Spread happiness, support STAR with Horse Country plate
A Horse Country specialty plate soon will be available, as pre-orders are currently under way.
The specialty plates will be $35 to reserve. This fee will be applied to the total cost when individuals receive their plate from the state. Purchasers will owe an additional $26.50 — plus any local county government fees — in order to register their plate at the time of pick-up. This plate is only available to Tennessee residents.
While customized plates currently are not available, STAR is offering the opportunity to choose your number between its allotted numbers, 0001-1001, for an additional $40 donation to help celebrate the organization’s 40th year.
Once plates are ordered online, purchasers can reach out to 865-988-4711 to choose their number and make the donation. Numbers will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.
STAR, entering its 40th year in March, is a 501(c)3 non-profit offering a place where breakthroughs can happen, where healing through horses is possible and where each participant has something that is uniquely their own, according to a STAR press release.
“It’s happy because it makes me happy, it makes him happy, and it’s just so uplifting for us,” one participant’s mother said. “Even driving out here, [my son is] so excited about it. He’s never unhappy to be here, even if he’s not feeling his best. This is always uplifting for him.”
“STAR’s mission is to foster personal achievement by providing therapeutic experiences through horse-related activities for persons with disabilities or other special challenges; and for participants, those things all come together alongside their equine partner,” the press release stated.
“Being in a place where limits fade away is unexplainable,” STAR director of programs Brittany Ferrell added. “You have to experience it for yourself.
“It’s different for everybody — the
volunteers, the participants, the horses
even,” she said. “Everyone who walks through these doors experiences something different. It’s unexplainable. It’s pretty evident that it’s special.
“Therapeutic riding offers benefits that far outweigh the happiness of the moment, making the impact of Shangri-La even more special,” she said. “It truly becomes a paradise where goals can be reached for every participant.”
And now, STAR’s impact can be seen across highways of Tennessee through this one-of-a-kind specialty plate, which will celebrate the healing power of horses.
“Designed with a rolling hills landscape background, it’s a beautiful nod to Tennessee’s equestrian heritage,” the press release stated.
Once 1,000 plates are pre-
ordered, production of the plates will begin and Tennessee residents will be able to show their love for horses and support STAR’s mission along the way.
“A portion of every plate sold will be donated directly to STAR, helping the organization continue as a true equine-assisted Shangri-La,” the release stated. “Every pre-ordered license plate helps STAR continue to allow participants to find their haven of growth and joy through horses.”
More information regarding the Tennessee Horse Country specialty license plate may be found by visiting STAR’s website at https://www.rideatstar.org/horse-country or by calling the office at 865-988-4711.
