Our Programs

Right now, our demand is large, and our resources limited.  We are doing the best we can to provide service to as many people as possible with the resources we have available. We are accepting applications for new participants they are then put on our waiting list.  Disabilities commonly treated with equine therapy include, but are not limited to:  Stroke, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, Learning or Language Delays, Developmental Delay, Traumatic Brain Injury, Attention Deficit Disorder, Anger Issues, Physical and Mental Abuse, Low Self-Esteem, and Visual or Hearing Impairment. All applicants are required to have a doctor's referral. 

Hippo-therapy

Hippotherapy is therapy conducted on horseback by a licensed speech, physical, or occupational therapist. It utilizes the same goals set for the patients in the clinic but challenges them further by employing the 3-dimensional movement of the horse. Those that participate have an hour long therapy session where 30 minutes is conducted on the horse, and 30 minutes is off the horse in therapy rooms that we have in our office/therapy building.   Therapists are able to get the participant to do many different things that they may not be willing to do in the office. 

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic riding, sometimes called adaptive riding, is conducted either individually or in a small group setting, depending on the needs of the individual.  It is conducted by a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and focuses on increasing individual riding skills while gaining a therapeutic benefit such as improved muscle tone and strength, improved hand/eye coordination, balance, improved communication, increased self esteem, and self control.   These two programs overlap in many areas, both optimizing the movement of the horse to teach a number of skills. 

Equine Facilitated Learning

This unmounted program is designed to create a learning atmosphere with the help of horses for those who face extra life challenges. This program is designed to teach the most basic horsemanship skills such as understanding who horses are and how they form a herd.  The student may choose to apply the skills the horses teach in their relationships and life to further develop the students own social, relationship, and interpersonal skills. Although the facilitators are present, the horses are the real teachers.

This is NOT a counseling or psychotherapy program, we are not mental health professionals.  This class is a Learning program; however, mental health professionals may request that their patients participate then to return and discuss in their mental health session about the events and learning that took place in the learning session.

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Having an unmounted program allows Rising Stars to offer services to those that may not be able to ride due to our weight policy. It also allows us to have more participants get involved hoping to not have so many on the wait list. 

  
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Equine Therapy and its benefits have been recognized for many years.  There is a healing interaction between horses, riders and people who help them.  

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If you wish to participate as a Hippotherapy patient, you must contact one of the therapists working with us, currently that is through Primary Therapy Source.

If you wish to participate in the therapeutic riding or equine facilitated learning program with a PATH Certified Instructor, please contact us. 

We do currently have a waiting list for therapeutic riding that is being worked through as staff, horses, and circumstances allow. Please be considerate in knowing that you may not be put on the schedule for the next session. Our Policies and Procedures offers more information on how the wait list works, if you would like to have a copy of this please let us know.

Benefits Include: 

• Improved Balance and Mobility

• Increased Physical Strength

• Improved Posture and Spinal Alignment

• Increased Flexibility

• Better Circulation/Cardio-vascular Health

• Improved Communication Skills

• Confidence and Self Esteem

• Increased Social Interaction

• More Normalized Walking Gaits

• Knowledge of Personal Preferences

• Increased Character Traits

• Increased Knowledge of Individual Need

• Increased Quality of Life