Hope Therapeutic Riding Center
Established in 1986, HOPE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is:
“to empower children and adults facing special challenges – whether physical, cognitive or emotional – to discover their abilities, independent skills and explore their potential through use of our nationally accredited safe and effective equine-assisted activities and therapy.”
HOPE provides a positive, safe environment allowing students to enjoy their experiences while learning a sense of self-confidence that will help shape the rest of their lives.
What is EAAT?
Equine-assisted activities and therapy are activities with equine friends designed specifically to benefit people with special challenges. HOPE’s instructors are trained not only for their horsemanship skills but also for their knowledge of disabilities and how to design sessions which specifically benefit each student’s special challenges. At HOPE, we take a broad view of “special challenges” as including not only recognized physical, emotional and cognitive challenges but also social challenges such as difficulties with social skills, sadness from family trauma such as divorce, or a challenging background such as children learning to be happy in foster homes after losing parents.
A Partial List of Special Challenges Served by HOPE:
Down Syndrome
Spina Bifida
Learning Disorders
ADD/ADHD
Autism
Selective mutism
Encephalopathy
Cerebral Palsy
Epilepsy
Speech and vision impairments
Sensory deprivation
Impaired movement due to injuries
Stroke
Muscular Dystrophy
Multiple Sclerosis
Brain Injuries
Amputations
Sexual/physical/emotional abuse victims
Depression and other mental health conditions
Emotional difficulties caused by events or situations in the student’s life
