The Shadow
Teresa Hammond, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, conducted a ribbon-cutting celebration for Valley View Stables in Rich Patch on Thurs., Sept., 15.
*Valley View Stables is owned and operated by Amy Bennett Washburn, who traveled to Ky. to consider purchasing horses but opted to focus on using rescue horses to teach the community basic horsemanship.
*Hammond introduced Johnathan Arritt, past president of the Chamber, and he thanked everyone for attending.
*He then thanked Washburn for her contribution to the betterment of the Alleghany Highlands before he called on the City of Covington’s Mayor Tom Sibold who expressed his appreciation for the services Washburn’s Valley View Stables now offers.
*Steve Bennett represented the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, and he shared stories about growing up in Rich Patch, stories that were laced with verbal irony and irony of the situation in that he noted that while attending school at Central High School before Alleghany County High School was built, students would tease him about living in Rich Patch, a remote rural area blessed with natural beauty, but he would tell them with tongue in cheek not to go to Rich Patch because it was a terrible place to live.
*Terri McClung represented the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corp., and she expressed her appreciation for the investment Washburn has made to offer valuable therapeutic services that horses are capable of rendering.
*Washburn shared stories of the way horses can help those who face physical disabilities and intellectual challenges, and she noted that part of the service Valley View Stables offers is to teach potential horse owners about horsemanship, beginning with how to saddle up a horse and use a bridle as well as to feed and properly care for them.
*Valley View Stables offers students instruction in learning the English way of riding or the Western style, and her three staff members have extensive training in handling horses and caring for them.
*Other services offered are horse grooming instruction, pony ride parties and photo shoots with horses.
The Valley View Stables’ motto is “Live for the Ride, and riding lessons can be scheduled by calling (540) 691-5027 or (540) 862-1756.
