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Classes

One hour classes are held from March through October (in six-week sessions) at Colorado State University on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and at Legacy Stables in northeast Ft. Collins on Monday evenings. Riders are accompanied by horse leaders and side walkers to help steady them in the saddle. Certified instruct-ors conduct activities such as walking and trotting in a circle or through obstacles. Riders do stretching exercises on horseback, and enjoy games. In addition to class work, riders may take part in horse shows and trail rides.

For specific dates, see the Calendar.

Our Program

MISSION: Our mission is to provide a unique blend of social, physical and emotional development through therapeutic horseback riding.

What is therapeutic horseback riding? Therapeutic riding is just one example of equine-assisted activities for people with special needs. The movement of the horse at a walk produces movement in the rider’s pelvis similar to human walking. Benefits of riding include improved muscle strength, postural alignment, balance, coordination, perceptual awareness, speech, sensory integration, motor skills, socialization and self-esteem. Other forms of equine-assisted activities include (but are not limited to) driving and vaulting. For more information, visit www.pathintl.org.  

Riders

Someone who wishes to ride in our program must fill out the Client Application and Health History, Photo Release, Areas of Learning and Emergency Treatment and Liability sheets. These must be accompanied by the Medical History/ Physician’s Consent form signed by the client’s doctor. After we receive the forms, we place each client in a class with others at a similar level with similar goals (cognitive, behavioral, social and physical). Not all riders in a class will necessarily have similar disabilities. (Click for Rider Application, Rider Health Form, and Rider Areas of Learning. Print out and mail forms.)

Horses

Our horses are donated or privately owned. Most of them are older horses, and all are evaluated for their temperament, physical condition, and suitability for acting as ‘therapists’ in our classes. All horses accepted receive training for class activities, including voice commands and having leaders and side walkers walk with them.

Safety of the riders is our first concern. All riders and volunteers in classes must wear helmets, and riders mount their horses using a wheel-chair accessible ramp.