About Our Programs

ROSL holds itself to the highest standard of therapeutic equine activities available. All Riding instructors are certified and in current standing with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). For more information about NARHA go to NARHA.org. Our Therapists and Therapy Assistants are licensed through the State of Missouri, Division of Professional Registration and they are registered with the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA.) All staff is current with CPR and First Aid, and meets or exceeds their requirements of continuing education hours.

Ride On St Louis currently offers four different types of tracks for our clients to participate: Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding, Sports Riding and a Summer Camp. Riders are placed into the appropriate program by our ROSL team which consists of a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Physical Therapist or an Occupational Therapist Assistant.

Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is, literally, a therapy treatment with the help of a horse. Through hippotherapy, the horse is used as the treatment tool or the strategy. Hippotherapy provides the rider with one-on-one attention from a licensed therapist. As the rider sits on the moving horse, automatic balance reactions occur in response to the horse's movements along with constant sensory input, relaxed spastic muscles, and strengthened and loosened hips for each rider. The combination of movements serves to facilitate postural and motor control reactions in clients with severe or multiple disabilities. The therapist works with each client to evaluate and modify the effect of the horse's movement on the rider's body.

Therapeutic Riding

These lessons can be private or groups up to 4 riders. Students are encouraged to perform activities directed toward functional goals; stretches, muscle strengthening, problem solving, communication, social and sensory integration. These sessions incorporate horsemanship, skills and a wide variety of games and activities.

Sports Riding

This is a group lesson with a maximum of 4 riders, generally one hour per week. Sports riding teaches the student to ride to the best of his/her ability using warm-up exercises as well as instruction in the walk, trot, posting trot, group games, and (if independent) the canter or jumps.

Summer Camp

Summer session is held for one week, Monday through Friday, in July. Students learn basic horse care (grooming, feeding, and barn maintenance) and learn with interactive games both on and off of the horse. There is a limit of four students per class, ranging in age from 6 to 14 years old.