Join our Program
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We serve individuals from 4 years old and up who have cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities. Although we can serve most individuals, there are some precautions and contraindications to consider. Please read Precautions and Contraindications for NARHA Centers (PDF) for more information. All our students are evaluated by physical therapists prior to entering our program.
Our NARHA certified instructors supervise all of our riding sessions. Our students are assisted by volunteers who lead their horse and walk beside them for support if necessary.
Our riding program consists of both therapeutic riding and hippotherapy.
Therapeutic riding is a recreational program in which the riding instructor designs a lesson plan adapted to the needs of the individual students. The goal of each student is to improve their riding skills. Therapeutic Riding enhances cognitive, perceptual and motor skills through an integrative and goal-oriented approach. There are explicit objectives that include improved circulation, balance, coordination, strength, tone, postural reactions, proprioception, agility, self-confidence, social adjustment, and both mental and physical relaxation.
Therapeutic Riding is offered Monday through Saturday during the Fall, Winter and Spring. One hour group lessons are taught by certified therapeutic riding instructors. The emphasis is on riding skills development. The cost is $300 for the 10 week. The maximum class size is four riders.
Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement facilitated by a physical, occupational, or speech therapist. The therapist will change variables that include the horse's speed and direction, the position of the patient, and the therapeutic activities the patient performs. These decisions are made based on the patient's specific needs. Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to the human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.
Hippotherapy is offered Tuesday and Friday in the Fall, Winter and Spring sessions. Hippotherapy is clinical physical therapy and occupational therapy using the horse as the modality and is administered by our staff of physical therapists. A physician's prescription for physical therapy is required. Hippotherapy fees are $115 per client hour. Financial hardship scholarships are now available for Hippotherapy.
Program Details:
We have sessions in Fall, Winter and Spring in which our students ride once weekly for 10 weeks at a consistent day and time. Although the true cost per student per session is approximately $630, we are limiting your cost at this time to $300 for a group lesson and $350 for private lessons. We strive to raise the funds required to run our program through special events and generous donations from the community. Financial hardship scholarships for financial hardship may be available.
To enroll
We currently have no immediate openings in our program however you can sign up to be on our waiting list by following the steps listed below.
To be placed on the waiting list:
Although the minimum age to ride is 4, there is no minimum age to be placed on the waiting list. Currently the expected wait time is approximately two years. We hope that you understand that we have limited resources and are constantly trying to expedite this process.
When there is an opening in our program:
We serve individuals from 4 years old and up who have cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities. Although we can serve most individuals, there are some precautions and contraindications to consider. Please read Precautions and Contraindications for NARHA Centers (PDF) for more information. All our students are evaluated by physical therapists prior to entering our program.
Our NARHA certified instructors supervise all of our riding sessions. Our students are assisted by volunteers who lead their horse and walk beside them for support if necessary.
Our riding program consists of both therapeutic riding and hippotherapy.
Therapeutic riding is a recreational program in which the riding instructor designs a lesson plan adapted to the needs of the individual students. The goal of each student is to improve their riding skills. Therapeutic Riding enhances cognitive, perceptual and motor skills through an integrative and goal-oriented approach. There are explicit objectives that include improved circulation, balance, coordination, strength, tone, postural reactions, proprioception, agility, self-confidence, social adjustment, and both mental and physical relaxation.
Therapeutic Riding is offered Monday through Saturday during the Fall, Winter and Spring. One hour group lessons are taught by certified therapeutic riding instructors. The emphasis is on riding skills development. The cost is $300 for the 10 week. The maximum class size is four riders.
Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement facilitated by a physical, occupational, or speech therapist. The therapist will change variables that include the horse's speed and direction, the position of the patient, and the therapeutic activities the patient performs. These decisions are made based on the patient's specific needs. Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to the human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.
Hippotherapy is offered Tuesday and Friday in the Fall, Winter and Spring sessions. Hippotherapy is clinical physical therapy and occupational therapy using the horse as the modality and is administered by our staff of physical therapists. A physician's prescription for physical therapy is required. Hippotherapy fees are $115 per client hour. Financial hardship scholarships are now available for Hippotherapy.
Program Details:
We have sessions in Fall, Winter and Spring in which our students ride once weekly for 10 weeks at a consistent day and time. Although the true cost per student per session is approximately $630, we are limiting your cost at this time to $300 for a group lesson and $350 for private lessons. We strive to raise the funds required to run our program through special events and generous donations from the community. Financial hardship scholarships for financial hardship may be available.
To enroll
We currently have no immediate openings in our program however you can sign up to be on our waiting list by following the steps listed below.
To be placed on the waiting list:
- Print out & complete the application form in its entirety
- Open or download the application (PDF)
- Return it to our office.
- NOTE: If any of your information changes (i.e. address or telephone number) after you send in your application, please contact us so we can still reach you when it is your turn.
Although the minimum age to ride is 4, there is no minimum age to be placed on the waiting list. Currently the expected wait time is approximately two years. We hope that you understand that we have limited resources and are constantly trying to expedite this process.
When there is an opening in our program:
- We will contact you to set up an evaluation.
- If the opening is found to be appropriate for you after your evaluation, you will be given consent forms to complete.
- There are 3 consent forms; 1 to be completed by your doctor and 2 to be completed by yourself. No student will be allowed to ride in our program without all 3 consent forms being completely filled out.
- Click here to open or download these forms and more.
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Copyright 2010 - Horses & the Handicapped of South Florida, Inc.
Coconut Creek, FL USA
Therapeutic, Horseback, Riding, Handicapped, Equestrian, Therapy, South Florida, Non profit, Grants, Financial Hardship Scholarships, physical, cognitive, emotional, NARHA premier accredited