SPECIAL EQUESTRIANS

The mission of Special equestrians is to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals with disabilities through the equine experience.

Special Equestrians provides therapeutic riding and hippotherapy to people with disabilities in the greater Philadelphia region. Our clients have more than 60 different physical and cognitive challenges including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. 80% of our riders are children. In addition to our many programs, we offer Summer Horse Camp. This allows our riders an opportunity to meet other students, learn additional un-mounted skills, and to learn more advanced riding techniques, all while enjoying a beautiful summer camp atmosphere.

We teach horsemanship skills including structured stretching, independent riding, and exercises tailored to each student’s specific needs in our Therapeutic Riding Program.

Our occupational therapist modifies the rider’s position, which improves core muscle strength, neurological function and sensory processing, while on the back of our gentle patient therapy horses for our Hippotherapy Program.

Our Youth Connections Program for At-Risk Youth serves riders from local youth shelters and alternative schools, providing marketable job skills, therapeutic riding lessons, and the riders will now be introduced to our lame race horses.

Our Silver Saddles Program aims to improve overall strength, endurance, and flexibility. Lessons are focused on partnership with the horse through the use of classical dressage principles.

Our new R.E.I.N.S. Program, for children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum was developed in response to the increase in riders with Autism Spectrum Disorders.