Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association

The Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association provides equine assisted therapeutic riding to people of all ages with disabilities, regardless of economic status. The Association encourages the natural relationship between horse and rider which results in rider's improved physical and emotional well being.

Description:
Our program cannot exist without volunteers. An instructor and a team of three people may be needed for the person with a disability to ride safely. On-top of the lesson expenses, paying two to three additional people to help one person to ride would put this sport out of reach for all but the very few.

Volunteers are the backbone of a therapeutic riding program. These dedicated people from all walks of life team up to give the person with a disability an opportunity to experience a sport which can make a significant difference in their physical and mental well-being.

During a therapeutic riding lesson one to three volunteers, an instructor and a therapist can work with a rider in an enclosed ring, or a stable area for any of several purposes. The rider may learn to sit while astride a horse, learn special riding skills, care for the horse, or how to saddle a horse. The rider may play games on horseback, perform gymnastic movements on the back of a horse, and learn dressage, jumping, reining or gymkhana activities. The rider may work with a therapist for a medical treatment session. Each rider will have individual goals to work toward.

The riders can be of any age, from small children to people in their senior years. People who want to diminish the effects of strokes, head injuries, cerebral palsy or arthritis are especially suited for therapeutic riding. People with emotional problems and mental disabilities can profit too. A person with low vision or no vision can learn to ride. Other disabilities that can be helped by riding programs include autism, many kinds of birth injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, polio, limb deformities, amputations, mild spinal curves, learning disabilities, coordination dysfunctions, hearing and speech disorders, and low level spinal cord injuries. Our program serves people from the CES ( Community Entry Services), C-V Ranch (a school for children with emotional and physical needs), Teton County Schools, students from Big Piney and Afton, Wyoming, as well as Teton County, Idaho and private individuals

Contact people:

Kelcy Smith, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Kelly Merriott, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Donna Johnsen, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (307) 732-0212

Address:

PO Box 415 Teton Village, WY 83025

Web Site: http://www.jhtra.org

Directions:

Our physical address is 3850 Wilderness Drive. We are located on the Teton Village Rd. next to the C-V Ranch (series of big red buildings). On your way to Teton Village you will pass the Westside Market on. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Westside Market, 5 minute walk

Last updated on August 26, 2009