Photos: Kids conquer fears to pet and ride horses at Exceptionality Awareness event
Organizers Yonni Matthews and Katie Manzella held their first?Exceptionality Awareness event at the?Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to bring dozens of New Orleans families access to horses.
Individuals and riding clubs brought horses to allow kids and their families to meet and ride the horses. "Horses are therapeutic for kids," stated Matthews who said riding?horses helped him grieve the loss of his son.?
Manzella started a nonprofit called NOLA Equine Rescue.?"Horses really bring out your empathy," said Manzella who stresses the powers of working with horses.?
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Darriona Nickerson holds Madison Nickerson, 3, as she pets a rescue horse named Lila during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Jess Kingston helps Fenyx Bender, 4, work up the courage to pet a rescue horse named Lila as she is pet by her owner Katie Manzella during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Manzella adopted injured Lila when she was going through a hard time and named the horse after her grandmother. Manzella said she worked and connected with Lila to heal her leg. Lila walked in the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade on Mardi Gras Day and took part in a second line parade.?(Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Jess Kingston helps Amari Bender, 9, pet a rescue horse named Lila during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Sweet Pea laughs as Snow bumps her hat during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Ahdora Duperon, 3, sits with Beautay Duperon next to a rescue horse named Lila during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Baby Girl gets pets during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Families meet horses during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Finn Lazard, 5, jumps in a bounce house during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Finn Lazard, 5, pets Snow during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Onyx's hooves shine during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Chivonne Willingham, of New Generation Riders, combs the bangs of a horse named Onyx during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Bronx Johns, 6, pets Snow during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Nasir Smith, 11, rests on Chivonne Willingham, of New Generation Riders, during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Katie Manzella leads as Emeree Broussard, 12, rides Lila during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Camyri Smith, 4, Yhuri Matthews, 3, and Terrez Williams, 4, ride therapy horse Baby Girl during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Families stand by therapy horse Baby Girl during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Onyx stands in a stall during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Yonni Matthews stands next to Baby Girl during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Families ride horses during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Event co-organizer Yonni Matthews demonstrates how to turn therapy horse Baby Girl during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. Matthews said riding horses helped him grieve after the loss of his son who died in a car accident in 2014.?(Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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Beautay Duperon sits on Theresa during the Exceptionality Awareness event at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)