Thearputic Riding

Riding a horse in the great outdoors is an amazing and fun way to get some exercise and learn about horses.  

Did you know that riding produces oxytocin in the body which is why people feel better after riding?  We specialize in providing therapeutic riding services to all populations, but not limited to those who deal with:

*Physical and developmental disabilities
*Mental health issues
*Individuals who need confidence building and physical development.

There are physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits with horseback riding.  Many riders in our program report feeling physically stronger and more flexible.  They also feel increased self-esteem, decreased anxiety, improvements in problem solving, attention, memory, and more! Fill out our intake form to get started!

Intake Form

  • Therapeutic riding uses horseback riding to help individuals with physical, emotional, cognitive, or social challenges build strength, confidence, and new skills.

    • ADD or other hyperactive disorders

    • Developmental delay

    • Emotional, behavioral, challenges

    • Autism Spectrum Disorder

    • Substance abuse

    • Cerebral Palsy

    • Visual/speech impairment

    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Benefits often include improved balance, coordination, muscle tone, focus, communication, confidence, and emotional regulation.

  • The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.

    PATH is  a global authority, resource and advocate for equine-assisted  activities and therapies and the equines in this work that inspire and  enrich the human spirit, with more  than 850 member centers and nearly 7,600 individual members in  countries all over the world, who help and support more than 54,000 men,  women and children with special needs each year through a variety of  equine-assisted activities and therapies programs.

Scientific Benefits of Horseback Riding

Horseback riding offers a unique combination of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits because a horse’s movement naturally mimics the human walking pattern. This creates powerful outcomes backed by research:

1. Improved Core Strength & Balance
The rhythmic, three-dimensional movement of a horse engages a rider’s core muscles, helping develop better posture, stability, and balance—similar to physical therapy on the move.

2. Enhanced Motor Skills & Coordination
Riders must coordinate their hands, legs, eyes, and posture simultaneously, which strengthens fine and gross motor skills as well as overall body awareness.

3. Sensory Integration & Regulation
The motion, textures, sounds, and temperature variations around a horse provide rich sensory input that helps regulate the nervous system. This is especially beneficial for individuals with sensory processing challenges.

4. Boosted Cognitive Skills
Riding encourages focus, sequencing, following directions, problem-solving, and memory. Each task—steering, stopping, navigating obstacles—requires attention and planning.

5. Increased Confidence & Emotional Well-Being
Working with a large, responsive animal builds confidence, responsibility, and self-esteem. Horses offer nonjudgmental companionship, which reduces stress and supports emotional regulation.

6. Social & Communication Growth
Many riders naturally increase verbal communication, expressiveness, and social engagement when interacting with instructors, volunteers, and the horse itself.

7. Improved Mobility & Flexibility
The movement of the horse stretches tight muscles, promotes pelvic mobility, and supports joint flexibility—particularly beneficial for riders with cerebral palsy, muscular challenges, or developmental delays.