Therapeutic riding is horseback riding for the disabled. It combines instruction in traditional horsemanship skills with concepts of physical therapy to improve the strength, balance, and self-esteem forphysically and mentally disabled children and adults.

To an individual with a disability, horseback riding takes them into a new, unexplored world, and provides a sense of independence and freedom that defies their disability. Therapeutic riding challenges our riders in ways that they have seldom been challenged before.

Therapeutic riding achieves improved coordination , muscle strength, joint mobility, perceptual skills and self confidence. The opportunity to work with a horse, to groom and help saddle it are very real sources of excitement and pride. Moreover, each step a horse takes requires our riders to use their muscles to maintain balance and challenges their minds to work to guide the horse.

Almost every disabled person can benefit from therapeutic riding. We have seen major benefits for our riders who have come to us with disabilities that range from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, brain injury, stroke, learning disorders, and emotional problems.

Carousel Ranch is unique because we offer three types of equestrian therapy. Our program includes vaulting (gymnastics on a moving horse), English, and Western therapeutic riding. In general, therapeutic riding has been defined as horseback riding for the disabled. It combines instruction in traditional horsemanship skills with concepts of physical, occupational, recreational, and speech therapy to improve the strength, balance coordination and self-esteem of physically and mentally disabled children and adults.

If you have a child with special needs (or know someone who does) and are interested in therapy at Carousel Ranch, please call us at (661) 268-8010 for more information. An initial phone interview will place your child onto our waiting list.

Any child with any disability is eligible (3 months old and up). From the most severely disabled to those with learning disabilities, an individualized program will be developed to suit each child's needs and goals.

Fees are based on ability to pay...and we strive to offer scholarship assistance for those in need.

If you do not live in our area and are looking for a program closer to home...see our "related links" section and visit the NARHA website for a complete listing of programs.

We look forward to working with you and your child!

Callie

At Carousel Ranch we couldn't do what we do without each and every one of our horses. Each one is special in their own way and are hand chosen for each of our students. They all come in many different sizes and shapes and with their movement we are able to provide the type of therapy that we do.