Therapeutic Horseback Riding

We recently started a super fun after-school activity for our boys—therapeutic horseback riding! After seeing how much Damion has thrived with his service dog, we were curious to try something new, and this past year our paths happened to cross with the wonderful director of Discovery Riders. She informed us about the amazing horseback riding programs they offer, which led us to want to give it a try for ourselves.

About Discovery Riders and Therapeutic Riding

 Located in Bellefontaine, Ohio, Discovery Riders is a program that serves children of various abilities and teaches them how to ride. This type of program offers numerous benefits, like improving gross and fine motor skills, working on socialization and communication skills, and giving kids new sensory experiences. While Discovery Riders specializes in therapeutic riding, they also provide traditional horseback riding classes for children without disabilities.

Our Boys’ Sessions So Far

Our boys have sessions once a week and have been attending for about six weeks now. Most sessions run for an eight-week period, but we started during a session between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which offered a three-week course. This was a great way to try it out with a smaller commitment. The boys really enjoyed it, so we signed up for the next eight-week session!

Each week, they gear up with helmets and receive help getting on their horses. With a friendly attendant by their side, they learn how to hold the reins and give the horses commands to walk. Each session has a fun activities, which will change from week-to-week. For instance, in their first week, the boys picked up rings from one side of the arena and then rode over to drop them on color-coded poles. The next week, they collected magnets to spell out their names on a wall! It’s such a fun way to learn riding skills while staying engaged.

Getting Started

 If you are interested in enrolling your child in therapeutic horseback riding, you should reach out to Discovery Riders directly. The program requires a doctor’s physical for the child, along with some additional paperwork. After completing the necessary documents, you will arrange an in-person meeting with the staff to review the details and set goals for your child. The staff is very approachable, kind, and helpful with any questions you may have. My kids have thoroughly enjoyed their sessions at Discovery Riders. It’s a fantastic new experience that offers a fun way to address some of the challenging areas my boys struggle with, such as sensory processing, fine motor skills, and communication. I can’t say enough positive things about the program and the dedicated staff running it. If you’re looking for a new opportunity that could benefit your child while also allowing you to meet some wonderful people, I highly recommend giving Discovery Riders a try.

Click Here for the Discovery Riders Official Website for more information.