SMART has announced that it has received an Immediate Impact grant from the Arthur T. Esslinger Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The $5,000 grant will assist in the purchase of a new tractor. Established in 1987, Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) is a nonprofit organization that provides horseback riding, carriage driving and equine-assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. Located in eastern Manatee County, SMART is a mostly volunteer organization that serves over 650 individuals with disabilities each year, including people with a variety of challenges such as autism, attention deficit disorder, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, as well as individuals with terminal illness, emotional or mental health conditions, and hearing, speech or vision impairments. Among the activities offered are therapeutic horseback riding and driving, a literacy program, and programs for veterans, women with breast cancer, at risk youth and teens, and victims of human trafficking.

SMART