Redmond’s Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center was one of two beneficiaries of the Stinky Spoke 11th Annual Benefit Bike Ride held on Jan. 20. The ride started and finished in Woodinville. This year’s event involved 600 riders from all over the Seattle area, three service stops on the route, each hosted by a different organization, and an after party at the end with live music and prizes. Net proceeds received by Little Bit will go toward supporting its programs for children and adults with disabilities, including equine-assisted therapy, adaptive riding and equine-facilitated psychotherapy.

The Stinky Spoke is an 18-mile mountain bike “poker ride” held on the statistically most-rotten-weather day of the year. The riders follow a route along the Tolt Pipeline, Trilogy, Redmond Watershed, Power Line and Sammamish River trails. Playing cards are collected at stops on the route, with each rider hoping to have a poker hand good enough at the end to win a prize.

Todd Cowles created and has organized the Stinky Spoke for 11 years. The 2018 event benefited both Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center and Outdoors for All. For more information, visit littlebit.org and stinkyspoke.org.

The Little Bit mission is to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapies and activities, and to be an inspiration and educational resource to the therapeutic riding profession, both regionally and nationally. Founded in 1976, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center moved to 17-acre Dunmire Stables in 2013.