Nonprofit Uses Horse Riding to Help People with Disabilities
(Photo sourced from Starbrite's Facebook) Volunteers help disabled rider get off her horse. Starbrite caters to people of almost all ages.
By ABBY SMITH/Staff Writer
“I saw God today.”
Those are the words of Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Tara Carper, who works at the Tyler nonprofit Starbrite.
“We opened our doors in February 2020. And we set out the mission from the very beginning to have a Christ-centered, or Christ-forward, facility, and to provide world-class therapeutic riding services to the East Texas residents,” said Chief Executive Officer Lauren Buford.
Starbrite offers therapeutic riding services for individuals with emotional, mental and physical disabilities.
(Photo sourced from Starbrite’s Facebook) A young boy rides around the pin with a smile on his face.
“My role as an instructor is to individualize every rider’s plan. Every day is different. We just kind of see what God has planned for today and work through that,” said Carper. “Some days, some of our riders are not as mobile as they were last week, or they are lacking joy in their life. And some days, it’s just me dancing and singing in the arena, why they’re on the horse to make them laugh.”
Carper began her journey at Starbrite in the fall of 2022, saying that “Starbrite found her.”
“I honestly didn’t know there was a community of people… like we have here. It’s amazing. The volunteers and the women that I work with are all very different women from very different walks of life and a variety of ages. But you know what? They are all my best friends, and they’re amazing,” said Carper.
According to CEO Buford, volunteers do not need experience with horses to join the team at Starbrite; the nonprofit provides all training.
(Photo sourced from Starbrite’s Facebook) An elderly woman learns how to brush a horse. Just because you can’t ride doesn’t mean you’re left out at Starbrite.
“When I was in college, I was seeking a purpose in life and I realized it doesn’t have to be a big purpose. If you come here, you are making a difference in someone else’s life. And there is a purpose in that, and you can leave here feeling like you made a difference,” said Carper, who encourages college students to volunteer.
Starbrite is located in Whitehouse, TX, only 10 minutes from the University of Texas at Tyler.
“This place forces you to stop and look around and understand that every person is not just an individual but is the main character of their own story and should be treated that way,” said Buford.
Buford explains that most of their riders come to them with a traditional diagnosis, but the nonprofit provides service to a broad scope of individuals, including Veterans and individuals with cognitive, physical, behavioral and mental health challenges.
Carper reminisces about a current rider, saying, “When he started, he would hit himself and scream. And he didn’t want to be touched or to touch the horse,” Carper says now after committing to the program.” He holds my hand, and he pets the horse, and he smiles the entire time; he’s on the horse, and it is the best part of his week and mine.”
(Photo sourced from Starbrite’s Facebook) A volunteer shares a moment with his horse.
The Starbrite teams encourage the Tyler community to spread the word about the nonprofit Buford, noting that the more people that say the name of Starbright, the more their riders will get the “visibility that they deserve and the help that they deserve.”
Buford goes on to open the doors for community volunteers, promising “that an hour or two outside, in this setting around these horses, and around these people will literally change your life. It’s free therapy, legitimately.”
To support Starbrite, participate in the East Texas Giving Day on April 30 or access the nonprofit’s website at starbritetyler.org to donate or sign up to volunteer.