Children and adults face many long term challenges that can be physical, intellectual and emotional in nature.  Many of these challenges are helped by equine assisted therapy or  "Hippotherapy"
Physical benefits are gained through the natural blend of the horse's movement or gait and the human gait.  Posture and muscle control are measurably improved.    Being responsible for another living being, students grow emotionally as they "attach" to their horse and look forward to the time they spend together. 

Through hippotherapy students learn how to care for their hooves, saddle and warm-up and cool-down the horse.  By caring for the horse's physical needs students learn organizational skills, logic skills and skills that are necessary to keep any living being healthy.

Therapeutic horseback riding is a special world that brings together horses, disabled children and adults and caring volunteers.  In the process, the lives of everyone involved are enriched.
It combines the love of horses with rehabilitating therapy. Horseback riding is good for anyone
seeking a fun and challenging path to physical and mental wellness.  Care-ousel's mission has been to provide therapy for children and adults challenged with physical and/or mental disabilities through the power or human-animal bonding.  The unique relationships created through this process help to heal the body, mind and spirit.   Therapy does have a positive and emotional well-being of our students. 
 

A big thank you to Phi Gamma Chapter Omega Nu~Modesto.
  They donated $750.00 for camp scholarships and new helmets. They are very supportive of our program.
 

A BIG THANKS TO OUR RIDER MADDIE G. FOR HER GENEROUS KINDNESS OF ASKING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DONATE TO "CARE-OUSEL" INSTEAD OF GIVING BIRTHDAY PRESENTS. TOTAL DONATION WAS $380. THANK YOU MADDIE FOR THINKING OF CARE-OUSEL.
 

More in-depth information and the answers to common questions can be found by clicking here.  This information sheet is also printable to share with your friends, relatives and acquaintances that may need our services or wish to donate to our facility
 
We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and we are a Premier Accredited
        Operating Center and a member of N.A.R.H.A.
(The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association). 
   N.A.R.H.A. sets the guidelines and standards for safe and effective horseback riding for all disabilities. 

All donations are tax deductible.

GREAT BIG thank you to the US Ecology of Idaho for their $500.00 donation!
 

PATRICIA ANN CERCLE
DEC 4, 1937 - FEB 16, 2011 Patricia Ann Cercle of Modesto, California passed away unexpectedly at the age of 73 on February 16, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Kathryn Boylan. She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Richard, and children, Diane Cercle (Ross Hoffman) of Nampa, ID, and Kim Cercle-Kent (Hartzell Kent) of Marsing, ID, her sister Carol Bradley (Gerald Bradley) of Flossmoor, IL, grandchildren Nika and Chase Hoffman of Nampa, ID, Cody Kent of Marsing, ID and James Heffner of Caldwell, ID, nieces, nephew, and numerous friends whose lives she touched. Patricia was born in Kenosha, WI, and was the eldest of two children. As a child, Patricia and her family moved to Chicago, Illinois while she was still in elementary school. She attended Calumet High School where she was a member of the Honor Society, Queen's Court, Secretary of the Girl's Athletic Association, and earned her varsity letter on the Swim Club. During high school, she also worked at the local drug store every day after school. Upon graduating from Calumet in 1956, Patricia chose to go into Nursing. She graduated from the Illinois School of Psychiatric Nursing at the Chicago State Hospital in 1958. Additionally, she attended the Nursing School atthe Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1959. Patricia met her husband while working at her first job as a nurse in a local dermatologist's office. Richard was working in the same medical building as a pharmacist. They were married in August, 1963. They moved to California in 1966, where Richard completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship. The family moved to Modesto in 1971 where Richard started his private practice. Working in his office, Patricia was always the smiling, friendly face that patients looked forward to seeing on each and every visit over the past 40 years. Patricia was very active in the community. She served as President of the Stanislaus Medical Society Women's Auxiliary in 1976. She was also a member of Omega Nu. Over the past 15 years, Patricia was very active in the Care-ousel Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program for people with disabilities. Patricia was the Treasurer for many years, and daughter Kim instructed riders at Patricia and Richard's home in Modesto. She volunteered tirelessly, regardless of the weather, and made every rider's day when she walked along side their horse. She was recognized as ''Vounteer of the Year'' numerous times, given the many fundraising events she both planned and ran for the Care-ousel program. Patricia led a very full life. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, and friend, and never missed an opportunity to cheer family on at a horse show, roping, dance recital, or sporting event. She always kept busy both at home and the office, and enjoyed her frequent trips to visit her daughters and their families in Idaho, where she and Richard had planned to retire. A visitation will be held at Franklin & Downs Funeral home at 1050 McHenry Ave on Wednesday February 23rd at 2:30pm, with a service to follow at 3:30pm. Burial will take place on Saturday, February 26th, at 11:00am at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell, Idaho.
 

PATRICIA CERCLE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
 A scholarship in Patricia's name will be set up for riders in need who participate in the Care-ousel Therapeutic Riding Program.  Please send donations in her name to:  Patricia Cercle Scholarship Fund, 1302 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354.