Central Kentucky Riding for Hope has broken ground on a $3.6 million indoor therapeutic riding arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. During the recent ground-breaking ceremony, Robbie Rudolph, secretary of the state's Executive Cabinet, said the state donated 24 acres of park land because it supports the CKRH's efforts."CKRH takes the "dis" out of disability and focuses on the abilities their students already have," Rudolph said. "How could we not support that effort?" Rudolph added that with the addition of the Para-Equestrian element to the Alltech FEI World Games Kentucky, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, there is a logical collaboration between CKRH and World Games organizers in supporting those athletes with the new facility. CKRH has raised $2.2 million for the facility, and the groundbreaking ceremony launches the public phase of securing the remainder. CKRH officials said their intent is to have the facility built and fully operational by October 2007. The John Creech, Jr., family donated $1 million to the facility in memory of Virginia Creech, who was an advocate for the disabled during her lifetime, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky made the lead gift of $250,000 for the facility in June 2005."We have every confidence that the public will help us achieve this goal, especially with the generous example set by the Creech family and Toyota," said CKRH Board President Jeanne Cox-Owens.
Three CKRH students gave riding demonstrations during the ground-breaking ceremony.
