Manawale‘a Is Having A Party
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Del.icio.usManawale’a Riding Center hosts its 10th annual ranch party Saturday with games, activities, a silent auction, cowboy bingo, massages and more from noon to 7 p.m. at Da Ranch in Waimanalo.
Admission is free, and plate lunches will go for $6 each. Keiki horseback rides run from 1 to 3 p.m., also free, but first-come, first-served, and children must wear covered shoes and long pants.
One highlight is the Ghost Town Showdown, where the back of the arena is transformed into an old western scene ready for action with a saloon, country store, bank and blacksmith shop. “Since we cannot have paintballs, we are using flour balls for the kids to run around and throw at each other,” explained riding center treasurer Patti Silva. “They will be looking like the Pillsbury Doughboy.”
Manawale’a has developed a safe environment for children with special needs, indigent keiki and those from speciality groups so they can experience a loving bond and relationship with a horse. Within the past year the program added a sensory trail with the help of students in a youth at-risk program at Farrington High School. The enhanced trail lets children with acute sensory disabilities feel their way around a riding course.
“After we tell the children we are going on the sensory trail there is so much excitement,” said Silva. “We have ducks and other rubber animals in mailboxes along the trail for them to identify, and balls for them to grab that they can throw through hula hoops that line the course. We have bridges for them to cross, and we even have an English horseriding technique they can do, where they stand up in their saddles.”
With its decade of service to special riders, Silva likens the all-volunteer staff to “a huge extended family and 10 years of people caring.
“They can get emotionally wrapped up,” she added, “but usually they realize these are real people, with real feelings and they just love them to death.
“I feel so strongly about our programs and what we are doing to make a difference in the children’s and adults’ lives.”
Da Ranch is located at 41-170A Waikupanaha St. For more information, call 352-1523.
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