Bridlepath Equine Center, 787 Valley Road, Quarryville, will hold its inaugural Race Day fundraiser and chicken barbecue on Saturday, June 29. A 5K run will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a 2-mile, pet-friendly walk at 10:30 a.m. and the Kids Giddy-Up Run at 11 a.m. The chicken barbecue portion of the fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. until supplies run out.

Participants in the 5K race will run through sections of the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail, and the pet-friendly stroll will take walkers along Bridlepath's sensory trail, which the organization incorporates in equine therapy sessions. Bridlepath will partner with Pretzel City Sports to time the 5K.

The sensory trail includes various stations designed to help participants improve their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. During sessions, riders take their horses through objects such as pool noodles, attempt to throw a ball into a basket and trot through a shallow part of the creek. "These are all things that are fun to do, so the riders often don't realize they're working on these skills," said Danielle Denlinger, founder and executive director of Bridlepath Equine Center. "We wanted to utilize our property for the fundraiser, and we thought it would be fun to watch guests enjoy it and see some of what we do."

Children ages 2 to 8 may participate in the Kids Giddy-Up Run, and the first 100 youngsters who register will receive stick animals for galloping across a horse-riding arena.

Chicken barbecue meals will be available to purchase while supplies last. Patrons may choose a chicken thigh or leg for the meal, which will include two sides, a dessert and a drink.

Proceeds from the Race Day and chicken barbecue fundraiser will help Bridlepath continue to offer various equine therapy programs. Since Bridlepath opened its doors in September 2023, it has offered programs such as weekly mounted and unmounted horsemanship sessions in addition to field trips for the School District of Lancaster's learning support classes and local retirement home residents. This summer, Bridlepath will host summer camps for different age groups, and the organization will partner with Penn State Health to offer a cancer support group for children who are currently receiving treatment or in remission. "It's been a very humbling experience," Denlinger said. "We've grown a lot more than I expected, but we're being careful not to grow too fast." Each session costs Bridlepath $100, but participants are charged a maximum of $50 per session.

Participants who register before Friday, June 14 will receive a discounted rate and are guaranteed a T-shirt. For more information or to register for any of the Race Day activities, visit http://www.bridlepathequinecenter.org/2024-race-day-fundraiser.