Palm Beach Illustrated

Hopes, Dreams & Horses, a local nonprofit therapeutic center dedicated to serving children and adults with physical, mental, social and emotional special needs through the healing power of horses, is teaming up with the some local bikers for its first ever fund- and awareness-raiser, Horses and Harleys at Lucky’s Bar & Grill.

   An evening of bites, drinks and live entertainment, as well as fabulous silent auction items will help celebrate the work HDH has undertaken. Part horse rescue, part therapeutic riding center, HDH helps individuals with special needs, including but not limited to at-risk youth, seniors, amateur riders, veterans, cancer patients and survivors, and individuals with socialization and communication needs to connect through horses, be it riding or simply coming to the barn and being in their presence. Programs like Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning harness the power of horses to instill an overall sense of well-being, improvements in confidence and self-esteem, create a dynamic of positive communication as well as a place for relationship growth, while improving physical conditions like balance, coordination, reflexes, range of motion, muscle development and decreased spasticity, among many more benefits.

   Horses and Harleys hopes to raise awareness of the power horses can have on those whose voice is often diminished and hope seems distant.

• Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with live music, games and raffle prizes.
• Admission is free.
• For more information, visit hopesdreamsandhorses.com.