Horse organizations across the country have created riding centers to heal both physical and mental traumas. Oftentimes, these organizations operate on a shoe string budget and rely heavily on volunteers to complete their life-changing work.
In an effort to help, we have created this educational guide to help you understand how a equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) or equine therapy horse center may be able to help you or a loved one. Plus, we are working to add profiles of locations across the country so you can find a center in your home state.
Hippotherapy – This medical treatment uses the movement of the horse during riding to improve an individual’s sensory processing. This type of therapy may help people with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, stroke, traumatic brain injury, autism, and learning/language difficulties. Usually, two helpers will walk on either side of the rider to offer support during the session. A doctor’s prescription is often part of this treatment and it may be covered by health insurance. Learn more at the American Hippotherapy Association
Therapeutic Riding – Riders in this type of recreational program will go beyond just the “movement” of the horse to learn about the care and riding of horses. Just spending time with these animals can bring about a sense of peace and purpose for people from troubled backgrounds. Learn more at the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH, Inc.)
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) – “At risk” youth get the chance to interact with horses on the ground rather than on horseback. According to the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), this technique “incorporates horses experientially for mental and behavioral health therapy and personal development. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed therapist and a horse professional working with the clients and horses to address treatment goals.” The goal is to help with communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, problem solving, team work, responsibility, leadership, relationships, confidence, and learning to have a good attitude to accomplish a task.
Veteran Programs – Many therapeutic riding programs enjoy helping U.S. Veterans recovering from PTSD or looking for a positive activity for stress management. Veterans will learn to care for and ride horses.
Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) - This umbrella term is often used to describe all ways that horses can be used to benefit people both physically and emotionally -- including both medical and non-medical treatment facilities. It's important to understand that oftentime true "therapy" is a medical treatment with specially trained staff. It can even be covered under your medical insurance! Other facilities may offer horse activities that do not fall under the true scope of a medical "therapy."
Be sure to check with your individual program to learn the specifics of their classes.
Check out this article we wrote about the Healing Power of Horses. It profiles a group called Healing Hearts With Horses in Runnells, Iowa. They have several powerful stories of how horses are changing people’s lives for the better – each and every day!
If you would like to recommend a center for addition to this list, please contact us at rkraft@doubledtrailers.com.
Find an Equine Therapy or Therapeutic Riding Center provider in your home state.
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www.cseamobile.org 2568 Sollie Road Mobile, AL 36695 (251) 289-1244
> Read Morewww.hopehorsesinc.com 1301 Convent Road NE Cullman, AL 35055 (256) 841-6290
> Read Morewww.trotusa.org 3200 Clements Rd Cottondale, AL 35453 (712) 355-8962
> Read Morehoofbeatswithheart.org 43491 N Coyote Rd San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 (602) 421-7718
> Read Morewww.kingmanshealinghooves.com 4390 N. Glen Rd Kingman, AZ 86409 (928) 279-7581
> Read Morewww.traktucson.org 3250 E Allen Road Tucson, AZ 85718 (520) 298-9808
> Read Morehttps://www.trotarizona.org/ 8290 E Woodland Rd Tuscon, AZ 85749 (520) 749-2360
> Read Morewww.equestrianbridges.org 5920 S. Bellview Road Rogers, AR 72758 (479) 301-2814
> Read Morecoloradohorsepower.org 5027 Garton Road Castle Rock, CO 80104 (303) 594-1509
> Read Morehttp://dctc.org/ 5814 Hwy 348 Olathe, CO 81425 (970) 323-5400
> Read Morehttps://www.medicinehorse.org 8778 Arapahoe Road Boulder, CO 80303 (720) 406-7630
> Read Morehorseshealinghumansct.org 340 New London Turnpike Stonington, CT 06378 (860) 572-2942
> Read Morehttps://www.healinghoofsteps.org/ 3942 Jace Drive Crestview FL 32539 850-764-1005
> Read Morewww.heartlandhorses.org 4305 Independence Street Avon Park, Florida 33825 (863) 452-0006
> Read Morewww.reinsoflife.net 1238 Silver Shoals Road Eastanollee, GA 30538 (706) 491-9764
> Read Morehttps://www.facebook.com/brightstarequestriancentre/ 1450 Horse Farm Rd, Divernon, IL 62530 (217) 741-3086
> Read Morehttps://equinedreams.org/ 9775 Fox River Drive Newark, IL 60541 (630) 553-6950
> Read Moresunriseinc.org 2670 Minneman Road Richmond, IN 47374 (765) 935-4291
> Read Morewww.lovesomestables.com 250 Boltz Lake Road Dry Ridge, KY 41035 (859) 653-7410
> Read Morewww.ridingtothetop.org 14 Lilac Drive Windham, ME 04062 (207) 892-2813
> Read Moregreatandsmallride.org 17320 Moore Road Boyds, MD 20841 (301) 349-0075
> Read Morewww.therapeuticridinginc.org 3425 East Morgan Road Ann Arbor, MI 48108 (734) 677-0303
> Read Morewww.freedomfarmmn.org 11500 Ferman Ave SW Waverly, MN 55390 (952) 955-2505
> Read Morewww.wecanride.org 4301 County Rd 24 Maple Plain, MN 55359 (952) 934-0057
> Read Morehttp://www.eemv.org/ 785 Yellow Finch Lane Washington, MO 63090 (636) 390-2141
> Read Morewww.rideonstl.org PO Box 94 Kimmswick, MO 63053 (636) 464-3408
> Read Morehorsesspiritshealing.org 7256 Hwy 3 Billings, MT 59106 (406) 245-0138
> Read Morehetra.org 10130 S. 222nd Street Gretna, NE 68028 (402) 359-8830
> Read Morekidsandhorses.org 2869 Esaw Street Minden, NV 89423 (775) 267-1775
> Read Morewww.manestreamnj.org 83 Old Turnpike Road PO Box 305 Oldwick, NJ 08858 (908) 439-9636
> Read Morehttp://www.bitofhoperanch.org 5001 CR Wood Road Gastonia, NC 28056 (704) 862-0095
> Read Morewww.savinggracefarm.com 725 Jackson Road Salisbury, NC 28146 (704) 209-6577
> Read Morewww.pegasusfarm.org 7490 Edison Street NE Hartville, OH 44632 (330) 935-2300
> Read Morehttps://triohio.org 5224 Dearth Rd, Springboro OH 45066 (937) 619-7577
> Read Morewww.ivyhillequestrian.org 1811 Mill Road Perkasie, PA 18944 (215) 822-2515
> Read Morewww.takeheartcounseling.com 4675 New Holland Rd. Mohnton, PA 19540 (717) 455-7328
> Read Morewww.triangletr.org 30 Martin Drive Reinholds, PA 17569 (717) 371-3654
> Read Moreletssaddleup.org 1907 Durbin Road Fountain Inn, SC 29644 (864) 871-1744
> Read Morewww.firmfoundationstx.com/ 4205 Lone Man Mountain Rd Wimberley, TX 78676 (512) 872-5839
> Read Morewww.healingwithhorsesranch.org 10014 FM 973 Manor, Texas 78653 (512) 964-0360
> Read Morejoyridecenter.org 29550 Tudor Way Magnolia, TX 77355 (281) 356-5900
> Read MoreOurWatch is a non-profit organization that provides equine assisted wellness and resiliency training for first responders and their families
> Read Morespirithorsenews.com 1960 Post Oak Drive Corinth, TX 76210 (940) 497-2946
> Read Morehighhorses.org 138 Horse Farm Road Box 278 Sharon, VT 05065 (802) 763-3280
> Read Morehttps://healingstridesofva.org 672 Naff Road Boones Mill, VA 24065 (540) 334-5825
> Read Morewww.nvtrp.org 12935 Popes Head Road Clifton, VA 20124 (703) 764-0269
> Read Morewww.rainbowriding.org/ 16198 Silver Lake Rd. Haymarket, VA 20169 703-754-6159
> Read Morewww.spiritequestrian.org 2173 White Cornus Lane Reston, VA 20191 (703) 600-9667
> Read Morewww.littlebit.org 18675 NE 106th St Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 882-1554
> Read Morewww.stablehandstherapy.com 10710 Evergreen Drive Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 359-6046
> Read More
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