Our mission"To Assist Each Person with Special Needs in Reaching Their Full Potential through Interaction with Horses"
WELCOME TO SPIRITHORSE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER OF CANTON, INC. LOCATED IN CANTON, CT
Services
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center provides weekly therapeutic riding lessons for people of all ages with disabilities. All lessons are private, and are taught by certified SpiritHorse International Therapeutic Riding Instructors who dedicate their time with the organization. We have a support staff of Instructors, Horse Leaders, Side-walkers, Administrative and Barn Help, many who also volunteer their time to help support our mission.
What Makes SpiritHorse Unique?
SpiritHorse has developed a research-based program of equine-assisted health care, which has a different goal than that of recreational therapy. It includes 178 specific steps provided in a one-on-one setting for intervening with children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder at SpiritHorse International. This is the exact same program used in Canton.
A Riding Lesson at SpiritHorse
SpiritHorse provides unique, highly effective, private, equine-assisted therapeutic riding lessons. Each lesson can include horse management as a part of the curriculum, incorporating responsibility and ownership. Each student, to the ability they have, will have the opportunity to ride a therapy horse as part of their 30 minute riding session. There is the option to lead, groom and saddle their horse in a dismounted lesson. During the session, each student's individual needs are being addressed such as speech, sensory, balance, behavior, cognitive processing and more.
New Programs Available!
Recently, SpiritHorse added new programs to their therapeutic services.
Volunteers Wanted!
Volunteers are a major asset to SpiritHorse. They play an important role in supporting our programs both in and out of the barn. Opportunities include supporting lessons as an instructor, horse leader, sider-walker, or assisting with barn chores and horse care, to administrative tasks or fundraising. Whether you enjoy working with horses, helping behind the scenes, or supporting community events, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference. If interested, please contact us for a volunteer application. All volunteers are screened through an interview process, and are subject to a background investigation. See your Volunteer page for more information.
WELCOME TO SPIRITHORSE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER OF CANTON, INC. LOCATED IN CANTON, CT
Services
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center provides weekly therapeutic riding lessons for people of all ages with disabilities. All lessons are private, and are taught by certified SpiritHorse International Therapeutic Riding Instructors who dedicate their time with the organization. We have a support staff of Instructors, Horse Leaders, Side-walkers, Administrative and Barn Help, many who also volunteer their time to help support our mission.
What Makes SpiritHorse Unique?
SpiritHorse has developed a research-based program of equine-assisted health care, which has a different goal than that of recreational therapy. It includes 178 specific steps provided in a one-on-one setting for intervening with children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder at SpiritHorse International. This is the exact same program used in Canton.
A Riding Lesson at SpiritHorse
SpiritHorse provides unique, highly effective, private, equine-assisted therapeutic riding lessons. Each lesson can include horse management as a part of the curriculum, incorporating responsibility and ownership. Each student, to the ability they have, will have the opportunity to ride a therapy horse as part of their 30 minute riding session. There is the option to lead, groom and saddle their horse in a dismounted lesson. During the session, each student's individual needs are being addressed such as speech, sensory, balance, behavior, cognitive processing and more.
New Programs Available!
Recently, SpiritHorse added new programs to their therapeutic services.
- Early Intervention Program. SpiritHorse of Canton is one of few therapeutic riding centers that allows children under the age of 5 to participate in equine therapy. We work closely with therapists, Birth to Three, and local PreSchools, to start students with developmental delays. These lessons are 30 minutes and contain the same awarding winning steps, but just on a smaller scale for the younger children.
- Mentorship Lesson: Teens with disabilities are paired with teen volunteers working on the grounds and with various horses and ponies, learning about horse care while forming a lasting friendship! This program is perfect for teens with social difficulties and those needing to boost their confidence. Mounted and Dismounted lessons available.
- Summer Program: SpiritHorse will be offering weekly and “mini-weeks” of summer fun from 9am-12 noon, at the farm! Teen volunteers will be paired with students as they explore farm life and learn about horses and ponies. Arts and crafts, games, activities, animal care, and riding instruction will prove a fun and active summer day program! Enrollment is limited, to provide lots of 1:1 time! Para-professionals and therapists can accompany their rider during this half day session.
- Equine VOAG Program. Unified vocational agricultural training in a farm management program/equine program for at risk, Special Education and mainstream students, attending High School or are Home schooled. Problem solving, working independently, and as a team, in a farm setting, and effectively using reading, writing and speaking skills as related to professional and workplace environments. Students learn to work safely in an equine environment while receiving instruction on managing horses, landscape skills, small animal care, gardening and general farm maintenance.
- The Equicizer, a non-motorized, mechanical horse used in Equine Assisted Therapy.
The Equicizer is constructed to mimic the horse’s natural movement. The Equicizer works with your body’s movement, and mimics the core muscles and the leg muscles that are engaged in horseback riding. The Equicizer is for people who need more confidence to ride a horse, or need to build muscle and balance, before riding a live horse. - *NEW* Memory Care Equine Therapy provides significant, benefits for dementia patients, including reduced agitation, lower stress (decreased cortisol) and improved mood. Through interacting with horses, residents experience enhanced emotional, social, and physical well-being, such as increased socialization, communication, and sensory engagement. Participants who rode horses in their younger days often recall their horse experience when interacting with them again. Some participants remember their time with the horses better than their daily routines, providing long-term positive reflection and conversation topics. Our memory care programs are structured to bring residents into contact with horses through feeding, brushing, or walking with them, under the guidance of our certified instructors and the participant’s staff or caregiver.
Volunteers Wanted!
Volunteers are a major asset to SpiritHorse. They play an important role in supporting our programs both in and out of the barn. Opportunities include supporting lessons as an instructor, horse leader, sider-walker, or assisting with barn chores and horse care, to administrative tasks or fundraising. Whether you enjoy working with horses, helping behind the scenes, or supporting community events, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference. If interested, please contact us for a volunteer application. All volunteers are screened through an interview process, and are subject to a background investigation. See your Volunteer page for more information.
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