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Therapeutic riding programs
Therapeutic riding programs adapt riding lessons for people with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities. Riders work with an instructor, often with volunteers walking alongside. Every program here offers therapeutic riding, per a customer review or its own website.
What therapeutic riding is
In a therapeutic riding lesson, the instructor adapts riding to the rider. Volunteers often help: a leader at the horse's head and side-walkers next to the rider. Some programs use adapted tack or a ramp for mounting.
It is not the same as hippotherapy, where a physical, occupational or speech therapist uses the horse's movement as part of a treatment plan. Some centers offer both, along with groundwork and other horse activities.
Each program sets its own rider requirements, and many ask for an application, forms or an evaluation before a first ride. Some have waiting lists. Talk to the program, and to your own doctor or therapist, about whether riding suits you or your child.
A program is listed here only when a customer review mentions therapeutic riding there or the program's own website does. That review line, or a note about the website, is shown under each program. What a program offers can change, so check with it before you go. For 918 of them, the proof is the program's own website.
Map of therapeutic riding programs
Top-rated therapeutic riding programs, in riders' words
Programs whose customers mention therapeutic riding in a review. Ranked by Google rating × number of reviews (10 reviews or more). Under each one is what a customer said. Open-now times come from Google; call the stable before you go.
Stuart has an indoor arena for inclement weather and provides Equine Therapy.
The stable's website says so too.
Later that evening, I had my equine therapy session.
The stable's website says so too.
Seaton Hackney Stables -Equishare USA, LLC
Jessica, head of their therapeutic riding program was incredibly kind and made the whole experience so welcoming and informative.
The stable's website says so too.
I’m so thankful for Gil and Krista and happy to have found Starlight Ranch and hope they can also grow their business into therapeutic riding as Gil and I discussed.
They do equine therapy too, which I think is amazing!
Even outside of their amazing equine therapy work, their ability to gently teach new riders is amazing.
The stable's website says so too.
Fantastic equine therapy center for disabled children and veterans.
The stable's website says so too.
Oh, and it's worth mentioning, they host equine therapy on their land as well, along with sound baths for folks.
Mark Reyner Stables Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center
Mainly a therapeutic riding stable (from what I've seen), the work they do is beautiful and the staff incredibly friendly.
The stable's website says so too.
Gail and her team of Volunteers have been overly patient with his Equine Therapy.
The stable's website says so too.
Phenomenal therapeutic riding center that has been helping the disabled and traumatized population find healing and strength.
The stable's website says so too.
I have groomed the minis and helped as a sidewalker.
The stable's website says so too.
Find therapeutic riding programs by state
1,062 programs in 50 states and DC offer therapeutic riding. States with 3 or more have their own page; the rest are listed further down.
- Alabama10
- Alaska1
- Arizona21
- Arkansas6
- California129
- Colorado37
- Connecticut22
- Delaware4
- District of Columbia2
- Florida58
- Georgia35
- Hawaii1
- Idaho8
- Illinois37
- Indiana26
- Iowa10
- Kansas15
- Kentucky14
- Louisiana9
- Maine12
- Maryland17
- Massachusetts31
- Michigan28
- Minnesota16
- Mississippi2
- Missouri11
- Montana13
- Nebraska6
- Nevada6
- New Hampshire15
- New Jersey32
- New Mexico4
- New York55
- North Carolina35
- North Dakota3
- Ohio41
- Oklahoma11
- Oregon12
- Pennsylvania45
- Rhode Island4
- South Carolina21
- South Dakota3
- Tennessee15
- Texas85
- Utah17
- Vermont5
- Virginia19
- Washington24
- West Virginia3
- Wisconsin24
- Wyoming2
States with one or two programs
Alaska
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
District of Columbia
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
Hawaii
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
Mississippi
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
It is always a privilege for me to volunteer and watch how Jessie and her team change the lives of others through equine assisted therapy.
Wyoming
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
- Therapeutic riding: per the stable's website
Therapeutic riding questions
- What is therapeutic riding?
- Riding lessons adapted for people with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities, taught by an instructor and often helped by volunteer leaders and side-walkers.
- What is the difference between therapeutic riding and hippotherapy?
- Therapeutic riding is an adapted riding lesson. In hippotherapy, a physical, occupational or speech therapist uses the horse's movement as part of treatment. Ask a program which it offers.
- Who can take part in therapeutic riding?
- Each program sets its own rider requirements and usually asks for forms or an evaluation first. Ask the program, and your doctor or therapist, whether it suits you.
- How can I volunteer at a therapeutic riding program?
- Many programs train volunteers to lead horses and walk beside riders. Contact a program near you to ask.
- Which state has the most therapeutic riding programs?
- California has the most, with 129 programs. In all, 1,062 programs in 50 states and DC offer therapeutic riding in this directory.
- How do you decide which programs are listed here?
- A program is listed here only when a customer review mentions therapeutic riding there or the program's own website does. That review line, or a note about the website, is shown under each program. What a program offers can change, so check with it before you go.
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