Programs

At Rainbow Riders, we provide an inclusive environment that allows children and adults with varying physical, emotional, cognitive, or social disabilities or diagnoses to interact with horses. For many years, horses have been studied and proven to provide therapeutic benefit and we see that at our facility every day. Rainbow Riders has been providing therapeutic riding and other forms of equine therapy to individuals in Newfoundland for almost 30 years. We are pleased to share that we are currently able to reach the greatest number of participants we ever have and that number is constantly growing.

Therapeutic Riding

To participate in the riding program, each individual will need a physician referral form completed by their family doctor and a registration form completed by their parent, guardian, or themselves.

The session will be instructed by one of our CanTRA certified instructors. Riders may ride independently or with a team of volunteers to offer support if needed. The lesson topics depend on the needs and goals of the participant but could include learning riding skills, fine and gross motor development, verbal communication skills, etc.

Horse Discovery

If it is determined by the physician or our staff that an individual is not a candidate for the riding program, they can still have an unmounted horse discovery lesson. This would involve learning to interact and care for the horses from the ground (i.e. grooming, horse care, leading the horse, etc.).

School Groups

During school groups, classes will come from their school to our facility to participate in therapeutic riding or horse discovery sessions. If the child is a candidate for the riding program, they will ride in a group session with up to four horse and rider combinations in our indoor arena. These sessions will be 45-60 minutes long and will run once a week for four weeks.

Summer Camp

For seven weeks during the summer, we offer half-day camps for participants. These individuals will also need a physician referral from their family doctor as well as a registration form completed by their parent or guardian. These camps include four riding lessons per week as well as various horse activities such as grooming, horse care, leading, etc.

Who is Eligible?

We offer programming to children and adults of all ages who have a physical, emotional, cognitive or social disability. This includes a wide variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to:

  • Autism

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Down Syndrome

  • ADHD

  • Emotional Trauma

  • PTSD

  • Genetic Anomalies

  • Blindness

  • Hearing or Speech Impairment

  • Anxiety, Depression and/or other mental health related diagnoses

  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

  • Developmental Coordination Disorder

  • Cognitive Delay

  • Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Spinal Cord Injuries

  • Muscular Dystrophy

  • Amputation, including congenital limb absence

  • Etc. 

Benefits of Therapeutic Riding

We offer programming to children and adults of all ages who have a physical, emotional, cognitive or social disability. This includes a wide variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to:

  • Improved balance and muscle strength

  • Improved coordination and faster reflexes

  • Improved gross and fine motor skills

  • Increased muscular control

  • Stress reduction

  • Increased circulation

  • Increased self-confidence

  • Increased self-esteem and self-image

Program Subsidy

It is the policy of Rainbow Riders to ensure that all individuals who would benefit from our program should have the opportunity of a camp or riding lesson experience. In addition to our funding, there may be an opportunity to seek an alternative subsidy source within the community.