:: history ::

History of SIRE, Inc.

1974 – founded in Connecticut by Cindy Lindh

1980 – Cindy set up a test program at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX Therapeutic Horseback Riding in the greater Houston, Texas area

1983 – moved to J Bar M Ranch on Kluge Road in Cypress, TX, in Northwest Houston, with 5 clients and 2 ponies

1984 – moved to covered arena at Oak Hollow Equestrian Park on Grant Road. Grew to 33 clients

1985 – incorporated as SIRE, Inc.

1989 – moved to Bluebonnet Riding Academy on Huffmeister Road

1991 – added a second site at the home of Cathy and Lyndon Wright in Montgomery, TX

1993 – Cypress site moved to Jordan Quarter Horses on Kitaman Road

1995 – hired the first paid employee, Karen Abbott, as Head Instructor, with 80 clients and 12 horses

2000 – merged with Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Center and acquired 37 acres in Spring, TX, for a second site – doing business now as SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers

2001 – hired first Executive Director, Glenn Aker. Started classes at Spring site

2005 – Hired Jimm Williams as Executive Director

2006 – Opened a third site in Fort Bend County at Sienna Stables in Missouri City, at the invitation of Laura and Cal Eller

Past Presidents of SIRE Board of Directors

Cindy Lindh, 1983-1992
Warren Reininger, 1993-1994
Derek Barnes, 1995
Lyndon Wright, 1996
Molly Sweeney, 1997-2007

Origin of Therapeutic Riding

The origin of therapeutic horseback riding is relatively recent but has its roots to the time of Alexander The Great. In that early period of history, it was noted that wounded soldiers taken off the battlefield by horseback seemed to recover better and faster than others. It wasn't until the early 1950s, when a Danish woman won a silver medal in Grand Prix Dressage, that the potential for therapeutic benefits was noted. For those of us old enough to remember, there was a worldwide polio epidemic in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This win of a silver medal was remarkable since the rider had polio and used a wheelchair.

The European medical professions studied horseback riding, analyzed its benefits, and began to use it as rehabilitation for people with polio or cerebral palsy. Dramatic improvements were seen and many therapeutic riding centers were started across Europe. Centers began forming in the US in the late 1960’s and the national organization, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), was formed in 1970.

SIRE has provided equestrian therapy to children and adults with a wide variety of disabilities continuously since 1983. For several years, SIRE operated in donated barns and arenas until 1995 when a generous donation made a six-acre property available in Hockley, Texas. Five years later, in 2000, the merger between SIRE and Rainbow Springs Stables, located in Spring, TX, resulted in a consistent program being offered at both locations.