Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach
We strive to empower people with physical and developmental challenges to discover their greatest strengths and gain a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance through the special relationship with a horse.
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Who we are
The Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International. It was founded in 1990 by a group of community volunteers who wanted to provide services to individuals with disabilities in the form of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT).
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What Is Therapeutic Riding?
What Is Therapeutic Riding?
Therapeutic riding is one form of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT). It is horseback riding combined with physical therapy.
The concept of utilizing horses for treatment can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Later, in 17th century Europe, physicians utilized the horse to treat various neurological disorders. In the last century, when Liz Hartel won the silver medal in dressage in the 1952 Olympics in spite of having polio, medical and equestrian professionals all over the world began to take notice. Read more.
Why the horse?
The horse has the capacity to enrich a person's life physically, socially, and emotionally. Learning to ride a horse is an exhilarating and rewarding experience for anyone. For a person with a physical or learning challenge, it's more than that. It's an opportunity to look beyond the disability and see the possibilities. It's an affirmation that what may seem out of reach is, instead, within grasp. And it instills a new found joy and confidence that overflows into every aspect of one's life. Read more.
Our special classes and programs
Click here to lean more about our regular class schedule.