Therapeutic Riding Program

The Therapeutic Riding Program is designed for individuals with developmental, physical or emotional challenges. Started in 1999 with only a few volunteers, horses, and riders, Greenwell Foundation’s Therapeutic Riding program has grown tremendously. Today, Greenwell’s TRP is the largest program in the tri-county region this includes St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties. Since its inception the program has reached over 300 participants.

The Therapeutic Riding program is based on the principles and methods of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Focusing on ability rather than disability, the program complements the treatment of physically, mentally, and emotionally disabled individuals. It follows established techniques for teaching and recognized standards of safety.

Our students are regular participants in the Maryland Equestrian Special Olympics. Greenwell Therapeutic Riding program was presented with the "Training for Life Award", from the Maryland Special Olympics.

The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding

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.