Hippotherapy at
Special Strides

Therapeutic Riding at
Special Strides

Hippotherapy is part of an integrated treatment plan that utilizes the motion, emotion and sensory qualities of the horse in a powerful combination to achieve functional therapeutic goals.

At Special Strides our clients are able to enjoy the benefits of the horse and our sensory playground in the woods.

More information on Hippotherapy here!

Therapeutic Riding is a recreationally based adapted horseback riding program conducted by NARHA certified riding instructors. Participants learn riding and horsemanship skills with the assistance of riding instructors and volunteers who may lead the horse or walk alongside to provide additional safety.

At Special Strides our riders are able to take advantage of our indoor and outdoor riding arenas along with our 100 acres of wooded trails.

Therapeutic Driving at Special Strides

The Joseph Farrelly Driving program was started at Special Strides in 2008 with two driving horses and a new 4-wheeled carriage. Therapeutic driving offers students with physical, mental, sensory or emotional conditions the benefits of the motion and emotion of the horse without being on top of the horse. For riders who are unable to mount a horse due to weight, limited balance, fatigue, fear of heights or the inability to set astride a horse driving provides a great alternate equine assisted activity.

Carriage driving has many additional benefits such as: a recreational or sporting experience with a horse, development of self confidence and sense of accomplishment, improve the cognitive skills of sequencing, direction following, and right/left discrimination, and it offers another opportunity to develop relationships, equine and human.

Prospective Students:

Call Special Strides, (732)446-0945 to set up an appointment to attend a Meet- N-Greet (free of charge). During this screening a therapist will meet with you to answer questions and give an orientation about Special Strides, the benefits of the program and a course of action. In addition, you will receive a tour of the facility. At this time requested paperwork will be discussed (you can fill out the paperwork prior to attending, by clicking FORMS). In addition your personal goals for your child will be discussed as well as potential therapy times.

Therapy sessions are partially subsized by the ongoing, intensive fundraising efforts. We also provide scholarships 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 a scholarship. In 2009, $78,000 was given in financial aid through the Steven Werthan Memorial Scholarship Fund.