Who Can Participate?

Children (Ages 4+) and adults with a diagnosed disability or challenge are welcome at TRI. Our participants come to us with a wide variety disabilities—autism, down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy are some common diagnoses that our participants carry. We serve also people who are:

• Veterans

• Cancer survivors

• Experiencing age-related memory loss

• Recovering from physical trauma

Contraindications to Riding

Our goal is to provide safe and productive horse-related activities for our participants and to “do no harm.” We follow PATH standards for safety in our riding lessons, and conduct an in-person assessment with each prospective participant. There are some common conditions and disabilities where riding is contraindicated—we cannot accommodate participants in our mounted activities with the following issues:

• Dangerous, violent or impulsive behavior that cannot be controlled

• Seizures that present with no advanced warning and/or frequent, uncontrolled seizures

• Less than 4 years of age

• Unable or unwilling to dress appropriately for outdoor activities (e.g., will not wear coat or gloves in the winter; or participant will only wear thermal long sleeves and hooded coat in the summer).

• Atlantoaxial instability for participants with Down Syndrome

• Insufficient mobility in the spine to accommodate the movement of the horse

• Compromised head and neck control

• Moderate or severe scoliosis and/or inability to achieve a full upright posture

• Complete spinal cord injury above T6

• Indwelling catheters

• Weight over 180 pounds—or if the staff is unable to safely manage the participant in any situation, including an emergency dismount, and is at risk for the participant or themselves.

Contact us if you have questions about eligibility for participation.