06/17/2026
🐴📚 Educational Wednesday: Understanding Our Programs
People often hear about horses helping individuals with disabilities and wonder, "What's the difference between all of your programs?" While all of our services involve horses, each program has a unique purpose and approach.
🔹 Adaptive Riding
Adaptive riding lessons are taught by a certified therapeutic riding instructor and focus on developing riding skills while supporting physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Riders learn horsemanship and riding skills in a safe, supportive environment while building confidence, independence, balance, and coordination.
🔹 Occupational Therapy Utilizing Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is a skilled therapy service provided by a licensed occupational therapist who uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool. The horse's movement helps address specific therapy goals such as balance, posture, strength, coordination, sensory processing, and motor planning. While participants may be on a horse, the focus is therapy—not learning to ride.
🔹 Equine-Assisted Counseling
Equine-assisted counseling combines mental health counseling with interactions with horses. Sessions are typically focused on emotional growth, self-awareness, communication, coping skills, relationship building, and processing life challenges. Activities may take place on the ground, allowing clients to learn through their experiences and interactions with the horses.
💛 Although each program looks a little different, they all share the same goal: helping participants build confidence, develop new skills, and experience the unique connection between humans and horses.
At Heartland Therapeutic Riding, we are proud to offer multiple pathways for growth, healing, and independence through the power of horses.
