“Riding can do so much in the way of strengthening and relaxing muscles, improving coordination and balance, and increasing joint mobility.” – Ann Wright
Initially, Ann Wright volunteered herself and pony cart to the newly formed therapeutic riding program at High Hopes and 1976 she became the first paid instructor. She’d never been a riding instructor before, but as an accomplished rider, she knew and loved horses. Ann’s love of horses and her background in speech pathology and theater were instrumental in her becoming a highly effective instructor and role model in the early days of the profession. An instructor for seven years, along with the other early instructors Ann helped to create the profession in the field.
In 1997 the Ann Wright Instructor of the Year Award was established in her memory. The recipient was to be a member of the High Hopes staff, a volunteer instructor, or a student in the Instructor Training Course who “works as a team player, teaches with humor, fun and excitement for everyone involved, instills confidence and builds self-esteem in riders and provides an overall sense of inspiration to riders, volunteers, and coworkers.“
These qualities embodied Ann as an instructor and as an individual.