BURBANK — Eleanor Hellman won the 2009 Riding For Reading Class during the Woodside Labor Day Classic, while Ashlyn Matheus won the Los Angeles Riding For Reading Class for the second year in a row at the Gold Coast 6 Show at Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Every rider in the classes earned grants to their school libraries from Riding For Reading.

Riding For Reading is a non-profit organization which promotes reading, literacy and education through equestrian sports and activities. The Riding For Reading class is open to riders from 1st through 12th grade. Since the program began, more 500,000 students have benefited from Riding For Reading library grants, organizers said.

Instead of riding just for themselves, these riders represent their schools, and every rider in the class earns a grant for his or her school. In addition, they receive a bag of goodies for themselves and it includes such items as books, magazines, a Riding For Reading t-shirt, and horse treats.

The competition is designed so the youngest, least experienced rider can compete on an equal basis with the most advanced, older junior riders. Since the class is judged as a Hunter Pleasure class, riders at any level can be competitive.
Riding for Reading classes in 2009 have also been part of shows such as the Woodside Golden Gate Classic, Oregon Country Classic, Scottsdale Spring Festival in Arizona, and Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Texas. Riding For Reading was founded in 1997 by Penny Carpenter, Lisa DaValle, and Marnye Langer.

For more information on Riding For Reading, its programs and how to host a Riding For Reading Class, visit www.ridingforreading.org or e-mail: ridingforreading@aol.com