Therapeutic Riding, Inc., affectionately known as TRI, is a volunteer-based, 501 (c)(3), non-profit organization that provides the opportunity for personal growth through the horseback riding experience to Washtenaw County, Michigan area youth and adults with disabilities.
Our mission is to develop physical, cognitive, and emotional capabilities and to enhance self-esteem through therapeutic riding.
We are located on the south side of Ann Arbor in a brand new state-of-the-art facility custom designed for therapeutic riding students and their needs.
TRI is committed to providing lessons at a minimal fee and will even waive that fee in cases of economic hardship. In order to do this, we rely on donations from the community. To learn more about how to donate to TRI to help us in our mission, please visit our Donate page.
Since 1984, TRI has provided therapeutic horseback riding lessons. Riders range in age from 4 to over 65 and have a variety of disabilities. They come to us from 7 counties – Jackson, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Saginaw, Washtenaw and Wayne.
For more information about riding with TRI, please visit our Riders page. We offer private, semi-private, and small group lessons six days a week year round. All TRI instructors and therapists are certified by PATH, Intl. (the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International- formerly NARHA) and have many years of experience. Riders work on their individual goals during their lessons such as developing/improving their riding skills, how to mount and dismount with as little assistance as possible, learning how to be safe around the horse, learning how to groom and tack their horses, and developing independent riding skills whenever possible.
In addition to learning how to ride a horse, riders have fun playing games on horseback. Riders of all ages love playing basketball or trick-or-treating from horseback, drawing pictures on their horses with chalk, or “running” a barrel pattern. These activities are not just great fun but they also provide many therapeutic benefits. They increase balance, flexibility, adjust muscle tone, and foster relaxation. Games reinforce riding skills and communication with the horse and other people, resulting in increased self-confidence and independence.
TRI relies on the services of over 100 volunteers each week. For more information about volunteering with TRI, please visit our Volunteers page.
For more information on therapeutic riding in general, please go to www.pathintl.org, the homepage for PATH International.
