Whispering Meadows Ranch offers therapeutic horseback riding and horsemanship instruction to individuals with disabilities or special needs. Our goal is to improve physical, emotional, and social functioning through participation in a highly structured and safe program. Riders’ interaction with carefully selected and trained horses improves their balance, posture, flexibility, sensory awareness and endurance in addition to increasing confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, motivation, attention span and integration with non-disabled peers.    Our program certainly has therapeutic benefits and is meant to be a fun activity that aligns with the goals of other therapeutic interventions.

Each program is taught by PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) Certified Instructors. Whatever type of equine-assisted activity an individual chooses, our goal is to help them achieve their personal best in a friendly, professional and consistent environment.

Therapeutic Horseback Riding 

The benefits of horseback riding are as numerous as the types of disabilities and conditions served. Research shows that students who participate in therapeutic riding can experience physical, emotional and mental rewards.  As horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.  Our riding approach enables clients to work with the same horse, volunteers and instructors for each session, thus allowing the rider to strengthen the bond even deeper between horse and their team.