Therapeutic Riding

Experience the Joy of Therapeutic Riding

Our therapeutic riding program offers a unique blend of horseback-riding instruction and tailored therapeutic activities designed to meet the specific needs of riders with behavioral health, physical, and/or cognitive disabilities. Discover the joy and benefits of connecting with our gentle equine partners in a fun, supportive environment.

What to Expect:

  • Typically 50-minute lessons that include horse care (grooming and tacking up) and a mounted riding lesson
  • Sessions are available Monday through Thursday; Fridays may be available by appointment
  • Experienced instructors, volunteers, and lesson plans tailored to every age and ability level

The Perfect Fit:

At Solid Ground, we believe in finding the perfect “fit” for each rider. We carefully match riders with the right horse and create a class experience that brings together individuals working through similar challenges. Social interaction and participation in group activities are integral parts of our positive, growth-oriented process.

Benefits of Therapeutic Riding:

  • Develops small and gross motor skills
  • Enhances problem-solving abilities
  • Teaches important emotional and physical processes
  • Builds social connections between riders, instructors, volunteers, and peers
  • Provides recreational opportunities to enjoy the outdoors

Horses Are Healing

Discover how horses can be powerful allies in promoting healing and wellness through Solid Ground’s Therapeutic Services. Below briefly describes how horses contribute to mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Horses provide a range of therapies from fostering healthy attachment patterns and providing calming effects on the nervous system to offering physical benefits and mirroring emotions.

Bonding

Trauma and other mental health conditions can disrupt how we bond with others.

Horses can be a conduit through which humans learn and relearn healthy attachment patterns. Students may be able to transfer the affirming bonds they experience with horses or other animals to their other relationships.

Physical

The motion allows students to stretch and activate organic muscle movements with the horse’s gait.

The movement of the horse provides sensory feedback and aids with muscle development as the rider has to adjust their body to match the horse.

Calming

Horses can help regulate the nervous system. Contact and connections with horses promote the ‘feel-good’ hormones (endorphins) and help calm an overactivated nervous system that is overwhelmed by trauma, anxiety, depression, or stress.

Mirroring

Horses are sensitive to non-verbal communication and emotions.

Horses are keen observers and are sensitive to movement and emotion. They often mirror behavior or emotions, conveying understanding and connection that allows the individual to feel safe.

Getting Started

Students in this program require at least one social, emotional, or physical area to improve. Students must also receive medical clearance from a medical provider to successfully register. Students may be referred by medical or social service professionals or by self-referral.

To learn more about how to register for therapeutic riding classes,  We look forward to welcoming you to the Solid Ground family!

Your Therapeutic Goal

Our program is designed to help students improve their overall health and well-being. As a therapeutic program, we welcome individuals who have a specific area of their life they wish to enhance, whether it be their mental, emotional, social, cognitive, or physical health. If you have a personal goal you’d like to work towards, our equine-assisted therapy can help you on your journey to wellness.

Referrals and Medical Clearance

While referrals are not mandatory, students may be referred to our program by medical or social service providers to complement their existing therapeutic services. However, all students, whether referred or not, must obtain medical clearance from a healthcare provider to successfully register for this program. This ensures that our equine-assisted therapy is a safe and appropriate addition to your wellness journey.

Complete the Registration Form

To get started, students will need to fill out our program registration form. During the registration process, you’ll provide essential information and have the opportunity to upload your medical clearance form. If you don’t have the medical clearance form readily available, we can provide you with one to be completed by your healthcare provider. Once you’ve submitted your registration, the Solid Ground team will review your application and guide you through the next steps

Let Your Journey Begin!

After reviewing your application, the Solid Ground team will reach out to you to finalize any remaining details and schedule your first session. We’re excited to welcome you to our program and support you on your path to improved health and well-being.