Chastain Horse Park is designated a Premier Accredited Center by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association ("NARHA"). Equine-assisted activities and therapies exercise the spirit as well as the body, an enormous benefit to persons with physical, mental, and emotional health challenges. Serving children and adults, age two through adults in their senior years. Click here for more information.
Therapeutic Riding Lessons / Hippotherapy (Physical or Occupational Therapy) / Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy
Click here to access registration forms. You may also call 404-252-4244, ext. 27 or e-mail mbranton@chastainhorsepark.org.
- The program has been designated a "Premier Accredited Center" by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association ("NARHA") since 2001.
- In its first two years of operation, surveys of students' families cited 100% satisfaction in "progress of therapeutic work or riding skills," "safety," "cleanliness of the stables," and "condition of the horses."
- The program operates seven days per week, year round. Participants ride once a week or more.
- Children as young as two to adults in their senior years participate in the program.
- Persons with a variety of health challenges are served, including cerebral palsy, developmental delay, autism, multiple sclerosis, stroke, depression, visual or hearing impairments, sensory integration disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, speech disorders, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury.
Instructors teach therapeutic riding lessons. They also oversee Hippotherapy or psychotherapy sessions, which are provided by licensed therapists. Instructors are certified as Registered or Advanced Level NARHA instructors. Several have been active on a national level, teaching NARHA workshops, presenting at regional and national therapeutic riding conferences, or serving a NARHA committee.
Physical and Occupational Therapists provide Hippotherapy sessions. Therapists are "NARHA Registered Therapists" and have completed a training and supervision program through the American Hippotherapy Association.
A Licensed Associate Professional Counselor provides equine-facilitated psychotherapy as well as growth groups for children, teens, and adults. For more information, see www.atlantagw.com.
Volunteers lead the horse and walk beside the rider as needed. Click here to learn more about volunteering.
Fees
Program services are categorized either as therapy, or as riding lessons. Therapy visits at the horse park are charged a $50 per visit stable fee, separate from the therapist's treatment fees. Stable fees provide the horse, instructor, volunteers, and equipment for the therapy client. Therapists may bill insurance.
Therapeutic riding lessons are $50 per lesson. Unlike Hippotherapy, insurance does not typically pay for therapeutic riding lessons as the lessons are a sport-related activity rather than therapy.
A limited number of full or partial scholarships are available for therapeutic riding lessons, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Click here for more information about providing scholarships for riders otherwise unable to participate.
