StarBrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Whitehouse has remodeled its sensory area. The space includes a basketball hoop, a tic-tac-toe board and a large sensory tunnel. Site director Elizabeth Moore said the equipment helps riders build balance and communication. She gave a riding example: a rider leaning over to reach a basketball hoop works on balance, a skill she said many riders find hard.
Moore said the center's previous sensory area had become dilapidated and riders did not want to use it. The center sits on 30 acres and serves youth, adults and veterans with a range of needs and abilities.
A Junior League of Tyler Community Assistance Grant helped pay for the remodel. The grant provides up to $5,000 to nonprofits in Smith County for a specific project or urgent need. StarBrite applied last summer and finished the project last month. Moore said the project met all three of the League's focus areas: benefiting women, benefiting children and benefiting the community.