Equine Assisted Activities for Children & Adults with Special Needs
Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Therapeutic Riding program illustrates the meaning of the Center’s creed, “People helping animals and animals helping people.” Our program is dedicated to serving riders with special needs through equine-assisted activities. Students, ages 4 and up, interact with specially trained horses year-round in weekly lessons to enhance physical, cognitive, social-emotional and motor skills. Additionally, we stress having fun in a safe and rewarding environment.
With input from parents, physicians, physical therapists and special education teachers, our experienced PATH certified staff members develop lesson plans to suit each of our riders short and long term goals.
The program is back to full capacity with a lengthy waiting list. Thank you for your patience and support as we work towards increasing our capacity. Visit our Stable Support Page page to support these amazing animals and help to preserve the program for years to come. Any amount helps!
Visit our YouTube page for some fun, educational videos created by our Therapeutic Riding team!
Contact Us!
PROGRAM HOURS OF OPERATION
Tuesday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Closed Monday
*Please note that staff are often at the barn in the morning and lessons in the afternoon
THERAPEUTIC RIDING MANAGER
Courtney Mellor
CourtneyM@animalcenter.org
6523 Helen Woodward Way
P.O. Box 64
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
858-756-4117 ext. 321
Meet Our Crew!
Therapeutic Riding would not be possible without the generous support of donors like you!
The Therapeutic Riding program would like to give a special thanks to the following organizations and individuals for their support:
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- Charity Fair Horse Show
- Confidence Foundation
- Evergate Stables
- Harriet E Pfleger Foundation
- Jeanne Bates Household
- John & Beverly Stauffer Foundation
- The Menard Foundation
- Myers Family Foundation
- Watermark Estate Management