Harvey Smith, executive director of Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc., recently presented Sandra Kleckner with the organization’s Volunteer of the Year Award for 2021.

According to Smith, Kleckner has volunteered for every session of lessons since 2017. She also substitutes for other volunteers when needed and loves helping at the monthly horse grooming sessions held during winter months.

Kleckner lives in Tamaqua with her husband, Tim. She is employed by Griffth Funeral Homes of Tamaqua.

One of the program’s newest lesson horses, Shadow, a 14-year-old Tennessee walking horse, earned the honor of Horse of the Year for his exceptionally calm and willing attitude in lessons.

Awards traditionally have been presented at Horses & Horizons’ Annual Year End Celebration normally held in November. However, due the pandemic and the rising number of COVID-19 cases, the event was canceled this year.

In 2020, Horses & Horizons did not operate at all. This year, the organization’s therapeutic horseback riding lessons ran weekly from July through October, although on a smaller scale. For the safety of all involved, proof of vaccination was required for age-eligible riders and anyone who brought them to lessons.

Horses & Horizons is a registered nonprofit organization, which offers therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

Since its founding in 1993, it has operated from Harvey and Elaine Smith’s Helping Horse Farm, located between Tamaqua and New Ringgold. The program is staffed entirely by volunteers.

For information on becoming a volunteer or enrolling a rider in Horses & Horizons, visit www.horsesandhorizons.org, or call Harvey or Elaine Smith at 570-386-5679.