Who Benefits from Hippotherapy?

Individuals of all ages, with a wide range of physical, cognitive and/or emotional disabilities and conditions that can be served include:

• Amputations
• Autism
• Brain Injuries
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cardiovascular
• Accident/Stroke
• Down Syndrome
• Emotional Disabilities
• Mental Retardation

• Hearing Impairments
• Learning Disabilities
• Spina Bifida
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Post Polio
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Blind/Vision Impaired

Riding, along with the loving interactions among horse, student and volunteer, fosters self-confidence, trust and pride as a result of mastering new skills. For many students, the success achieved from EAT serves as a bridge to accomplishment in other areas of their daily living.

How do I Enroll my Child?

Enrolling a person in the ROSL program starts with a simple phone call, or visit to the office. A staff person will ask you some basic questions to fill out our waiting list form. It may take about 15 to 20 minutes. The information on the form helps the ROSL team to determine which program (Hippotherapy, Sport Riding, or Therapeutic Riding) would be most appropriate for each individual or alert the team to possible contraindications to NARHA guidelines. As openings arise individuals will be called chronologically from the proper program wait list. The length of waiting time depends on many factors; what size and temperament horses is available, what teacher/ instructor/ or therapist has an opening, and the potential riders availability, i.e. day time, after school , evening.

The program cost is about $400 per hour. Our enrollment fee is only about 20% of that cost. For details about payment schedule, ridership or possible work study programs see our Parent Handbook for details.

We encourage and welcome anyone to visit our program during operating hours. We have areas for viewing and the staff is happy to answer any of your questions and riders usually ready to show off.

Welcome Letter (PDF)

Rider's Registration Form (PDF)

Parent Handbook (PDF)

Are there Risks Involved?

Our primary concern is to provide a safe, productive experience for all riders. Included in this is the wish to "do no harm". Recognizing that horse-related activities do hold inherent risks, we need to assess rider participation with a "Risk/Benefit" analysis. The essential question for all riders is, "Will the benefit of the therapeutic riding activity outweigh the risk?" This question must be answered with consensus by the entire therapeutic riding team--- rider, parent/guardian, riding instructor, therapist(s), educator, and your physician.

The following conditions are considered contraindicative to participation in therapeutic riding:

• Spinal Instability
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Osteoporosis
• Indwelling Catheters
• Coxa Arthrosis
• Hemophilia
• Atlantoaxial Instability