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Ladies who ROCK!
PHOTO BY MAUREEN GRIFFIN
Judi Frinstein found an unlikely calling when she began volunteering with the Ride On Center for Kids, a charitable organization
that helps children with conditions like spinal injuries and Down syndrome by offering therapuetic horse-riding programs.
By Maureen Griffin riding– the core engages and strengthens began serving active military and
and the same muscles the rider uses while veterans. Each Tuesday evening between
Three years ago, N19 resident Judi walking are stimulated when the horse September and June, 40 current military
Frinstein retired. Never one to walks. She believed her clients, many of and veterans with physical and mental
sit still, Judi checked out various whom had autism, spinal cord impairment, challenges participate in the program and
charities for volunteer opportunities. All Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or were enjoy dinners donated by the community.
were worthy causes but not a fit. A friend stroke victims would benefit from riding: Building on the program’s success, ROCK
mentioned that she was volunteering at improved motor skills, balance and muscle began offering an eight-week session on
the Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK), tone. With one horse and a donated acre of Monday evenings for 20 active and retired
a therapeutic horse-riding program land, ROCK began. After almost 20 years military women, consisting of therapy and
in Georgetown and suggested Judi of research, certification achievements and dinner. In 2010, ROCK began a summer
consider it. After a tour of the ROCK dedication, ROCK now serves over 250 program for children, ages 8-12, of active
facility, the Brooklyn native with no clients yearly. ROCK sits on over 40 acres and retired military personnel. This
prior horse experience was hooked – this four miles from downtown Georgetown year the kids’ summer class was booked
was her calling. Judi was impressed by and has a stable of 27 horses. Nancy, her by April. Veterans and their children
the teamwork between the staff and staff and an average of 300 volunteers are never charged. Therapy is paid for
volunteers and how passionate they were provide an impressive tens of thousands by fundraising, grants and individual
about working together to help clients. She of hours of unpaid work. donations.
completed ROCK’s orientation programs
and set about trying her hand at any In 2005, Nancy was contacted by 1st Fran Carlquist (N53) began volunteering
position available. Sgt. Sjule with the Fort Hood horse at ROCK in 2009, shortly after moving to
detachment. Sjule wanted to see if her Sun City Texas. Drawn to ROCK by her
ROCK was founded in 1998 by school program could help five soldiers with love of horses, she became a side-walker,
physical therapist Nancy Krenek. An amputations. After a successful pilot accompanying the rider and helping them.
experienced physical therapist, Nancy program at Fort Hood, ROCK staff “My first side-walking job was with a
understands how the body moves when
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
38 | SUNRAYS JULY 2017
