Therapeutic Riding, the most popular form of Equine-Assisted Services (EAS), is mounted horseback riding for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of people with special needs through the teaching of horsemanship skills.
At Shepard Meadows, we provide the encouragement and supports to assure that our riders are both safe and successful. Riders and their families equally enjoy their time at our beautiful and tranquil farm.
A few of the challenges our participants commonly face include;
The first step in the process is for potential participants to complete an application. The application includes a physician’s sign-off that horseback riding is safe for the individual with no contraindications.
Once the application is received, it is reviewed by the Program Director. The next step is to schedule a riding evaluation to determine if the program activities would be safe and appropriate for the individual and what resources would be needed such as – horse, riding equipment, volunteer and staffing needs.
Horseback riding may not be appropriate for everyone and may change over time. Our decisions about continuation in therapeutic riding are based entirely on safety – for the participant, our horses, volunteers and staff.
Sometimes we are able to offer partial scholarships (thanks to foundational grants) based on residency and family income. Contact the Director of Programs for additional information.