Merrimack Valley Equestrian Special Olympics

Merrimack Valley Equestrian Special Olympics (MVESO) was established in 1989 and has a rich history with Dawn-Mar Ranch.  Marcia Evans, founder of Dawn-Mar Ranch, established this program 30 years ago to ensure that her brother, George Evans, would get the opportunity to compete in equine sports like she did. With a great deal of effort on both the Special Olympians athletes, and Marcia's part. MVESO athletes qualified and competed at the World Games. Marcia was the coach of the Special Olympics New Hampshire Team who competed in the Special Olympics World Games in 1995. With the  assistance of her students, Marcia was able to introduce carriage driving to the Special Olympics program for the world. 

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Merrimack Valley Equestrian Special Olympics allows for people with intellectual disabilities gain confidence through the ability to train and compete in equine sports. As a part of the larger organization known as Special Olympics, MVESO competes against other Special Olympics equine organizations at UNH Durham every year. In the pictures above and below, are two of the Special Olympics athletes who are a part of the MVESO. 

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MVESO is able to provide this unique opportunity through the help of volunteers to lead and train from the Easy Riders 4-H group, as well as the use the horses whose care and maintenance is done through the Changing Lives Equine Center, Inc.