Therapeutic Riding

WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC RIDING?

Therapeutic Riding is horseback riding for individuals with disabilities. Windy Acres Stable provides a place where individuals with various abilities and disabilities can participate in equestrian activities in a safe manner with qualified staff. The overall goal of therapeutic riding is to teach the client how to ride a horse, drive a horse and learn to care for a horse.
WHO defines a disability as..... Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.

What our lessons looks like

Ages 5 years old and up
Cost is $40 per lesson
30 minute semi private (2 riders and 2 horses) horseback riding lesson

Riders will be partnered appropriately (working on same goals, similar ages, similar riding level) which means therapeutic riders may be paired with individuals from the riding school program. If an appropriate riding partner can’t be found the individual will ride in a private lessons (at semi private rate) until a suitable riding partner is found.
Optional free horsemanship instruction 15 minutes, this allows individuals to learn how to care, groom, tack and lead a horse.

How to get started?

Medical Form

Print the pdf and have doctor fill it out.

You can link a digital copy to the general participant form or bring a copy at the time of the assessment.

Therapeutic riding medical form

Participant General information form

Complete the online Participant General information form.
Attach a copy of the digital medical form is possible
Follow the link at the end of the form to complete liability form

Participant General info form

Assessment

Contact Windy Acres Stable once all paperwork is completed, potential riders will have an onsite assessment with their parents, caregivers etc to talk about goals, specifics and availability.

One time $30 assessment fee

Registration form

2025 Program Schedule

Our year is divided into 5 sessions. Each session is 6-7 weeks in length and allows for horses to rest at least one week between sessions.

For consistency participants in the previous session will be given preference for spots in the following session.

Winter 2025

Week of March 16- week of April 20

Registration begins February 1

6 week session includes Good Friday and Easter Monday

Spring 2025

Week of May 4- week of June 15

Registration begins April 1

7 week session includes Victoria Day (May 19)

Summer 2025

Week of July 6 - week of August 17

Registration begins June 1

7 week session including August long weekend

Fall 2025

Week of September 7 - week of October 19

Registration begins August 1

7 week session except for no lessons on Thanksgiving Monday (October 13)

Late Fall 2025

Week of November 2 - week of December 7

Registration begins October 1

6 week session

Program Policies

Payment

Payment is required before the first lesson of the session unless payment is being received by a funding source in which case Windy Acres must be informed and payment received by the end of the session.

Attendance Policy

There will be NO make up lessons

There will be NO reimbursement for cancelled lessons

However. if there is a day that your rider will be absent you will not be billed for that lesson if Windy Acres stable is notified at the time of registration for that session.

Inclement Weather

Lessons are rain or shine.

There will be no make up lesson or reimbursement for lessons not attended during inclement weather unless Windy Acres Stables cancels the lessons

Facts about Therapeutic Riding

Safety first

With Particular conditions of an individual riding would pose too much of a risk to both the individual, the horse or individuals helping within the lesson. Individuals with these conditions would be unable to participate in riding activities however other programming may be possible. These include

Spinal Fusion or internal spinal fusion devices

Presence of Herrington rod
Scoliosis of 30 degrees or greater
Spinal cord paralysis higher than mid thoracic
Acute arthritis (rheumatoid)
Atlantoaxial instability

Severe Osteoporosis
Spondylothesis
Prolapsed intervertebral disc
Subluxation or dislocation of hip
Haemophilia

Individuals over 180 lbs
Grand mal seizure activity (individual must be seizure free for 6 months if they routinely take medication for seizures and seizure free for a year if they are not on medication)