Riding To The Top, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with physical, emotional and/or learning disabilities based in Windham, has completed its $1.6 million capital campaign for expanded services.

Riding To The Top annually serves 250 children and adults with disabilities from more than 45 towns in Maine at its Windham farm and at its satellite site at Pineland Farms Equestrian Center.

The campaign went over its goal raising a total of $1,636,270 with more than 2,000 donations from individuals, foundations and businesses from 34 states and seven foreign countries. Riding To The Top was awarded an $180,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan in January of 2006 and volunteers have worked tirelessly to succeed in meeting that challenge by Jan. 1, 2007.

“This has been an extraordinary journey for everyone involved with our organization. Our volunteers, clients and their families, board members and friends in the community have rallied to take us up and over our goal. What a great way to start 2007!” said Tory Dietel Hopps, campaign director.

“We are awed by the depth of community support we have received. The campaign process has been an inspiration and we are deeply thankful to all who have made our dreams of a year round program that can serve more people in need come true” said Sarah Bronson, executive director.

The campaign has enabled the equestrian center to more than double its programming, improve fencing and pastureland, create an endowment and complete the construction of a fully handicapped accessible program and office wing attached to its heated indoor arena. Construction on the new wing will begin in April 2007.