Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic Riding— Therapeutic riding helps clients with physical, developmental, cognitive and emotional disabilities by utilizing the movement of the horse to benefit the rider.
Lessons teach horsemanship skills to the unique ability level of each rider and are specifically structured to enhance learning, educational and social skills. Each rider has an individualized lesson plan and goals established by a team that can consist of any number of the following: certified riding instructor, a consulting therapist, the rider’s own goals and desires interests, along with input from their care giver, personal medical team, and educators.
Therapeutic riding lessons run for 11 months of the year with schedule breaks mid-December to mid-January and periodically throughout the year.
Lessons are taught in a private or semi-private format depending on the needs of the rider. Riding is a physical activity as well as a sensory experience that challenges and impacts the entire body. These improvements can often help people with their needs for everyday living.
People find it a fun and beneficial way to improve:
- Muscle strength and tone
- Reduce muscle spasticity
- Posture • Balance
- Range of motion
- Physical health
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Attention, memory and problem solving skills
Riding enriches the body, mind and spirit!
