Program

 

The Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program is an extracurricular educational enrichment opportunity. The program enhances student learning by providing hands on instruction that supports academic development, social skills, emotional regulation, and life skills for all students. Participation is open to all students and includes those with diverse learning styles, abilities, and individual educational needs. 

​

Students participate in a structured horsemanship activites that include groomin, tacking, leading, riding, and stable management. Instruction is individualized and aligned with educational goals established by their school, allowing students to progress at an appropriate pace. Activities take place both mounted and unmounted to support a variety of instructional approaches and learning outcomes.

​

Students ride in a saddle and actively guide the horse's movement, supporting the development of resonsibility, focus, and decision making skills. Students typically participate in one hour instructional sessions per week as a part of their enrichment services. Instruction is available to students. of all experience levels, including first time riders and more advanced independent riders.

​

The EAL program serves a diverse rider population, including general education students and students who receive additional educational support.

​

The EAL Program provides non-therapeutic and non medical educational enrichment through structured instruction and supervised activities. The program serves students who seek approved extracurricular services to supplement their regular or charter school instructional program. Participation is contingent upon school/charter school approval and is aligned with each student’s individualized learning plan, and educational goals.

​

Who We Serve

We serve individuals of all backgrounds and ability levels. The EAL program supports participants with a wide range of needs, including but not limited to:

​

Autism
Developmental delay or disability
ADD/ADHD
Learning disability
Emotional or behavioral challenges
Intellectual disability
Genetic conditions/disorders
PTSD
Anxiety or social challenges

​

The EAL program operates based on program availability and scheduling. Session length and frequency are determined based on participant needs and program structure. Participants typically attend on a consistent schedule to support routine and skill development. The riding fee is $70 per session and availability may vary. Participants must meet basic safety and participation requirements as determined by program staff. At this time, scholarships are not offered for this program. ​

​

Enrollment Process:

​

1. Submit the required form below.

​

2. After receiving the form above you rider will be placed on a waitlist, (see waitlist policy below).

​

3. Once your rider is at the top of the waitlist you will be contacted by the office to fill out the required forms and schedule an evaluation ride. 

​

4. Following the evaluation and upon school/charter school approval, an instructor will coordinate scheduling and begin developing individualized goals and a participation plan.

​

Waitlist Policy:

​

1.After completing the above form you will be added to the waitlist. The waitlist for EAL is currently at approximately 2 years.

​

2.When your rider is at the top of the waitlist you will receive an email from kristyna@taraschance.org and a phone call from our staff to complete a rider update form, liability release form, and Tara’s Chance policy form. You will have 3 days to return our email or phone call or we will move to our next rider on the waitlist. If this happens you will remain at the top of the list and we will attempt to contact you again when your child is at the top of the list. If we are not contacted after trying to reach you 4 times, you will be removed from our waitlist.

​

3.You must return all completed forms to kristyna@taraschance.org within 2 days of our original email and phone call or we will move to the next rider on the waitlist. We will attempt to contact you to remind you.

​

4.After receiving all completed forms, we will call or email you to schedule an evaluation ride for your child.

​

5.If our program director approves of the evaluation ride, we will schedule a recurring weekly time that works for your child in our program. Note we have accepted 98% of all evaluation riders for this program but if the program director deems it this program is not the right fit you may be eligible to move to the EAT program waitlist

​

6.You will then begin riding on a weekly basis and emailed an invoice monthly.