Program

 

The Equine Assisted Riding (EAR) program includes a wide variety of equine assisted activities designed for individuals with disabilities or diverse support needs. The program includes both mounted and unmounted activities and is intended to support physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development through structured non medical services.

 

The program enables participants to develop a meaningful connection with horses while learning horsemanship and riding skills in an environment tailored to their individual needs. Activities such as grooming, tacking, and riding support engagement, routine, and skill development. Working with horses can support focus, emotional regulation, and participation in a way that encourages growth and learning. Horses by nature are non-judgmental and they often mirror the attitudes and behaviors of those they are working with.  As students engage with horses they not only strengthen and heal, they find themselves developing a relationship and opening themselves up to be more trusting. With the support of trained instructors and volunteers, participants are encouraged to try new activities, build confidence, and work toward individual needs and goals, and may include learning basic horse care, understanding horse behavior, and progressing toward increased independence in riding. 
 

The program is based on a progressive skill-building methodology where students work with certified instructors to achieve particular personal goals. Each lesson plan is based on the student’s short and long-term goals and needs. 

​

Who We Serve

We serve individuals of all backgrounds and physical levels. Our equine therapy program can help, but is not limited to, the following conditions:

​

• Autism

• Developmental delay or disability

• ADD/ADHD

• Learning disability

• Cerebral Palsy

• Down Syndrome

• Emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues

• Head trauma/brain injury

• Hearing impairment

• Visual impairment

• Genetic conditions/disorders

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Intellectual disability

• Youth identified as “at-risk”

• Stroke

• PTSD

• Muscular Dystrophy

• Spina Bifida

• Paralysis

• Spinal cord injury

​

The EAR program operates 50 weeks out of the year. Sessions are 60 minutes in length and are scheduled based on participant availability and program capacity. Riders typically attend on a weekly basis to support consistency and skill development. The riding fee is $70 per session. At this time, scholarships are not offered for this program. Riders must be at least 7 years of age, with no maximum age limit, and must weigh less than 150 pounds.

​

​

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, 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 EAR is currently at approximately a year and a half wait.

​

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.