Organization name: NC Therapeutic Riding Center

Purpose/mission: The North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center (NCTRC) empowers children and adults with physical, mental, emotional and social challenges to create more active, healthy and fulfilling lives through equine assisted activities and therapies.

Population served: Individuals with physical, mental, emotional and social challenges

Services/programs/resources offered:

• • Therapeutic Riding: Build skills and abilities through learning to ride horses. Our therapeutic riding classes are taught by PATH certified instructors who teach riding skills in a welcoming, friendly, and supportive environment. We offer both group and private lessons for individuals with a variety of special needs and disabilities. Whether students are learning to ride independently or need the support of a horse leader and 1 - 2 sidewalkers to be successful, they will gain skills in physical, emotional, and social development.

  • Hippotherapy: Physical, Occupational, or Speech Therapy on horseback. NCTRC offers occupational, physical, and speech therapy services using hippotherapy to children two years or older with physical, sensory, and/or speech and language needs. Hippotherapy is a medical treatment strategy in which a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech-Language Pathologist incorporates the three dimensional movement of the horse or pony's back to help clients develop postural control, core strength, coordination, balance, respiration, stimulation of the cortical pathways, and sensory modulation. Activities in the arena, barn, and play areas are often part of these sessions to include more traditional therapy activities such as gait training and daily living skills.

  • Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) is an emerging treatment whereby the individual or group interacts with horses to facilitate the prevention or resolution of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties with themselves and others. EFP at NCTRC is a team effort. A Licensed Mental Health Professional, a PATH-certified Equine Specialist, a horse (or horses), and the client (or family/group) comprise the team. Various activities, observations, tasks, reflections, and present moment experiences are processed during the session, which is usually conducted in the arena. These sessions are typically done from the ground without mounting the horse, and no horse experience is needed. A variety of issues can be addressed through EFP. These include behavioral issues, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse, eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma, and communication issues. Clients, couples, and families can benefit from EFP including children (ages 5 and up), adolescents, adults, and older adults.

  • Inclusive Summer Camp: Summer camp for children with and without disabilities. Camps are open to children ages 5-12, with or without disabilities. Campers participate in a variety of activities from 9 am - 2 pm each day, including horseback riding, arts and crafts, learning about farm animals, and painting ponies!

  • Veterans' Services: We offer a curriculum for military veterans from all branches that includes in hand work with the horse as well as therapeutic riding where appropriate.

Costs/requirements to participate:

• • Therapeutic Riding: We start with an evaluation at the farm to help determine appropriate class placement. The cost of the evaluation is $55. Group classes cost $30 per week and private classes cost $45-60 per week, depending on class length. Services may qualify for payment via your Health Savings Account, depending on your policy's requirements, and financial aid is available.

  • Hippotherapy: Our therapy services include an initial evaluation for all of our participants. The cost of this evaluation is $55 and may be covered at least in part by your insurance or financial assistance. NCTRC is a Medicaid provider and directly bills Medicaid for therapy visits. Private insurance companies may be billed as well. Please contact us for specifics of the cost for your family's situation, or complete a new client application to get started.

  • Inclusive Summer Camp: Dependent on camp week. Discount when registering for multiple weeks of camp or registering for two or more campers.

  • Veterans' Services: At this time all costs for this programming are covered by a grant from PATH Int'l Equine Service for Heroes, as well as our generous donors.

  • Financial Assistance: NCTRC strives to provide our programs and services to our clients regardless of their ability to pay. Because of generous donors, we do have a limited amount of funding available for financial assistance for children with disabilities.

How families can access more information if interested in pursuing:

• • Contact info: info@nctrcriders.org, 919-304-1009

  • Website: https://www.nctrcriders.org/

  • Social media sites:

    • • Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/nctrcriders

      • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nctrc

      • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/larakatz2

      • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nctrcriders2/

      • Messenger: https://www.messenger.com/t/NCTRC