Roughout Ranch Foundation Inc.

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Call Today (209) 256-9640

Roughout Ranch Foundation Inc.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Horse Encounters
  • Contact Us

Therapeutic Riding for special needs

Therapeutic riding lesson focuses on improving the rider’s emotional, physical, or mental well-being.    Therapeutic horseback riding lessons usually follow a structured format which includes stretching, skill instruction, and a game that implements the skills. Therapeutic riding often employ volunteers who help lead the horse, and/or help assist the rider by providing physical support.


In the first half of the lesson, students learn how to consciously connect with the horses and keep themselves safe on the ground. We want each student to understand and bond with the horse that they are partnered with. We teach horse behavior along with the basics of catching, leading, and saddling a horse. In the second half of the lesson, students will engage and focus on learning horseback riding skills. We work on things like holding the reins, controlling the speed of the horse, and proper position in the saddle. Each lesson includes a game or drill that reinforces the skills the students are learning.  We teach within our lesson's boundaries, awareness, and predictability.  Some of the values we teach that make up a healthy relationship are presence, respect, trust, affection, and appreciation. We believe in the importance of connecting with our horses. 

 Due to the horse's movements, the following may be accomplished:


  • Mobilization of pelvis, lumbar spine and hip joints
  • Normalization of muscle tone through the horse's movement and body warmth
  • Development of head and trunk postural control
  • Improves symmetry
  • The horse provides strong graded tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular input which can be used to improve sensorimotor integration.
  • Facilitates development of righting and equilibrium reactions
  • Improves body awareness
  • Improves spatial orientation
  • Improves endurance
  • Facilitates breathing
  • Positive effect on circulation


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