Adaptive Riding
Ride for joy provides adaptive horseback riding that supports physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development.
Participants often experience many benefits, including:
Improved strength, balance, motor skills, and coordination
Problem solving and critical thinking skill development
Increased confidence, focus, independence, behavioral regulation, and emotional resilience
Improved mental and emotional health
Opportunities to connect and build relationships with both horses and humans
Each lesson is planned and facilitated by a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor or *Instructor-in-Training. Instructors individualize lessons with activities that are tailored to each rider’s goals, abilities, and interests.
* Instructor-in-Training is an official PATH Intl. classification signifying an instructor candidate who is in the process of becoming certified.
Eligibility
4 years and older
Weigh 200 lbs or less
Physically able to sit with torso vertical and legs astride the horse
Physically able to maintain head and neck position without assistance
Disability or mental health diagnosis identified by an appropriately credentialed professional or agency
Safety is a priority at Ride for Joy, and each application is carefully screened to determine whether there are any physical or mental contraindications that would make equine-assisted activities inappropriate for the applicant.
Cost and Scheduling
Lessons are offered during four-week and eight-week sessions, which are scheduled throughout the year. Please check the Calendar of Events for session dates.
Throughout each session, participants ride once per week during their scheduled 45-minute lesson time. Lessons are taught to individuals or small groups (typically 2-3 riders), depending on the riders’ needs and the availability of staff, horses, and volunteers.
Pricing:
Four-week session: $120
Eight-week session: $240
New Rider Evaluation: $25
Sign Up
If you have not participated in RFJ’s programs before, or if you have not signed up for a session in a year or more, please follow these instructions.
To get started, carefully read the Participant Handbook.
Then, follow the steps below. All forms can be found HERE.
RFJ’s Waitlist is Currently A Year or MORe Out for Lessons
Following receipt of a completed application, the student’s name is placed on the waitlist. Waitlisted students are moved to the active student list when space becomes available.
Current Students
Prior to each session, current students have an opportunity to sign up for weekly lessons. Ride for Joy strives to provide lesson times for all interested participants, but occasionally this is not possible. During lesson sign-ups, participants are encouraged to submit their availability as soon as possible.
To remain on the active student list:
Riders must participate in one or more sessions throughout the year.
Riders or their parents/guardians must submit a Returning Student Application annually.
Riders and their parents/guardians must attend the annual Adaptive Riding Orientation.
Questions
Have any questions? Contact info@rideforjoy.org
