The 5K run began with just over 100 participants launching over the starting line on Exchange Street, heading around the Back Forty, toward the Trinity River, and coming full circle back to Exchange Street.

Fort Worth, TX, USA, May 12, 2008 (XTVWorld.Com) -- On May 3, 2008, runners, joggers and walkers from all over the Metroplex converged on the Fort Worth Stockyards to participate in the first annual Run for the Riders. The event is aptly named as it involves a 5K run with proceeds benefitting the All Star Equestrian Foundation—a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities through therapeutic riding.

At 8am, the 5K run began with just over 100 participants launching over the starting line on Exchange Street, heading around the Back Forty, toward the Trinity River, and coming full circle back to Exchange Street. The top female and the top male runner each received a roundtrip ticket on American Airlines, one of the many sponsors of the event. Following the 5K was an activity demonstrating the mission and purpose of the All Star Equestrian Foundation—the one mile ride—in which individuals with disabilities enjoyed a therapeutic ride on the All Star horses. This moving display was a powerful testimony to the far-reaching effects and benefits that the money and efforts of race participants' and race sponsors' provide.

To wrap-up the activities, participants and supporters alike were able to catch a glimpse of the first Ride and Tie event to come to Fort Worth in more than 100 years. A practice commonly used in the days of trailblazers, the ride and tie involves getting two humans successfully across country with the use of only one horse by alternating who rides and who runs.

As an added bonus, race participants, riders and their families had the opportunity to meet the celebrated author of the seven volume series, Horse Tales for the Soul, Bonnie Marlewski-Probert. Her books are anthologies that include true, heartwarming stories from horse lovers around the globe, and focus on life lessons such as building self esteem and overcoming adversity that people learn while working with horses. In addition to being onsite and signing books sold, Bonnie also donated 25% of gross profits to the All Star Equestrian Foundation.

Sponsors for the event included American Airlines, XTO Energy, Fort Worth Business Press, TXU Energy, Penn & Associates, TCU Kinderfrogs, TCU Ranch Management, Dannon, Merit Energy Foundation, TCU Energy Institute, The Roach Foundation, Orr & Associates, Chesapeake Energy, Pollock Paper, TCU College of Education, Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Azle, Texas, The Fort Worth Running Company, John Sons Press, TCU Institute of Child Development, and Scott Environmental Services. The event raised a total of $10,000 for the Foundation, which was presented at the close of the activities. A second annual event is already in the works for next spring and promises to be even bigger and better.

If you were unable to attend the event and would like to purchase one or all of Bonnie Marlewski-Probert's Horse Tales for the Soul books, she is offering a continued-sale until June 5 to benefit the All Star Equestrian Foundation. Books can be purchase for $19.95 each or $139.95 for the full set with 25% of gross proceeds going back to the Foundation. Contact Ken Morgan at 817-257-7721 or Amy Day at 817-426-5020 (amy.day @ cowtowncreative.net) to place an order before June 5.

About the All Star Equestrian Foundation:
All Star Equestrian Foundation is a fully accredited 501c (3) therapeutic riding facility with over 100 "special riders" and a team of volunteers from all over the Metroplex. Our "special" riders do horseback therapy for various disabilities including Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism, and many others. Our mission is to improve mental, physical and emotional fitness through therapeutic horseback riding

www.allstarfoundation.org

About Bonnie Marlewski-Probert:
Bonnie Marlewski-Probert is a syndicated columnist, teacher, national speaker and author of nine books. She is a professionally trained horsewoman with more than 20 years of safe, responsible teaching and training experience. She is also the creator of the popular series of books entitled, "Horse Tales, for the Soul" and her newest book, "Dog Tales, for the Soul." These books bring together more than 150 authors from around the world to share their true stories of life lessons learned on the back of a horse and by the side of a dog.

Contact:
Amy Day
Cowtown Creative, L.L.C.
Fort Worth, TX
817-426-5020
amy.day @ cowtowncreative.net
http://www.allstarfoundation.org

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