On Saturday April 14 cycling enthusiasts will again converge on the scenic town of Easton, MD for Talbot Special Riders (TSR) Sixth Annual Classic Bike Tour. This annual major event raises funds to support our year-round therapeutic horseback riding program.

Three to four hundred cyclists are expected this April, arriving from all along the east coast and even Chicago! The bike committee is busy fine tuning the fully supported 50 mile-half century recreational bicycle ride along some of the most scenic routes through Talbot County’s Eastern Shore. A 62-mile metric-century and a 25 mile ride are also offered. The TSR Spring Classic starts and ends at Easton Middle School, 201 Peach Blossom Road, Easton, MD 21601, rain or shine. Packet Pick up is at 8 am. There are three rest stops, SAG support, with a light lunch served at the Middle School at the ride’s end.

Beyond the beautiful byways through Talbot County, TSR’s Spring Classic is also known for our friendly and helpful volunteers, our renowned homemade cookies and the cream of crab soup served at lunch. Vegetarian soup and sandwiches are on the menu too. A massage therapist will be on site offering massages to weary riders as they cross the finish line. Locker rooms and showers will be available at the YMCA across the street.

All proceeds from the ride benefit Talbot Riders’ Special therapeutic horseback riding program held at Timber Grove Farm, Preston. The move to the farm in July 2016 fulfilled TSR’s long time goal to expand our program. TSR’s Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) consist of 3 core components: Therapeutic Riding, Hippotherapy and Equine Facilitated Learning. TSR recently implemented a mental health program, CATCH Riders (Creating A Therapeutic Change through Horsemanship), an empowerment program for survivors of trauma and at risk or underserved youth.

Long time TSR riders, sisters Mary Lynn and Jennifer are known as TSR’s Good Will Ambassadors and are always smiling and laughing. Crazy about horses they’re known to sport clothing featuring horses, down to their socks. The sisters were able to compete in TSR’s 2018 Fall Fest Horse Show, riding without any assistance. With the arrival of the Spring Classic Bike Tour Fund Raisers they added Cookie Ambassadors to their skills. They will be welcoming cyclists with trays of homemade cookies at the finish of the TSR Sixth Annual Spring Classic Bike Tour.

To register go to https://www.active.com/easton-md/cycling/tsr-spring-classic-2018

Questions, contact us at [email protected]

Talbot Special Riders (TSR), a therapeutic horseback program for children and adults with special needs, is seeking volunteers to work with our riders during the fall session which started the first week of September and continues through mid-November.  Serving Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s and Dorchester Counties, TSR has been enriching the lives of special riders for more than 36 years.  A member of PATH, Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship, International, TSR’s mission is to change and enrich lives by promoting excellence in equine-assisted activities, and inspire and enrich the human spirit. Classes are held Tuesday, morning and afternoon, and Wednesday and Thursday mornings.   Volunteers receive training and select the day and time that best suits their schedule.  Experience with people with special needs or horses is not required.  Minimum age for volunteers is 14. The program is located at Timber Grove Farm, 6292 Statum Road, Preston, the farm of TSR Executive Director and fulltime certified instructor Kim Hopkins and her daughter Ashley.  TSR, a volunteer run organization,welcomes volunteers year-round. To find out more about Talbot Special Riders or to visit the program please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Nancy Radosta at 410-570-6933 or [email protected].

On Saturday April 8 cycling enthusiasts will once again converge on the scenic town of Easton, MD for the Talbot Special Riders Fifth Annual Spring Classic Bike Tour.  Last year’s Spring Classic was a huge success.  More than 325 cyclists were registered and despite the bad weather 117 cyclists showed up to ride in the snow and rain!  We are fervently hoping for better weather this year.

Four hundred cyclists are expected this April. Most  arrive from MD, VA, DC and DE, as well as from  NY, PA, NJ, NC and even South Dakota.  Our Bike Committee is hard at work, fine tuning the fully supported 50 mile half-century recreational bicycle ride along some of the most scenic routes on Talbot County’s Eastern Shore. A 62 mile metric-century and a 25 mile ride are also offered. The TSR Spring Classic starts and ends at Easton Middle School, Peach Blossom Road, Easton, MD 21601, rain or shine. Packet Pick Up is at 7 am. There are three rest stops, and a light lunch is served at the end of the ride at the Middle School.

Besides the beautiful routes through Talbot County, our ride is known for three main things: our friendly and helpful volunteers, our home baked cookies and the cream of crab soup we serve at lunch!  The cookies have been a highlight every year, as evidenced by one of the many comments we received afterwards: “What a great ride! Thanks to all of the volunteers and fellow riders and to everyone who made cookies! I wanted to go back to each rest stop for more! THANK YOU!”

All proceeds from the ride will benefit Talbot Special Rider’s therapeutic horseback riding program, held at Timber Grove Farm in Preston.   Last summer’s move to the farm fulfilled TSR’s long term goal to expand and upgrade our program.  For the first time winter classes and a Holiday camp were offered.  The upcoming spring session will expand from just two days a week to four or five days including Saturdays.  TSR also recently resumed its separate program of therapeutic riding for children recovering from human trafficking. TSR brings new meaning to the old adage “There is nothing better for the inside of a person than the outside of a horse.”  Now in its 36th year Talbot Special Riders equine therapy program continues to  enhance the lives of children and adults with special needs, the only program of its kind in the area.

TSR is a registered non-profit organization with deep roots in the community. Financial support comes from the United Fund of Talbot County, area businesses, members of the community and the 5th Annual Spring Classic Bike Tour, held April 8^th, 2017.

For more information about the TSR Spring Classic Bike Tour please contact [email protected].  Registration is open on Active.com