Participants of our program are empowered by sitting astride an animal whose very movement helps to improve fine and gross motor skills, range of body motion, and body posture. Horseback riding adds an exciting dimension to the lives of our riders, allowing them to make beneficial progress in a beautiful setting and on the back of a generous and giving animal.

Horse's pelvis moves in the same triplaner motion, at a walk, as do humans. The movement helps facilitate a normal gait pattern in students with ambulation dysfunction. Often, students with Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, Multiple Sclerosis, and other neurological disorders, have abnormal tone, reflexes, poor posture control, impaired balance, coordination, or decreased mobility which all can be addressed with therapeutic riding. Therapeutic Riding takes the person out of the traditional physical therapy setting and places them into a more relaxed yet stimulating atmosphere to help them meet their goals.

Horseback riding has proven effective as recreation therapy in the treatment of Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spina Bifida, developmental delays, emotionally disturbed individuals, blindness, paraplegics, deafness, learning disabilities, amputees and accident trauma victims.

Riding gives a tremendous boost to self-image and the rider's self-esteem. For the emotionally disturbed the warm, soft, friendly quality of the horses serves a marvelous purpose. The petting, grooming and handling of a quiet, patient horse surrounded by people who are warm and friendly is very reassuring. For many of our participants riding becomes the most important part of their lives and their interest in horses provides new incentives for learning.