Why CHAMP needs you!

In 1981 I was involved in a car crash that left me paralyzed from the waist down. I had to give up many things including my love and great passion for riding until I heard about CHAMP. For the past 12 years it has truly been a godsend, allowing me to continue riding making me physically and mentally stronger. I am grateful to the dedicated people who volunteer their time to the program. They are key to my getting back in the saddle. They have given me something that is fundamental to who I am, something I feared I had to leave behind after my accident."

--Sheila Gorski, CHAMP Rider and Member of the Board of Directors

Our Program

The Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program (CHAMP) is a Premier Accredited Center Program of NARHA, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc.  To achieve and maintain this designation CHAMP. is required to institute stringent regulations to ensure that “basic standards for health and safety to promote the well-being of all participants and horses” are followed. Accreditation status is reviewed on a regular basis by NARHA and an Annual Statement of Compliance must be submitted. CHAMP also adheres to the NARHA Code of Ethics for Centers and confidentiality is of paramount importance.

Our instructors are trained according to national standards set by NARHA.  In order to maintain their certification, they are required to take a CPR course annually, a First Aid course every three years and to spend a specified number of hours each year up-grading their knowledge and skills.

Our volunteers are trained on-site with videos and demonstrations. Horse leading, side-walking, mounting and dismounting, horse grooming and tacking are tasks for which they are trained.

All CHAMP employees and volunteers are required to pass a Vermont Criminal Information Center background check as a condition of their participation in the program.

Interested volunteers are always welcome, and time spent with CHAMP qualifies for Community Service requirements. The Volunteer Information and Health History form, the Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment, and the Release forms are available on the Download page of this web site. The Vermont Criminal Information Release form may also be downloaded from this site and must be notarized before being submitted.

To participate in the CHAMP program as a rider, the Registration and Release Form, the Medical History and Physician’s Statement, the Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment Form as well as an agreement with Good Hope Equestrian Center must be completed. All these forms may be downloaded from this web site.

CHAMP holds two 6-week sessions a year, beginning in April and September. Classes take place on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at Good Hope Equestrian Center in South Hero. Each class is 30 minutes and riders are asked to arrive on time, appropriately dressed (long pants, sturdy shoes), their safety helmet (supplied by CHAMP) in place and ready to mount. Volunteers assist the rider to mount and the tack is checked for fit by an instructor before the lesson. Each rider progresses according to his or her own skill and comfort level, and a horse leader and up to 2 side-walkers are available to be with the rider at all times.

CHAMP also holds a 4-day summer session each year in August. Riders are taught the care and grooming of their horse as well as receiving riding instruction.

Payment for the full 6 week session is required at the first lesson. Applications for scholarships are available upon request.

As well as receiving generous support from The Franklin-Grand Isle United Way, The Rotary Club of Grand Isle, the South Hero Congregational Church and Eastern Star, CHAMP holds a Trail Ride fundraiser each year in September. The ride is organized so that participants can ride for a whole day or stop at the half-way mark. A delicious barbeque lunch is served and prizes are awarded. Check the Calendar page of this web site for dates and registration forms.

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Directions to CHAMP at Good Hope Equestrian Center

Take 89 to Exit 17 (9.4 miles north of Burlington)
exit West (to Champlain Islands), merge on to US2 for 7.1 miles
turn left onto Landon Rd (towards Allenholm Farms) at 0.7 mile
turn left onto E. Shore Rd (portions unpaved) for 0.5 mile to
Good Hope Equestrian Center on your left.