Therapeutic Riding Center | Huntington Beach & Los Angeles

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 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).

Our Vision

A community where every child and adult with disabilities has access to life‑changing therapeutic riding that builds strength, confidence, and connection.

A man riding a Belgian Quarter horse in an outdoor riding arena. The rider is wearing a cowboy hat, sunglasses, a blue hoodie, and jeans. There are other people and horses in the background, along with trees and a cloudy sky.
Women assisting a student on horseback, one wearing a helmet and the other in sunglasses, outdoors during daytime.

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.

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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.

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A woman riding a brown and white horse, wearing a red jacket, glasses, and a riding helmet, outdoors in a fenced area.

Become a volunteer!

Our volunteers are trained under the direct guidance of a PATH-certified instructor. TRC has been blessed with many volunteers of all ages. They serve TRC in a variety of tasks. Some volunteers assist with grooming the horses, cleaning tack, stalls, and the arena, and others serve as side-walkers and horse leaders. No matter the task, our volunteers have consistently provided us with the love and support needed to serve our students and our horses.

Woman in black helmet and sunglasses hugging a brown and white horse at an outdoor riding arena on a sunny day.
Two people, a woman and a young man, are standing outside with a brown horse. The woman holds the horse by the bridle, and both are smiling at the camera. The woman is wearing a blue hoodie and a purple cap, and the young man is wearing a cowboy hat and glasses. In the background, there are trees, a white building, and parked cars.
Group of five people, some wearing jackets, one in a large straw hat, standing and sitting next to a horse in an outdoor riding arena, with a rider on the horse, and green hills in the background.
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A spirit that overcomes disability.

“…TRC has helped Amy overcome physical obstacles, gain her core strength, as well as helped her with emotional and social benefits, gaining lifelong friendships…”

— Lori Tolan

Two horses facing each other behind a metal fence, with a tree and a clear sky in the background

Our special classes & programs

Therapeutic Riding & Equine-Assisted Services

  • We offer a variety of services at TRC, including therapeutic riding lessons, an unmounted equine learning program, and equine therapy, in partnership with various mental health facilities. 

    Our therapeutic riding lessons focus on teaching horseback riding skills that have been adapted, based on the rider’s individual abilities, and improving physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.

    Equine therapy is provided in conjunction with local mental health facilities, and is offered in both mounted and unmounted group formats. In these groups, equine specialists work alongside mental health professionals to encourage participants to connect with the horses, both on the ground and while riding.

Close-up of a brown horse with a white stripe on its face, wearing a blue halter, standing near a white fence with attached signage, and colorful braided mane extensions, under a cloudy sky.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

  • Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a type of Equine Assisted Activity that uses groundwork activities to encourage emotional processing, build self-awareness and resilience, strengthen social skills, and regulate stress. The real-time feedback provided by the horses helps clients to build confidence, self-reflect, and emotionally regulate. Sessions are led by mental health professionals that work alongside equine specialists

Horse bridles hanging on a wooden rack labeled with names like Olaf, Lott, Noah, and others in a barn or stable.

Horses on the Move

  • The Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach is now offering to bring a horse to your school, group or organization. Our horses love to travel, and we would love to bring one of them your way for a visit. Children and adults can get up close and personal with one of our school horses and learn about horse care and what it’s like to be a therapeutic riding horse. Minimum donation is $350. Give us a call for more information and to set up an appointment. We hope to see y'all real soon!

    For those who prefer a field trip to our facility, we will continue to welcome groups by appointment, and for a minimum donation of $200. Field trips to TRCHB also include a therapeutic riding class demonstration and an equestrian center barn walk tour.

Learn more about our regular class schedule

Class Schedule

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A girl riding a horse during a horseback riding lesson at an outdoor riding arena, with a person leading the horse.