Therapeutic Horseback Riding in New Jersey
NJCRID pleased to offer the following information as a community service for families and professionals. Its purpose is to provide information to NJ’s disability community regarding recreation and disability services. NJCRID has no formal relationship with any of the individuals/vendors/resources contained wherein. We do not endorse the services listed in this directory. We recommend you use this list as a first step and then thoroughly follow up with your own evaluation of the service. We would appreciate hearing about your experiences.
Thanks to Patricia Swartz, Past NJCRID President and current member of NJCRID’s Professional Advisory Committee for researching this topic and contributing the following article.
Definition of hippotherapy and list of accredited centers courtesy of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH International). (May, 2021). Retrieved from: https://www.pathintl.org
Traveling throughout New Jersey you’ll probably see horses, as New Jersey has more horses per square mile than any other state. New Jersey state animal is the horse. The US Equestrian Team Foundation which provides training and support for horses and athletes that compete in the Olympics, and World Championships is located in Gladstone, NJ. It’s no surprise New Jersey is home to several equine-assisted services (EAS) programs serving people with special needs.
EAS are hands-on programs that use the interactions and relationships between horses and humans to create an environment of learning and self-discovery. It’s an experiential learning approach that promotes physical, mental and social development.
Equine therapy includes therapeutic horseback riding, Hippotherapy, equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted psychotherapy among others. In a therapeutic horseback riding program riders experience therapeutic muscle stimulation resulting in improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. Hippotherpy is physical, and occupational therapy based on improvement of neurologic functions, and sensory processes that utilize the natural gait and movement of a horse to provide motor, and sensory input. Equine-assisted learning is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills. In Equine-assisted psychotherapy a licensed mental health professional works with an equine professional to provide psychotherapy using equine activities and environments to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth.
Many programs obtain accreditation from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding International, PATH Intl. was originally federally registered as North American Riding for the Handicapped Association in 1969. This non profit promotes equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs. It’s an credentialing agency that certifies instructors, accredit centers and provides resources to start and maintain programs.the centers offer Programs such as hippotherapy, carriage driving, interactive vaulting, trail riding, and competition. Accredited centers have certified instructors on staff. Riders are assisted by side walkers and a lead walker.
New Jersey has several accredited centers operating programs. Programs offered at the centers vary. Premium membership meets additional requirements. Check PATH Intl. and individual program websites for more information on programs offered and types of people served i.e. cancer, veterans, autism etc.
Allaire Community Farm
Linda Young
Address: 1923 Baileys Corner Rd, Wall, New Jersey 07719
(732) 796-3298
Beyond Balance, Inc.
Missy Rush
Address: 211 Arney’s Mt Rd., Pemberton, New Jersey 08068
(609) 969-8899
Cape May County Equestrian Facility, Inc
Heather Carr-Johnson
Address: 329 Route 47 N, Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210
(609) 675-6765
Care From the Heart at Bella Rosa Riding Academy
Kathleen Taler
Address: 151 Oak Glen Rd, Howell, New Jersey 07731-8947
(732) 938-3618
Centenary University
Karen Brittle
Address: 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840
(908) 852-1400
Higher Education Membership
Chariot Riders, Inc.
Linda Fazio
Address: 3170 Chariot Ct, Manchester, New Jersey 08759-5429
(732) 657-2710
Premier Accredited Center Membership
Compassionate Friends Therapeutic Riding Center
Sherri Briggs
Address: 40 Cooper Tomlinson Rd, Medford, New Jersey 08055
(609) 320-5363
sherrilbriggs@gmail.com
Equine Assisted Therapy of New Jersey
Jeanne Mahoney
Address: 32 Swedes Bridge Rd, Mannington Township, New Jersey 08079
(609) 617-2765
equineassistedtherapyofnj@gmail.com
https://www.equineassistedtherapyofnj.org/
Freedom Horse Farm, LLC
Elizabeth Doskotz
Address: 158 Flocktown Rd, Long Valley, New Jersey 07853-3545
(908) 797-4547
freedomhorseinc@aol.com
Premier Accredited Center Membership
https://www.freedomhorseinc.com/
HEARTS Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
Sue Adams
Address: 214 Asbury Rd, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey 08234
(609) 703-9130
heartstrc@aol.com
Hope’s Promise
Maureen Coultas
Address: 34 South Rd, Chester, New Jersey 07930
(973) 868-8808
maureencoultas@gmail.com
http://www.hopespromisefarm.com/
HorseSense Therapeutic Riding Center
145 Easy Street
Howell, NJ 07731
Phone 732-910-7855
Infinity Equine Therapy, Inc.
Leslie Weatherly
Address: PO Box 92, Closter, New Jersey 07624
(845) 735-2042
ridetherapyinfo@gmail.com
http://www.infinityequine.org/
Kaleidoscope Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc.
Kimberly Pohubka
Address: 23 Elmwood Dr, Tabernacle, New Jersey 08088
(609) 923-7847
kaleidoscopetr@yahoo.com
https://kaleidoscopetr.webs.com/
Making Strides Therapeutic Riding, LLC
Judy Matthijssen
Address: 45 Hamilton Rd, Greendell, New Jersey 07839
judymatthijssen@gmail.com
https://www.makingstridestr.com/
Mane Stream
Trish Hegeman
Address: PO Box 305, Oldwick, New Jersey 08858-0305
(908) 439-9636
info@manestreamnj.org
Premier Accredited Center Membership
Morning Star Farm Riding Academy and Therapeutic Riding Center
provides a therapeutic riding program in Sussex County.
Morning Star Farm
489 Route 94
Newton, N.J. 07860
Phone: 973-222-8260
Pony Power Therapies, Inc.
Dana Spett
Address: 1170 Ramapo Valley Rd, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430
(201) 934-1001
dana@ponypowernj.org
Rein Dancer Therapeutic Riding Center
Jenna Martin
Address: 31 Archertown Rd, New Egypt, New Jersey 08533-1902
(609) 752-0900
jennachester15@gmail.com
http://www.lauritaequestriancenter.com/
Riding High Farm
Robyn Struz
Address: 145 Route 526, Allentown, New Jersey 08501-2016
(609) 259-3884
robynstruz@gmail.com
Premier Accredited Center Membership
Riding with HEART
Carla Harbourt
Address: 639 CR 513, Pittstown, New Jersey 08867
(908) 735-5912
director@ridingwithheart.org
Premier Accredited Center Membership
https://www.ridingwithheart.org/
Shadow Equestrian
Kaitlyn Palermo
Address: 1907 Monroeville Rd, Monroeville, New Jersey 08343-4610
(856) 466-0608
shadoweq@verizon.net
http://ww12.shadowequestrian.org/
Special People United to Ride, Inc.
Lisa Haskell
Address: 805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
(732) 224-1367
spur.sunnyside@gmail.com
spuronline.org
Premier Accredited Center Membership
Special Strides
Laurie Landy
Address: 118 Federal Rd, Monroe, New Jersey 08831-8018
(732) 446-0945
specialstridesinfo@gmail.com
Premier Accredited Center Membership
The Helping Horseshoe Therapeutic Riding Club
Kara Stark-McGrew
Address: 914 Duck Pond Rd, Newton, New Jersey 07860
(973) 579-9537
dkmcgrew@embarqmail.com
http://www.helpinghorseshoe.org/
Therapeutic Riding at Centenary
Karen Brittle
Address: 400 Jefferson St, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840-2184
(908) 852-1400 (2174)
karen.brittle@centenaryuniversity.edu
Premier Accredited Center Membership
Therapeutic Riding at Majoda Stables
Diane Baker
Address: 620 Garwood Rd, Moorestown, New Jersey 08057
856 231-7552
majodastables1992@gmail.com
Therapeutic Riding Center South Jersey
Terrance Lewis
Address: 400 Route 130 S, Logan Township, New Jersey 08085
(732) 621-6441
tanddlewis@yahoo.com
Unicorn Therapeutic Riding
Erin Hurley
Address: 171 Marshalls Corner Woodsville Rd, Pennington, New Jersey 08534
(609) 354-2014
erin@unicornriding.com
Premier Accredited Center Membership
Professional Organization serving therapeutic riding programs
The American Hippotherapy Association, Inc.
The American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization, which provides educational resources and continuing education for occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology professionals who incorporate equines, equine movement and the equine environment in treatment.
Website: https://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/
Mailing address: 2537 Research Blvd. Suite #203, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Phone: (970) 818 -1322
Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA)
EAGALA is an international nonprofit association for professionals who incorporate horses to address mental health and personal development needs through programs collectively known as Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. It helps issues of depression, anxiety, behavior disorders and trauma.
Website: https://www.eagala.org/
Phone: Eagala New Jersey, Bonnie Malajian, 201-893-1881
Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding International, PATH Intl
A credentialing agency that certifies instructors, accredit centers and provides resources to start and maintain equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.
Website: https://www.pathintl.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 33150 Denver, Colorado 80233
Phone: (800) 369-RIDE (7433)