Susan Thomas, wife of late Sen. Craig Thomas, will speak at Reach 4 A Star Academy's "Nite at the Races" fundraiser Saturday.

The nonprofit academy provides therapeutic horsemanship activities for mentally, physically, emotionally and behaviorally challenged individuals in the community.

"It's expensive to keep horses, to keep the arena, and these people are volunteers," Thomas said. "They help a lot of people with special needs. It's a good event and I'm delighted to be a part of it."

Thomas, a career special education instructor, said she hopes the event will bring attention to the important work of the academy.

"I think anytime you bring a group like Reach 4 A Star together with people who have special needs and they're as successful as they've been, they need to be congratulated," she said.

Thomas, who was raised on a Wyoming ranch, has been riding horses since she was a small child. She also rides horses in parades and often rode to relax with her late husband.

"Craig and I would take a two-day vacation during Fourth of July where we would saddle up and eat peanut butter sandwiches and live in the mountains," Thomas said. "It was wonderful."

Thomas said that therapy through horse-riding will continue to benefit people with special needs in Wyoming.

"It gives them help with self-confidence, patience - all of the good things that we want them to have in their lives," Thomas said. "And it's a two-way street. I think the academy has learned a great deal too, and that's really what it's all about."

On Saturday, talking points of her presentation will center on the importance of learning.

"But it's not just about the importance of learning. I think it's about life learning," Thomas said. "It's things we learn in life as we go along and live. There are good lessons and bad lessons, and hopefully we get more of the good than the bad, and that's what makes us who we are."

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com

Tickets available

Tickets for "Nite at the Races," part of Reach 4 A Star's fundraising campaign this year, "Ticket 2 Ride," are available at All That Yarn, Moss Saddles, Boots & Tack, or from advisory committee members. Tickets cost $50 each or two for $75, and table sponsorships are $300 for a table of eight or $375 for a table of 10.

For more information, call Karol Santistevan at (307) 267-7416 or go to www.reach4astar.org.