About Hope therapeutic riding center
Hope Therapeutic Riding Center: Discover Your Abilities with Equestrian Assisted Activities
Hope Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit organization located on Whidbey Island, Washington. The center provides equestrian assisted activities to students facing special challenges. The mission of Hope is to help individuals discover their abilities and grab the reins of life.
Equestrian assisted activities have been proven to be beneficial for individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, and social challenges. At Hope, students can participate in therapeutic riding lessons, equine-assisted learning sessions, and hippotherapy.
Therapeutic riding lessons involve horseback riding as a form of therapy. Students learn how to ride horses while also improving their balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility. The movement of the horse stimulates the rider's muscles and nervous system in a way that cannot be replicated through traditional therapy methods.
Equine-assisted learning sessions involve non-riding activities that focus on developing life skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork and self-awareness. These sessions are designed to improve social skills by working with horses who are sensitive animals that respond well to human emotions.
Hippotherapy is a form of physical therapy that uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool for individuals with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. Hippotherapy can improve posture control and balance while also increasing muscle strength.
The staff at Hope consists of certified instructors who have experience working with individuals facing various challenges such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), Down syndrome (DS), traumatic brain injury (TBI) among others. They work closely with each student's healthcare team to develop individualized goals for each student's progress.
Hope offers programs throughout the year including summer camps where students can enjoy outdoor activities while also receiving therapeutic benefits from interacting with horses in nature.
In addition to providing equestrian assisted activities for students facing special challenges; Hope also offers volunteer opportunities for individuals who want to make a difference in their community. Volunteers can assist with horse care, barn maintenance, fundraising events and more.
Hope Therapeutic Riding Center is committed to providing high-quality equestrian assisted activities that help individuals discover their abilities and reach their full potential. The center relies on donations from the community to continue providing these services at no cost to families facing financial challenges.
If you or someone you know could benefit from equestrian assisted activities, contact Hope Therapeutic Riding Center today and discover your abilities by grabbing the reins of life.