Frequently Asked Questions
What is Special Strides?
Special Strides is a non-profit organization devoted to improving the lives of handicapped individuals through hippotherapy, therapeutic riding and therapeutic driving.
What is Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, or speech therapist’s treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement to make change. Hippotherapy is part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes.
What is Therapeutic Riding?
Therapeutic Riding is horseback riding instruction by specially trained and certified therapeutic riding instructors. These instructors not only have great skills in teaching children to ride but they are also knowledgeable about teaching individuals with disabilities to ride.
What is Therapeutic Driving?
Therapeutic Driving is carriage driving specifically directed by a certified driving instructor specializing in teaching individuals with special challenges. Using a horse and carriage allows participants an alternative experience that improves self confidence, bilateral motor control, and teaches direction following and cooperation skills.
Where is Special Strides located?
We are located in Central New Jersey in Monroe Township. Our home is on a beautiful 210 acre farm named Congress Hill. Special Strides is accessible from the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 33 and Route 9. Facilities include indoor/outdoor riding arenas, wooded sensory trails and treatment rooms in our renovated offices.
How do I get my family member involved in the program?
Give us a call at 732-446-0945 to set up an evaluation and a tour of the farm.
Who benefits from Hippotherapy?
Any individual with special needs will benefit from this unique riding experience. For those with primarily communication and auditory processing problems the horse offers a unique companion and an extremely motivating reason to communicate. To be able to stop a huge horse with a simple command “whoa” is an unparalled experience. For the individual with Cerebral Palsy or other syndromes causing low muscle tone or poor motor control, the horse offers a movement experience that cannot be replicated in any clinic. The symmetric movement of the horse mimics human gait and provides very powerful neuromuscular information to the nervous systems. In addition, someone with sensory processing and a diagnosis in the Autistic Spectrum greatly benefits from this sensory integrative experience.
Do you use Volunteers?
Yes, we use adult and teenage volunteers. We use volunteers with horse experience and those without. The volunteers that have experience with horses are then specially trained to assist with our horses. The volunteers without horse experience are utilized as sidewalkers during our lessons. We also provide ongoing volunteer workshops for training. In addition, volunteers also help support our fundraising efforts.
What is a “sidewalker”?
A sidewalker is a volunteer, or another therapist, who is alongside the horse to assist the therapist and to provide additional stability and safety to the rider. They also engage in therapeutic activities such as singing songs and playing games.
How long is a therapy session?
Most sessions are 45 minutes in length.
How much does a lesson cost?
A hippoherapy visit to Special Strides costs $135/45 minutes. Therapeutic riding costs $68/45minutes. Therapeutic driving costs $75/lesson. Therapy sessions are partially subsidized by the ongoing, intensive fundraising efforts. We also provide scholarship annually to some of our students. It is our mission to be able to provide more children who are in need of our services with scholarship. In 2009, $78,000 was given in financial aid through the Steven Werthan Memorial Scholarship Fund.
What are the operating hours of Special Strides?
Special Strides runs throughout the year rain or shine. The only exceptions being extremes of temperature.
What type of fundraising do you do at Special Strides?
We have an annual Bowl a thon sponsored by the Junior Committee of Young Leaders. Our Annual Barn Benefit Dance held in October features entertainment, live and silent auctions, and a riding demonstration from our students. The Spring Fair and Horseshow rounds out our fundraising efforts.
How do I become a Special Strides Sponsor?
There are many sponsorship opportunities available throughout the year from Corporate Sponsors to private/individual donations. Please call 732-446-0945 or email Karen Goldberg at KGoldberg@specialstrides.com for more information.