OUR PROGRAMS
We offer equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) to help each individual accomplish personalized goals and improve skills; all while having FUN! EAAT programs can have positive outcomes for the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-beings of individuals with special needs.
Physically: The horse stimulates the rider’s pelvis and trunk in a manner that closely resembles the normal gait of a human. The physical benefits to the riders include postural improvement, improved balance, normalization of tone, and increased strength. Movement exploration on a horse can help improve overall body awareness.
Emotionally: The success of overcoming fear and anxiety can lead a rider to realizing self-worth and increase self-confidence. Achieving riding skills can have a positive effect on a rider’s self-perception. The relationships that develop between riders, volunteers, staff, and horses are all integral to a positive emotional experience.
Socially: Riders interact with staff and volunteers or with peers in a group lesson establishing a positive social experience.
Cognitively: The horse provides riders with the motivation to learn new things. Educational goals such as letter and number recognition and sequencing can be incorporated into lessons.
Sensorially: The movement of a horse can provide a variety of sensory integration issues. A smooth-gaited horse can provide input to a rider to help establish rhythm. A rough-gaited horse can provide a rider with stimulation to help organize and integrate sensory input.
Physically: The horse stimulates the rider’s pelvis and trunk in a manner that closely resembles the normal gait of a human. The physical benefits to the riders include postural improvement, improved balance, normalization of tone, and increased strength. Movement exploration on a horse can help improve overall body awareness.
Emotionally: The success of overcoming fear and anxiety can lead a rider to realizing self-worth and increase self-confidence. Achieving riding skills can have a positive effect on a rider’s self-perception. The relationships that develop between riders, volunteers, staff, and horses are all integral to a positive emotional experience.
Socially: Riders interact with staff and volunteers or with peers in a group lesson establishing a positive social experience.
Cognitively: The horse provides riders with the motivation to learn new things. Educational goals such as letter and number recognition and sequencing can be incorporated into lessons.
Sensorially: The movement of a horse can provide a variety of sensory integration issues. A smooth-gaited horse can provide input to a rider to help establish rhythm. A rough-gaited horse can provide a rider with stimulation to help organize and integrate sensory input.
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
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Therapeutic riding is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with special needs. Therapeutic riding provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport and recreation & leisure. The gait of a horse rhythmically moves the rider's body in a manner similar to a human gait, therefor, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. In addition to the therapeutic benefits, horseback riding also provides recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors.
Whether a rider wants to improve their riding skills, core strength, balance, communication, ability to follow direction, or flexibility, our professionally certified instructors are here to support those goals. We meet with each of our riders and their families to discuss their goals. Each lesson is planned so that we can ensure our riders accomplish their goals. We welcome anyone ages 4 and up, of all ability and skill levels! |
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LESSON
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We offer an 8-week long Spring, Summer & Fall session, where each rider has one lesson per week at the same day/time. We offer a 30 minute 1:1 lesson or a 45-60 minute group lesson. (The group lesson time varies depending on the amount of time required for mounting.) The cost for the 8-week session is $360. We do offer rider scholarships for those facing financial hardship. We require a rider application with a physicians form to be submitted every year. For more information or to schedule an assessment, please email our Executive Director at nikki@adaptiveriding.org or call us at (775)329-1839.
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DETAILS
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Grief Group
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In 2019, CAR piloted a grief group for children who lost a parent and had great success. The participants learned how to take care of a horse and horsemanship skills and knowledge, all while building a connection and bonding with the equine. CAR is working to partner with other local agencies and mental health professionals to grow this program and offer more services.
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Girl Scouts
In 2019, CAR began a partnership with local Girl Scout troops to provide a fun learning experience for Scouts to earn their horse badge. If your troop is interested in scheduling a 2-hour lesson where Scouts can learn how to care for, feed, groom tack and ride a horse please call us at 775-329-1839 or email info@adaptiveriding.org |
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Veterans
CAR currently works with Veterans through the Project Odyssey Veterans Retreat with the Wounded Warriors Project. Please stay tuned as we work to grow our Veterans program in order open it up to all Veterans in our community. |
Programs with Community Partners
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Camp Care of NV is a fun, safe environment for people with disabilities to experience camping in the beautiful Zephyr Cove of Lake Tahoe. During camp, everyone gets to participate in various activities including arts and crafts, music and dance, water activities, and much more. CAR is honored to be one of the chosen activities and we take our horses up to Zephyr Cove for a fun day of horseback riding and painting.
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Project Odyssey helps Veterans and their partners overcome combat stress through outdoor, rehabilitative retreats that encourage a connection with nature, their peers, Project Odyssey staff, and trained counselors. Through outdoor, recreational activities, they will discover inner strength and find the courage to continue their journey to recovery. CAR partners with the Truckee based Wounded Warriors Project Odyssey to offer a full-day experience of equine-assisted activities.
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Skiing is Believing is a Reno based organization that offers year-round youth camps with opportunities in sport, fitness, and community service. CAR was the lucky chosen non-profit for their Fall 2019 camp. Campers spent the day at our facilities painting, creating sensory trail items, and spending time with the horses. We look forward to working with Skiing is Believing more in the future.
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PATH Int'l Terminology:
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Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA)
Equine-assisted activities are any specific center activity, e.g.. therapeutic riding, mounted or ground activities, grooming and stable management, shows, parades, demonstrations, etc., in which the center’s clients, participants, volunteers, instructors and equines are involved. Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) Equine-assisted therapy is treatment that incorporates equine activities and/or the equine environment. Rehabilitative goals are related to the patient’s needs and the medical professional’s standards of practice. Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals through equine-assisted activities. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for people working in the EAAT field and guidelines for those providing EAL. Therapeutic Riding Therapeutic riding is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with special needs. |
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