a framed photo of Bob. We had a lot of pictures taken with Bob that morning and my favorite now graces my PC's screen saver.

While at SMART, Linda encouraged us to have club members stop by at any time to see the students in the arena and to participate in any programs the group is involved with like the Special Olympics and various fund raising events. Please visit the SMART web site (www.SmartRiders.org). Take a look and see why they are so proud of the work they do. SMART needs volunteers, supplies and donations. Check out the list of supplies on their wish list. Their long range goal is to own their own land, so fund raising ideas are always welcome. I encourage you to think of something we might do as a club. It can be as simple as driving down some Saturday and doing a mini concours and a picnic lunch. Maybe we can do a fund raiser to sponsor a student rider!

Directions to SMART from the north: I-75 to SR 64. Go east 10.3 miles on SR 64. Turn right on CR 675, go 1.5 miles to the SMART sign on the right. Follow the dirt driveway 0.4 miles to the arena. (Stop by Hundsader's Farm on 675, a bit further south, to buy a snack biscuit for Bob).

Directions to SMART from the south: I-75 to SR 70. Go east 10 miles on SR 70. Turn left on CR 675, go 3.6 miles to the SMART sign on the left. Follow dirt driveway 0.4 miles to the arena. (Stop by Hunsader's Farm on 675, en route, to buy a snack biscuit for Bob).